Gender Equality Bolivia Project #38170

Support 125 children at Refugio Rafael in Bolivia

by Global Gallery, Inc.

Project Report | Sep 27, 2022
We love llamas!

By Connie De Jong | Project Leader

Lentes al Instante

We have so much happening now, but we are most excited about the developments in the handcrafts entrepreneurship program. In the past 6 months, the community of women in the refuge and in the local area have amped up the handcrafts program with energy and creativity.

From sourcing wool in their home communities, to washing, spinning, dying and crocheting, the women in the handcrafts program have created a beautiful circle of creation and income generation.

The most popular product so far is a llama cup koozie, but the new crocheted roses are also well loved! We dressed up the koozies with air plants and also made a little vase with them for the roses, so we are happy they are selling fast and creating more orders for the women. We are testing out some new patterns for holiday ornaments and other new products, so watch World Peaces for new items at www.worldpeaces.com

We also want to share about the collaborative projects with "Smiles Forever" for dental care and a eye glasses campaign with "Lentes al Instante" to benefit the entire community. Fundacion Ayllu and Refugio Rafael are evolving into services that benefit the entire community in and around Marquina. Much of the community is comprised of people who have come in from small communities looking for work and educational opportunities. With these changes come many pressures, and we believe that solidarity can lift everyone up!

Smiles Forever dental clinic in Cochabamba, Bolivia is answering the plea to bring preventative and urgent dental care to children served by Refugio Rafael. Andean Highlands families, some with only a mother, have come to the shelter located approximately an hour and half from our clinic. Currently, our two GlobalGiving groups are beginning a dental evaluation for elementary and older youth.

PREVENT CAVITIES AT SHELTER

Already children are being identified for SDF treatments, which is a way to stop the spread of cavities. Other older children have been found to need specialist dental care for root canals or crowns.

This is an ideal new partnership because of the proximity, and it is really wonderful that both Smiles Forever and Refugio Rafael have strong leadership and stable finances to give this promise of longterm success.

Muchas gracias! Your gifts inspire us to expand dental care, in areas totally lacking in this critical aspect of overall health treatments.

Even though Refugio Rafael has a school and a medical facility, it lacks a dental exam and treatment room. The old equipment fell into decay and must be completely replaced and the room upgraded.

Thank you everyone for continuing to support our dental outreach areas.

With "Lentes al Instante", an NGO from Germany that checks patients for the need for glasses, and for those that do, creates them the same day. We designed and implemented a campaign for 300 people from the community to be seen, measured and provided with glasses as needed!

Finally, we are planning for volunteers visiting in March. If you would like more information about these opportunities, please email us at Worldpeacesfairtrade@gmail.com

Smiles Forever

Llama products process

Llama making process

spinning wool

wool process

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