Hello everyone
We are writing to offer you Season's Greetings, and also to thank
you very much for your interest and/or donation to the project - it
is very much appreciated.
Here is some news to bring you up to date with events at Colonia Ecologica.
We are intending to send out this newsletter several times a
year to give you an update with what is happening there and where
your money is being spent. At present, we are unable to access precise
details of donations due to some unforeseen complications with the bank
account. This unfortunately means that we cannot send an individual
email to people who have donated to say thank you - we hope to be able
to do this in the near future. However, we have received a bank
balance, and have been overwhelmed at the generosity people have shown
- so thanks to all who have donated.
The building work is progressing very well, thanks to your generosity.
Enough money has been raised for the roof, which is now complete.
Due to a large donation from a group of American chiropractic
students who came to visit, we were also able to begin the construction
of the walls in the top half of the building. There is not yet enough
money to finish them off and put in windows etc. However, the architects
have kindly agreed to complete the building of all upstairs walls, and
will accept payment later. This means that in a few weeks the children will
be able to move into the building. Visit the updated website, www.charity-bolivia.org
to see the building progress - click on the button "ORPHANAGE".
Claire has visited the project several times with some of the children
from her school, Cochabamba Cooperative School - a very interesting contrast
between rich and poor. The visits have been a big success, and the
children from both places are keen to continue with them next year.
During term time the students have been reading with the Colonia children,
and at the end of term we organised a sports day with tug of war,
sack races, egg and potato races, four legged races as well as games such
as pass the balloon between neck and chin etc. The day was enjoyed
by all. Some of the students are also visiting over the Christmas
holidays to donate some food and small gifts for the children.
Nancy, one of the resident children at Colonia, has just had an operation
on her leg to straighten it out. Kiko applied to a US organisation to
pay for this - her leg has been crooked for many years due to a childhood accident,
meaning that she has difficulty walking and running. The organisation
paid for the entire operation and follow up treatment. She had 5
days in hospital, and is now back at Colonia recovering - she cannot walk
at the moment, but will be able to start walking with crutches next week,
and after 3 months should be all healed and fully mobile once again.
It is school holiday time in Bolivia, so the children have two
and a half months off. Kiko and Carmen have arranged different activities
each day, including some novel sports and games. We have been making
toys and jigsaw puzzles with the children, as well as playing clothespeg
tag and balloon stamping. Other games include volleyball, where
you have to throw and catch the ball in a sack held stretched between
two players, a tournament of table football played with bottle caps as
players and a ball bearing for a ball with the pitch drawn on an old sheet,
and many more innovative games and activities.
We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from us and from Kiko, Carmen and all the children at Colonia Ecologica,
and to thank you for your continued interest and support.
(Newsletter No.1 - Dec 2004)
If you want more information please write to Charity Bolivia via the contact
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