- See more at: http://blogtimenow.com/blogging/automatically-redirect-blogger-blog-another-blog-website/#sthash.fBBcEurs.dpuf Casa de Sion: Volunteer Vacations

Monday, April 01, 2013

Volunteer Vacations

We have 9 teams coming so far this year, 8 thru the month of June. We love teams coming. No only do they help the communities they work in, but when they stay in our volunteer housing they provide much needed money for our programs.
If you have thought of gathering a group of people and coming to help, please do and let us know so we can reserve your spot. Here is the letter we recently composed to send to team members. Maybe it will help get you psyched up to come and help. We have a medical team here now and I will be posting some of their pictures some.


  

Los Robles, Guatemala

Dear Volunteer:


 

Thank you for sacrificing your time and hard-earned money to make a difference in the lives of the Mayan Indians.  The United Nations has rated the Highlands of Guatemala as fourth in the world for chronic malnutrition and you will soon experience why and understand something about our dedication.  You will also get to enjoy the hospitality of Mario and Dominga, our leaders.  Past teams give them very high marks.

 

There is some concern about financial integrity among certain non-profits, and we want to say upfront that all monies donated to Safe Homes go into the Guatemalan programs.  Currently, there is no US overhead.  We take no salary or money for travel or anything else.  You can be assured that any donations you make go into the programs you intended them for. 

 

Our work there started ten years ago as a family project, but as you are about to experience, the need far exceeds our resources.  While you are down there, think about partnering with us on a long term basis.  We have over 60 children in these outlying areas attending middle and high school and many of them need sponsors to be able to continue—in Guatemala  only primary school is free.  The Mommas & Tots feeding program provides prenatal nutrition as well as supplemental infant formula and incaparina, a soy-based nutritional drink, to 250 mothers and 450 children per month.  We have after-school feeding and tutorial programs nurturing 360 children.   We have programs in five communities with over 25 more communities begging us to add them.    We also give away hundreds of pounds of clothes and shoes each year as well as provide medical and dental clinics.  We provide the more complicated medical care for about 25 medically fragile children.  We are in the process of opening an orphanage for children who have been abandoned or have no family to take them in.

 

After all this time helping in Guatemala we have come to the conclusion that we cannot change things ourselves but can provide the catalyst through these programs for these young people to change their own future.

 

Here are a few Dos and Don’ts for your safety:

·         Drink only bottled water that is provided and that goes for brushing your teeth.

·         Be discreet with any valuables (cell phones & computers) and cash.

·         Do not give out money.  It gives the wrong impression.   If you want to help, do it through us.  We will give you the credit.

·         We try to avoid traveling after dark and suggest you do the same.

·         Please do not tip the employees.  We pay them above the local “going rate.”  If you see some area of need, work through us.  Again, we will give you the credit.

·         This is a very modest culture:  no tank-tops, short-shorts or the like.  No bare chests.

·         The weather is cool all year round and nights are cold from November through February.  Bring warm clothes, sweatshirts and sweats.  Bring rain gear from May through October.

 

On your way down, here are a few things you can bring that we desperately need:  instant infant formula of any kind—this is by far our greatest need.  Secondarily are school supplies and kids’ shoes of any kind.   After you’ve returned home, think about sponsoring a child or family.  One of the simplest ways to help is to adopt a young family for $20/month in the Momma and Tots program or sponsor a student for $30/month (times 10 months).  Or sponsor an orphan for $30.00 a month.  Ask about fund-raising ideas if that interests you.  And talk to your friends about the third world poverty that you’ve seen and ask them to sponsor.  With a big enough fund-raiser, we can provide a speaker.   For smaller ones, we can provide a power point.

 

Sincerely,

Vicki & Jody Dalia
1-276-388-3092

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