Achievements in 2008
South America
Three teams of volunteers worked in Villa Maria, Peru where they spent 1000s of hours with the children during their summer holidays, taking 100s of them swimming to cool off in the baking heat. As well as putting on numerous Sunday shows for the whole community to enjoy, 30 children were sponsored to go to the Quest run pre-school where we also supported a teacher from England who worked at the school for 9 months. Four homes were built, two of which were built by Trevor Langford who also run an incredible campaign to help save a local boys life. There are also now 4 permanent Peruvian Staff on the project, keeping the after school classes, activities and events for the whole community running all year round.
On the Yachana project in the Ecuadorian Amazon volunteers were involved in a wide range of projects from construction to conservation and Black Earth research. Despite many setbacks the group managed to complete the construction of a traditional thatched building, aside of this they worked at the local primary school giving English lessons. One of the most exciting projects this year was the Black Earth research project, by mixing charcoal with the soil over 5 years crop production can be hugely increased (by up to 880%) It is hoped that this research will persuade local farmers to use this method, rather than destructive slash and burn farming techniques.
At Ambue Ari, working with Inti Wara Yassi two volunteer groups built two brand new enclosures, one for Katie the Jaguar, the other for Nico, a very aggressive Puma rescued from a Circus where he had been seriously maltreated. The volunteers were also involved in our long term care project for the animals, feeding the various animals in the sanctuary. Donations raised also went towards the purchase of a brand new 300 hectare area which has become Inti Wara Yassi's newest reserve Jacj Cuisi.
Construction and entertainment - the team were all rounders who did an incredible job.
Africa
In Kenya we managed to build an incredible 6 dams and an extension on a previous one.
The Malawi Gap team worked incredibly hard building an orphan care centre in Kachumbe. Aside from this main project they also organised teaching and sports training at two local primary schools, helped out at the local feeding centre and spent time working with a local youth group.
In June 2008 Royal Bank of Scotland staff raised nearly £20,000 to help build a maternity clinic for the Pen Sulo community, Malawi. Two teams of volunteers travelled out to Malawi to spend four weeks working with locals to build the clinic.
The Swaziland Gap team began by building a classroom at the Neighbourhood Care Point (NCP) in Shewula. The NCP helps children who can't afford to go to Pre/Primary school by providing them with food and basic lessons. At Mlawula (a government run reserve which lacks funding) they built an organic garden and designed and constructed numerous information boards to attract tourist to the park. Next they worked in Mbuluzi reserve where they did a Giraffe Id, Game censuses and a number of alien weed surveys. The also created predator passages and carried out vital snare patrols. Snares are illegal but commonplace in Swaziland.
In Tanzania the team completed the accommodation block, capable of housing 100 people who would otherwise be unable to attend the local Vocational Training Centre. Also the first team at our new project site constructed livestock enclosures for cows, goats and chickens on the school farm at Waang'waray School, enabling the school to generate a sustainable income as well as producing fresh food for the school kitchen.
Fundraising news
The Katie Ashbridge Campaign raised enough money to build 8 houses in her memory in Villa Maria, the shanty town in Peru where Katie was a Volunteer in 2000, the film below is of the family who live in the second home built.
