|
Is there a particular area of the world, social issue or project
you are passionate about? Direct your dollars to an area of your
choice, or towards the project in greatest need of funds. Group
fundraising towards one of the following goals is a rewarding
way to make a difference. Currently we are seeking funds for the
following projects:
- School Construction in Guatemala
- Children’s Rights in Chile
- Children’s Rights & Vocational Training
in Nicaragua & Bolivia
- Indigenous Health and Environmental Protection
Bilingual School Construction
in Comitancillo, Guatemala
Funds Needed: $36,500
The hilly, green Comitancillo area of Guatemala was very hard
hit by hurricane Stan in 2005. Crops, homes and infrastructure
were destroyed in the small indigenous communities that constitute
the majority of the population of this region. The government
has been slow to provide relief and reconstruction assistance
to people of Comitancillo and many still cannot access essential
services like education. This project supports the construction
of a 4-room school in an indigenous community that lost their
primary school to the destruction of hurricane Stan.
The school will benefit 160 children and their teachers in its
first year. They will be able to resume their studies and will
be offered courses both in Spanish and in their own indigenous
language. The school will also serve as an important community
space and will provide a significant boost to community moral
as they will finally see a positive change in their lives since
the hurricane.
More Information on
projects page, back to top
Towards a Culture of Children’s Rights in Chile
Funds Needed: $8500
Our Chilean partner, Caleta, has been recognized internationally
for their inspiring projects working for and with children and
children’s rights. This project uses the controversial change
in Chilean legislation that lowers the minimum age of conviction
to 14 years to foster dialogue around children’s rights
in Chile and to open spaces for the participation of children
and youth in decision making. Working with young leaders, the
project will produce a children’s rights campaign (using
television, radio and print media) that it will take on the road,
empowering children throughout the country. 300 – 400 children
will benefit directly from participating creatively in project
activities and thousands more will benefit from the campaign and
the space that it will open for increased participation for children
and youth in the decision making that affects their lives.
More Information on
projects page, back to top
Rights Protection and Leadership
Training for at-risk Children and Youth through Art and Vocational
Education in Bolivia and Nicaragua
Funds Needed: $65000
This project works with children and youth at-risk to address
human rights issues most central to their lives.
In Bolivia, CFCA partner CEPROMIN works in the communities living
and working around the Cerro Rico mines (featured in the film
‘Devil’s Miner’) to create alternatives for
children and youth working in the mines. Work in mines is low
paying, demands long hours, is very dangerous and has negative
health consequences such as respiratory and skin diseases. The
life expectancy of mine workers is only about 45 years. This project
provides vocational skills training opportunities as well as leadership
and human rights training to 150 children and youth who work in
the mines or who are at immediate risk of entering mine work.
It also provides employment and personal counseling, as well as
operating a micro-credit loans scheme so that youth finishing
their vocational training are supported in starting a small business
or entering the labour market. Scholarships are also provided
to 30 daughters of miners so that they can pursue technical higher
education. This aspect of the project is particularly important
as it addresses the marked gender gap in school enrolment, which
exists at all levels. These girls will act as positive role models
for younger girls and will raise awareness about the benefits
of educating girls.
In Nicaragua the project works with children and youth at-risk
from neighbourhoods where the majority of people live in poverty
in the cities of Esteli and Managua. Increasing levels of violence,
the growing prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the lack of preventive
education about both issues have been identified by children and
youth themselves, and by CFCA’s partners FUNARTE and INPHRU,
as key issues. The project uses the years of experience of both
partners in providing innovative human rights and leadership education
through artistic training to address these issues. 600 children
will receive workshops in music, dance and circus performance
delivered from a human rights perspective and designed to raise
their self-esteem and build leadership skills. They will participate
in creating an awareness campaign around issues of violence and
HIV/AIDS prevention and will hold art exhibitions and community
festivals. In Managua they will paint murals in 5 marketplaces
around the themes of HIV/AIDS and violence prevention.
More Information on
projects page, back to top
Capacity Building for Indigenous Health and Environmental
Rights in Protected Rainforest Areas of Nicaragua and
Honduras
Funds Needed: $84,000
The protected tropical rainforest that stretches along the Eastern
coasts of Southern Nicaragua and Northern Honduras is known as
the ‘lungs of Central America’. This rainforest, of
incredible biodiversity, is home to the Miskito and Mayagna indigenous
peoples whose traditional, sustainable lifestyles are currently
being threatened as agricultural, fishing and forestry interests
begin to encroach on the forests. This project seeks to address
the key rights issues defined by indigenous communities in this
protected area in order to sustain their livelihoods and protect
the fragile forests.
In Honduras, with CFCA partner Alianza Verde, the project works
to build the management and advocacy capacity of three local indigenous
organizations. These rights based organizations hope to strengthen
the voice of indigenous peoples’ in decision making in Honduras,
particularly in relation to decisions that affect their communities
and their land. The project will develop an indigenous rights
campaign (using radio and print media), the content of which will
be determined by an Indigenous Rights Coalition made up of the
three indigenous organizations and the communities they represent.
The organizations will also receive management training, capacity
building and advocacy workshops and their leaders (men and women)
will participate in meetings with authorities in the capital city.
In Nicaragua, the CFCA partner Centro Humboldt, the project works
to preserve traditional knowledge and to address current health
problems. The communities of the Bosawas Biosphere are currently
experiencing very high rates of malnutrition and of STD infection
(it is estimated that 80% of the sexually active population has
an STD). The project will mount an STD awareness campaign and
will train community health promoters; it will also offer treatment
to those suffering from treatable STDs. Community pharmacies and
greenhouses will be established in 33 indigenous communities where
traditional medicinal remedies for many ailments will be produced
and distributed and where traditional foods will be grown and
promoted as a healthy part of daily diets. These activities will
not only increase access to health services in a very remote and
under-serviced area, they will preserve and value traditional,
sustainable practices, offering local solutions to health problems.
More Information on
projects page, back to top
|
