HELP FOR THE ANDES FOUNDATION
ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2003

am honored to present, once again, the Annual Activity Report of Help for the Andes Foundation to the Administrative committee for 2003. The progress that was made during the period of activities from January 1st through December 31st manifests that we have taken important and wonderful steps, continuing to maintain steady progress in reaching our foundation’s goals.

• The Human Touch has been putting measures into practice by which it is reaching its proposals and goals in holding workshops and Seminars geared towards the personnel of local hospitals, orphanages, rural schools, volunteer and rehabilitation centers, etc; whose objective is to encourage, motivate and challenge those who labor in these institutions often under very difficult and sometimes stressful circumstances.
  
  
• Through seminars, lectures, and dynamic workshops Human Touch assists and instructs up to 30 participants at a time with a wide variety of teaching aids such as reading and audiovisual materials including video clips, animated slides, and more.
  
  
• During 2003 workshops and seminars were held at the University of Chile. Professionals, Dr. Jorge Veas, obstetrician, and Sra. Rosa Luz Alba, speech therapist directed several of the workshops. One series of workshops was directed toward teachers in the Metropolitan area titled, Amar y Educar (Love and Educate.) Eighty professors attended for a total of 20 hours of instruction motivating them to reaffirm their vocations, elevate their self-esteem, improve communication skills, overcome difficulties, self-awareness, and finally equipping each professor with the tools to give a more excellent education to the student. Seminars were also held at the “Universidad Central,” directed toward the students in relation to their personal development.
  
  
• Our Project, The Human Touch has also developed an Educational program for housekeepers and nannies from our neighboring country of Peru with the help and participation of the Peruvian Consulate. Workshops were held to cover the following issues:
         Communication skills - To help improve the socialization of these women through basic communication skills, improving family and community relations.
         Confronting special situations with the children - Lack of appetite, temper tantrums, crying spells, spells of discouragement or depression. Teaching the nannies techniques and methods to react in positive and constructive ways with children prepares them for confident conduct.
         Safety-prevention and first aid - ranging from burns, and cuts, overdoses, and poisons, to animal and insect bites.
  At the close of this workshop, the Foundation organized a reception where close to 60 members received a diploma for their successful participation.
  
  
• Young adults in training for computer expertise have been guided by the president of the foundation, HFTA, to set up a professional web page displaying all the activities, photos, projects, and information about Help for the Andes Foundation in both Spanish and English.
  
  
• Much of the work and many of the projects are conducted by volunteers. Linda López and María Aslund, primary teachers, have directed a variety of workshops with the children who attend “Centro El Trampolín,” which is a home for underprivileged children. Other teams of volunteers headed up by Esteban Salazar, Commercial Engineer, traveled to the south of Chile to present a workshop for ecological consciousness at the Municipal School in Puerto Varas. They also pitched in to paint and repair some of the classrooms. Next, approximately 80 grandmothers of the elderly home “Santa Verónica” were entertained, inspired, and comforted by HFTA volunteers on Mothers Day. A luncheon was prepared and served along with music played by three concert musicians, Trío de Música Clásica, (Trio of Classical Music.) Gifts of cosmetics and creams were distributed to the delight of many grandmothers.
  
  
• I also present many activities that were made possible through the efforts of “Luce un Sonrisa”, one being, to establish relations between the volunteers and the needy and destitute, sharing with them the personal touch of cheer, smiles and laughter, affection and attention, to bring them the encouragement and hope they desperately need. Some of the means used to communicate the personal touch were through drawing and painting classes, arts and crafts, story telling, video clips, and motivational audiotapes.
  Further acknowledgement goes to “Luce una Sonrisa” for their work in October presenting a puppet show complete with balloons, and gifts of toys and games for the children of “Jardín Infantil Minviu-Serviu”. Following, the volunteers visited a Hospital school, “Instituto de Rehabilitación Pedro Aguirre Cerda”, to act out the puppet show, then passing the puppets from bed to bed adding to the thrill the little sick ones experienced. Hats off to the volunteers of this program with a sincere commendation and merit for the quality of labor they successfully achieved.
  
  
• It is important to let you know that during this year of 2003 HFTA volunteers have maintained an altruistic concern and connection with various sectors of the less fortunate. So together with foundations in the United States, and Sweden, we have been able to obtain donations of new clothes which have been distributed to the needy specifically to help endure the severe winter conditions in Chile; entities such as International Aid and American Medical Foundation both located in the USA have helped make it possible for us to donate medical supplies and medical equipment to hospitals, and Clinics and Medical Centers. This naturally has allowed us to develop contacts with shipping lines that assist in the transportation of containers. In essence, we are moving well toward our goals and achieving solid results.
  
  
• Besides what has already been presented, attention is brought to the faithful work and labor of Diane Archibald, coordinator of “Pasos Sureños” Through her, two students from the University of Miami, USA who visited Chile, learned of the dire need to improve the conditions of the Mapuche community located in the south region of our country. Our intent is to give recognition to “Pasos Sureños” so others who can, may be inspired to participate in some form or other in the progress of this project.
  
  
• It is worth mentioning our collaboration with the Chilean Red Cross chapter in Independencia, which has proved beneficial for many people. We have had numerous encounters a few of which were: A program of Workshops, held for the benefit of Senior Citizens, approaching subjects such as finding solutions to understanding their special interests and needs; Special quests to these workshops besides Dr. Jorge Veas, Sra. Rosa Luz Alba were Hains Jurgen and Eduardo Hermosilla; Music and souvenirs for each of the attendees added to the highlight of these events; moments to remember include the celebration of the 100 years anniversary of the Independencia chapter in which we contributed by providing the musical group with guitars, flutes, and the refreshments; it is worth mentioning the accredited First Aid course that was conducted by an outstanding member and instructor for the Red Cross, Sra. Erika Contreras T and the twelve volunteers from the HFTA who worked 20 hours learning first aid techniques and skills to prepare them for any future emergency situations.
  
  
• We want to give proper credit to those who contributed to making it possible for us to donate toothpaste, shampoo, and approx. 500 educational coloring books that we distributed to the educational center, “El Trampolín” and also to the Methodist Pentecostal Church.
  
  
• In the month of December we were able to make a visit to the “Hogar Santa Verónica” located in the suburb of Independencia, the residence of over 60 Senior citizens. HFTA also contributed with refreshments and presents and entertained them with a choir singing Christmas Carols. We realized that they carry a sense of great friendship. In December, we also visited with the students and personnel at the Chilean Police Academy where we celebrated with a choir of Christmas Carolers in the presence of the General Director of the Institution, Alberto Cienfuegos and his distinguished wife. Lastly, in December we gave a presentation at the Peruvian Embassy for underprivileged children, at the Italian community club, and for the senior citizens of another home for the elderly, “Seniorliving.”