Pediatric Services in Remote Areas of Argentina

Dear friends,

once again we’re sharing with you exciting news and achievements for the first quarter of 2015. We started another year of service and are very proud to announce that this year will be the 10th year anniversary of our foundation! Our project started as an idea we wanted to develop, always believing that there was something else we could do to help others. We grew more and more as we learned about the needs of people in Argentina and all our projects and ideas have been achieved thanks to your help. That’s why we would like to wish you a happy 10th anniversary as well, for being such a significant part in our project. Thank you for sharing with us, for trusting our organization to be the link between your generosity and the children in need.

 In March we finished the installation of the first drinking water well of the year at school EGB Nº 634 located in Paraje Fortín Brown, 45 km from Pampa del Indio, Chaco. We finished the connections to the water tank, repaired the bathrooms, kitchen and gutters. There was also an addition made to be able to gather rain water. Children, teachers and people in the community now have access to drinking water!

 We continue adding schools and organizations to our assistance program. During the month of March we began working with “Asociación Civil Pequeños Pasos”, a non for profit organization that works to detect, prevent and control childhood malnutrition by providing balanced diets with rigorous control conducted by professional nutritionists. Located in Loma Hermosa, Buenos Aires, they assist 86 children and 68 mothers. We are helping by providing funds to cover food cost and nutritionists’ fees. Our partner in Argentina, Teresa Donaire, has also coordinated donations of different items needed.

 We continue giving our program “Breakfast for the Children” in Chaco and Misiones. More than 300 children benefit from this program and receive breakfast and/or lunch. The school year started in March 2015, throughout this year we will keep working with teachers, students and school staff, wishing them a year full of success and learning.

 Unfortunately during the months of summer when schools are closed, two of the schools were robbed. Some of the items stolen included gas pipes for the kitchen and the hoses that carry water to the school. We were able to replace most of the items, specially the hoses to be able to provide drinking water to the children.

  All soup kitchens, pediatric and dental services we provide through Organizacion Sai in Buenos Aires, Salta, Tucumán, Santa Fe and Misiones have remained in effect and these are some of the activities that took place during the first quarter of 2015.

 400 children from Mocovi comunity in Recreo attended the center in Noccan Kani, Santa Fe, where they receive meals every Thursday and Sunday. This year we are also providing tutoring every Thursday to the children whose mothers participate in the knitting activities. They make blankets and other items for expecting mothers.

 In Posadas, Misiones we continued our services although we had some changes in schedules due to flooding in the area.

In San Ignacio we had more children registered this school year. Both of the additional classrooms (Pindoyti and Tava Mirí) are branches of the rural bilingual school #44 located outside San Ignacio. In these classrooms the students and their siblings receive two meals a day (breakfast / lunch or lunch / afternoon snack). The items received by the government are not enough, which is a great concern for the teachers. Many times they use their own salary to support these children. The foundation was able to provide powdered milk, food, candy, school supplies, shoes, clothing, etc.

 At “Mamitas” home for young expecting moms, we delivered donations of diapers, food, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, etc. The institution had run out of supplies and its coordinator contacted us with her concern, they did not have enough resources to support these girls. They used to help and serve in a soup kitchen located in the neighborhood where they also received meals, but that soup kitchen was shut down by the government so our presence and support is now indispensable.

In Los Oleros neighborhood, we provided medical services twice a month, as usual. We took care of 25 people, 17 of them were children and teenagers. Many neighbors were seen for different reasons. They’re very poor and need to travel long distances to be able to receive any kind of help. One of the men in the community told us that his wife recently passed  away because he wasn’t able to reach a hospital in time. She suffered from hypertension peak but he didn’t make it on time to the hospital since his car didn’t work and he had to take the bus with her. This neighborhood is getting more populated but there aren’t enough services to support such increase in population, specially the drinking water supplies. We have noted pathologies typical of the season, besides others due to poor hygiene. The community is deeply thankful for the care and attention they’re receiving now. Some of the most common health issues treated here are bronchitis, fungal infections, furunculosis, hypertension, dermatitis, allergies, underweight malnutrition and parasitosis.

At the Toba community in Derqui, Buenos Aires, we have been working with emphasis on the integration of the children to society, help them connect to nature and promote a commitment towards our services in order to achieve a productive experience. We took on different learning projects such as “Proyecto Huerta” through different activities such as songs, storytelling, art and some simple yoga exercises. These activities were followed by lunch. Afterwards we worked on seedlings in recycled bottles, during this activity we explained how to take care of plants. We planted two trees. We concluded the day with a casual meeting (adults only). During the following visit we planted our seedlings and other seeds directly in the ground and also worked on protecting our orchard. We foresee significant improvement in this community.

At “Casa Feliz Sai”, soup kitchen in Gonzalez Catan, Buenos Aires, we assist approximately 500 children a month. On Saturdays we serve meals for around 70 children. We sang songs with the children and held different events such as agricultural and hygiene workshops with emphasis in the importance of washing hands. We also delivered hygiene items. Every Saturday we served breakfast to the children, chocolate milk, cookies and cereal. Lunch was also provided. They received a meal with bread and juice. The children help pick up and clean after breakfast and then they play and color. Sometimes we also play movies, which we later discuss. All these events are organized by the people in charge of the place and volunteers from the Sai organization. Once the children finish playing, they get the place ready to serve lunch. On Saturday 01/11 we took approximately 30 children 10 years and older to Punta Lara, a swimming facility. They left at 8.30 AM and came back at 7PM. They were accompanied by chaperones and were transported by a bus company from the area.

