All the latest from South America!
In this issue…
- Out on the road: Find out how you can support Chile this month with Do Good As You Go volunteers Claudia and Cristian.
- Volunteer Impact Stories: Meet Margaret- and watch a video about her fantastic Brazil project, Raised in Rocinha!
Do Good As You Go volunteers in South America…
please consider Doing Good in Valparaiso this month!
We recently welcomed the amazing duo, Claudia and Cristian of De Alaska A Patagonia, to our network of volunteers. They worked with our partner in Guanajuato on several key projects and are now focusing their efforts on their home country. Claudia and Cristian recently reached out to their friends and contacts through social networks to ask for assistance in Valparaiso, Chile, which was taken ablaze in April by wildfires. The city is now coping with the aftermath of over 3,000 homes being burnt to the ground. Claudia and Cristian have connections to organizations that are supporting the communities through this tragedy.
Please contact them to learn more about how you can help!
Did you know that Chile’s firefighters are 100% volunteer based?
In the wake of the disaster in Chile in April, questions are being raised about how to better equip the nation’s firefighting force, whether it’s through spending funds on equipment and training or to switch to a hired staff.
“We don’t want to be paid,” says Juan Enrique Julio, head of the Santiago fire service. “If people want to give us money, that’s fine, but it should be used to modernize our equipment, buy new fire engines, buy protective clothing and for training, not for salaries.” That sentiment has been echoed across the force.
Learn more about the situation in Chile, and the various questions being discussed on how best to move forward at BBC News: Latin America & Caribbean.
Volunteer Impact Stories: Curious About What Happens After You Are Gone?
Volunteering as you travel is an interesting game that one plays with the heart and mind. There is a fair amount of mental and emotional investment in the individuals, communities and projects you work with, although you know that most likely you won’t be there to witness the true impact of your involvement.
We are very excited and proud of our Do Good As You Go volunteer, Margaret Day. She led photography workshops for the children living in a favela in Rio De Janeiro in 2011. Margaret is now gearing up to return to Rio to create an amazing follow up project with the same youths this summer! Good luck Margaret!
Learn more about the Brazil project here.
Get Involved!
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