Que Rico!
Keen to volunteer whilst travelling through Bolivia in 2004, Nick Marsh and Madalyn Bielfeld spent time in the Burns Unit, Cochabamba. Upon return to the UK they set up Que Rico! a registered charity dedicated to support the centre which treats badly burned children. As a state-run hospital in Bolivia, one of the world's poorest countries, there are dire needs for equipment and staffing. Que Rico! is raising funds for an anaesthetic machine, without which children die on the operating table. Funds raised are also used to employ needed nurses, doctors and physiotherapists, as well as essential basic materials such as new bandages, nappies and pyjamas.
Click to donate to the children at Que Rico
Dental Project Peru
Dental Project Peru provides emergency dental care and education to the most impoverished and rural areas of Peru. The charity's initial efforts are focused in the Apurimac region, which is situated in the high Andes of Peru, has a population of roughly 50,000 people, and is at present serviced by only 2 Peruvian dentists, who are generally non-mobile, poorly equipped, under funded and inaccessible to most residents. Thus, the majority of the population has never seen a dentist, received dental treatment or education and therefore pain and infection goes untreated. Amazingly, this area is only a few hours drive away from the tourist hub of South America, Cusco, and the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.
Click to donate to Dental Project Peru
Safe Passage
Safe Passage was founded by American Hanley Denning in 1999. Safe Passage works with children that live within Guatemala city's rubbish dump. They offer hope to the most desperate of Guatemala's poor primarily through education. In Guatemala, education is not free and many of the poorest can not afford the enrollment fees, books and uniforms. Since Safe Passage was founded, they have built a school within the rubbish dump grounds and teach children the school curriculum as well as valuable lifeskills such as sports, music and nutrition. Safe Passage now educates 500 children, and offers extra assistance with medical health and vocational training. They continually need support to fund the venture and to build upon their long-term development goals for Guatemala's poorest.
Click to sponsor a child at Safe Passage
CREA - Conservation Research Education Action
Jose is a farmer in Panama who earns up to £10 a month for him and his family of 5. He knows nothing of farming methods other than cutting and burning rainforest to plant maize and cassava. The soil, he knows, will only last one year and he will soon have to open up another patch of forest to plant more food. But the forest is running out and this year he has no-where to go. CREA, a UK environmental charity, trains poor farmers like Jose to use better farming methodology that produces more and avoids the need for deforestation. These are the real issues that are causing the burning of thousands of sq. miles of rainforest each year, contributing to global warming, biodiversity loss and poverty. If you would like more information on the work of CREA or to adopt an acre of rainforest visit their website.
Click to become a CREA Rainforest Guardian
Galapagos Conservation Trust
The Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), is a UK charity that raises funds for, and awareness of, the conservation needs of the Galapagos Islands. They work with the key institutions in Galapagos to ensure a sustainable future for this natural treasure, and are a part of the international Friends of Galapagos network. Whether you are passionate about Galapagos, concerned about its conservation, committed to sustainable development, intrigued by the Islands' many unique species or are planning a visit, we recommend you look at their website and maybe even adopt a Blue-footed boody, seal pup or Galápagos tortoise.
Click to adopt a Galapagos animal