Elderly Support in Latin America

I hope all is well with you. As 2022, our 20^th Anniversary, draws to a close it is worth reflecting on what has been a year of rebuilding after the pandemic with full classrooms and sharing with you our plans for 2023 and the years ahead.

Access to full-time education from primary school to university will always be our number one priority though we are also aware that in times of hardship, employment opportunities are scarce even with an education. The pandemic, the effects of climate change which for years have been plain to see where we work and the current cost of living crisis are prime examples of these additional real-life obstacles facing our communities who already live with extreme difficulties.

The implementation of sustainable family and community income plans is key to ensuring independent economic stability no matter how the macro environment is faring and, after education, will be a priority for our work over the coming years.

We have learned so much over the past twenty years in Latin America, the highs and the lows and we plan to use this extensive knowledge we have garnered to benefit not only the communities where we currently work though also to implement new projects in other communities. The goal is the same wherever: sustainable full education and economic security.

During the year we have undertaken various community studies to see the situation in the communities, especially for the elderly population. Funds permitting we provide food for them though it is generally agreed that the more we can implement sustainable income plans for the families which generate a reglar income the better. The elderly can then purchase the products they need.

We also want to expand the sewing project in Guatemala to include the elderly (who can make it to the base) so they can sell their products in the local markets for extra income - sustainability. 

Thank you so much to you all for helping us get this far and we hope you will continue to support our work for years to come as we face the known and unknown issues facing Latin American communities now and in the future.

Have a fantastic 2023 and thank you all once again.

Cheers    

One of the best ways we can support the elderly in the communities where we work is the make sure their grandchildren have access to quality education so that in the future they can secure employment and help their grandparents in any way they can. We are continuing to provide this education and have already seen many of our former students gain employment and help out at home with extra costs.

Whilst there are still years to go for many of our students to gain employment and help out this way, we are putting in place sustainable plans to provide daily food for many elderly in the community and when we can, celebrate with them so they can at least eat a sturdy meal now and then! In Perú we are celebrating our first harvest of the large scale vegetable garden which will provide daily vegetables not only for the children though also for the aged generation. In Ecuador we are resuming Plan Moo, the purchase of cows, which will provide regular income for the family home, including the elderly, with the sale of milk. 

This year The Phoenix Projects are celebrating twenty years in Latin America and thanks to you around five thousand children, teenagers and adults have been able to receive a quality education during this time in Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Perú and previously in Brazil, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

We have built schools, extra classrooms, kitchens and energy efficient stoves, provided employment for dozens of local people, planted hundreds of thousands of trees, distributed educational materials, daily meals and hundreds of tonnes of fruit and implemented sustainable income plans on an average annual budget of around $100,000/£85,000.

Additionally, over three hundred families have benefitted from the implementation of sustainable income plans including cows, chickens, weaving, vegetables and small businesses.

To celebrate our 20^th Anniversary we are launching this year’s Appeal today and all donations up to $50/£40 through this page will be matched at 50% by GlobalGiving between Monday 12th September - today - until Friday 16^th September. Larger donations can of course be made although the matching will only apply to the first $50/£40 and only once per individual donor.

We still have so much more we want to do over the coming years with the experience we have gained, including replicating the projects in other communities with sustainable plans covering running costs from the start.

Your continued support in helping to fund local teachers’ salaries and scholarships, school materials, food and sustainable income plans is as important now as it has been in the last twenty years.

We realise that times are uncertain though anything you can donate to the Appeal through this page this week to take advantage of the 50% matching will help us start the next twenty years in the best possible way!

Thank you so much in advance.