Health services: on 01/25 a pediatrician and a dentist provided their services to this community. Doctors and volunteers were there at 9.15 to get the place ready and begin seeing patients. While these activities were taking place, Gloria and her family were making breakfast for the children (chocolate milk with cookies and cereal). The volunteers in charge of the Human Values Workshop and some of the children began working on the rooms and getting ready for the activities. The pediatrician saw 31 children. The most frequent conditions were skin and respiratory infections, and eye problems. The dentist saw 9 patients with different problems including extractions and other treatments. All the patients received medication to treat their condition. At the same, there was a class in Human Values teaching about “Care, Happiness and Dedication”. The children sang songs and listened to a story and and did a guided questions and answers activity. At the end, lunch was served for everyone. During the next pediatric visit on February 14, 16 children and 5 adults were seen. They were treated for  skin and respiratory infections.  On March 21 there was a new pediatric visit; 28 children and 5 adults were treated for different conditions such as parasitosis and respiratory infections. As usual, there was teaching in Human Values, fun activities, a sewing workshop and a meal for everyone present on both occasions.

A “La Casita Sai” soup kitchen in Florencio Varela all activities took place as usual; children were served  breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack twice a week. The building of a  new doctor’s office was finished  so the doctors can treat patients in a more comfortable environment. All 60 children who attend every week participate in all the activities - from helping cook to setting up with enormous happiness. They received a monthly visit from a pediatrician, dentist and dematologist. In January, 9 children were seen and a high risk for cavities was observed due to lack of oral health. A similar situation was observed in February and in March, when 14 children were treated for the same reason. From here on, there will be workshops for parents and caregivers to encourage preventive oral care in children and adults. The dermatologist treated patients for eccema, xerodermia, head lice, burns and psoriasis. 

At the Merendero Belén (soup kitchen), in Villa Solidaridad, Salta there were weekly meetings on Saturday where children enjoyed a meal and had a great time. Thanks to the house owners where meetings are held, Eva and Luis, who prepare chocolate milk, rice and milk, bread and pastries, the children always have amazing afternoons full of fun and love. They participate in games and recreational activities. About 40 young children attend constantly every week and some of their moms all help. On January 6 there was a celebration because of the day of the “Three Maggi” and it was an amazing afternoon with food, games, songs, educational talks and special presents for the children brought from India.

In “Las Talitas” (soup kitchen), Tucumán, more than 35 children participate every week in different activities including a meal, games, songs, and different workshops. They also received shoes and clothing. In January, there was a celebration because of the day of the “Three Maggi” where the children had a fabulous time eating, playing and they also got t-shirts as presents. During January, the pediatrician treated 42 children for skin  and respiratory infections and parasites. Each patient received the necessary medicine for their condition. There were different questions about teenage health that were answered by the pediatrician.

Infinite thanks to the endless work of our leader in Buenos Aires, Teresa and her group of helping hand for the incredible amount of donations received, cleaned, washed, organized and sent to the different schools and organizations according to their needs. Teresa has an extensive network of volunteers who help by donating items, money, time and labor so many children can access many things they lack and put smile on their faces. Among them we have to especially thank Mr. Cesar from Famyca for donating all the packing tape used to send the packages and boxes to the schools; and to Humberto for fixing all the donated computer equipment free of charge and he ocasionally also helps with the organization of the wherehouse and packing.

 A great number of donations were received and sent to our schools in Chaco, Corrientes, Salta, Entre Rios and San Luis. Among the items received we can mention clothing, soccers jerseys, soccer balls, athletic shoes, educational toys, books, schools supplies, a flag, first aid kits, tooth brushes and tooth paste, medicine, non-perishable food items, linens, towels, mattresses, bed sheets and blankets, kitchen utensils, computers, tvs, radios, fans among others. There was a special donation of 16 chairs and 3 tables for a kindergarten class, a library shelf that were sent to one of the school in need of those items.

NIKE Argentina donated  100 pairs of athletic shoes to promote a change through sport activities; the shoes were sent to one of the schools and the children received them with great joy.

During the month of December 2014 Teresa travelled to Chaco to visit several of the schools in the area. During her visit to School N*97  she gave away soccer balls and she got lots of smiles in return!

We want to express our sincere thanks to the companies that transport the donations to the different schools free of charge: Expreso Amafuerte, Logística Salta, Expreso Demonte, Expreso San Juan de Cuyo.

Our deep gratitute to the school directors, teachers and students who make a daily effort to attend school and improve their education and their lives because they believe in the opportunity of a better future. To most of them the mere fact of getting to school means that they have to walk several miles, hitchhike or ride a horse due to the remote location of the schools. We’d like to thank them for being our allies and an integral part of our f0undation.

THANKS Everyone  for trusting in our foundation to be the liaison  between the children who  need our help and yourselves

SUMANDO MANOS FOUNDATION 

Links:

• Sumando Manos Foundation Official Website
• Facebook

• Newsletter. Spanish Version (PDF)