Expat Community > Ecuador

boncur
Joined 2009
Posts: 1180

Tragedy in the Andes

13 years ago

Once again the torrential rains had done damage to extremely poor Indians' meager houses during the night, in two of our little communities, Yambiro and Larcacunga. Thank God no one was killed. Again, just meters down the mountain from us in Yambiro, right up from the school, 3 houses of Indian families of up to 12 people, were completely leveled. They are living in the "Casa Communal"--a two-story building that some years ago, the Ali Shungu Foundation Built for the Yambiro Community.

Up the way, less than a mile in Larcacunga community, about 8 homes were completely destroyed in the torrential rains and those families are now staying in the smaller Community House and with other families.

My husband and an employee just set out to buy hundreds of lbs. of Potatoes, Rice, Corn to take to the Communal Houses to help these families who have just lost everything. If the rains keep up, more houses will be washed away and these people just do not have the resources to even build a couple thousand dollar cinder block and mud shelter. There are still people up here who do not even hve proper outhouses. When we first came here, there was not even running water!

I have written twice before about the Ali Shungu Foundation, and you can find out the information about it by putting it into the search engine on the expat forum (and Google) or by checking out www.alishungufoundation.com

The Ali Shungu Foundation is a legally registered non-profit Foundation to minister to the eduction, health and welfare of these very poor indigenous people. These people are the poorest of the poor--living on dirt floors in their humble dwellings. Every cent that is donated goes right to the cause. We use our own monies for the legalities of the Foundation. We do not "work it" like some 'Foundations' do down here---deducting money for an office, secretary, etc.

Some references for our foundation which has been in existence for almost 10 years now are:

Dr. Lynn Meisch, Professor of Anthropology and Andean Studies, St. Mary's College, Walnut Creek, Calif. ([email protected])

Ms. Jacquie Rodgers, Maynard, Mass., ([email protected]) who has worked with and for the Foundation almost since the beginning.

Dr. Ernesto Saransig & Maria Emma Perugachi, 'elders' of the Yambiro Community ([email protected])

Maquipurashun Foundation, Senora Eugenia Gualsaqui, Otavalo

Dr. Frank Salomon, Professor of Anthropology, Univ. of Wisc., at Madison ([email protected] )

There are many, many more people who can substantiate the credibility of our Ali Shungu Foundation.

Anyone wishing to help out in any way with a few dollars, it would be greatly appreciated, as I feel that these people are going to need some on-going help for a time until they can get a roof built as the houses were not damaged, but destroyed in entirety!

Many times we spend our own money when it's needed, but we sure do need help as some people were not able to help this past year as before with some of the school grants. We have alot of folks who send $200 a year to help keep a very smart kid in school, that is not the total cost but it helps.

Right now, we need help for food and warm clothing for these people. Anyone coming down here to the Otavalo or Cotacachi area and is willing to go to Salvation army or wherever, and bring some children's, women's and men's warm clothing, jackets, sweaters, anything, please write to me, I will meet you anywhere in the area to accept the things.

Here are some ways that you could help financially if you wish to:

You can send a personal check (not a money order or a cashier's check) made out to THE ALI SHUNGU FOUNDATION and you can mail it CERTIFIED and/or REGISTERED to: Margarita Goodhart, Casilla 34, Otavalo, Ecuador, SA

OR you can even make a Pay Pal payment into my account and I can get it to the folks in this way. We can have a letter of gratitude sent to you and we will publically thank you on the Foundation web page.

OR You could also make a direct deposit of dollars into the Ali Shungu Foundation Bank Account, it would not cost you anything extra on your end, some have told me. This information is:

Banco Internacional
Sucursal Otavalo
Calle Sucre, Pana. Norte, s/n
Otavalo, Ecuador
South America

Bank Code: BINTECEQ

Ali Shungu Foundation
Account Number: 950-060180-3
Name of: Fundacion Ali Shungu

Remember, any amount of money can help in this situation. I can also provide a further list of references for our Foundation.

Unfortunately, we are not a legal foundation in the U.S. so we are unable to provide you with a U.S. 501-3-C deduction (but it is hardly anything anyway). We used to have an organization at the Dartmouth University accept our donations and then send them to us, in order to give folks the 501-3-C, but they were not on the "up and up" with all the donations, so we are not doing that. If someone NEEDS a 501-3-C deduction for a substantial donation to the Foundation, Ms. Jacquie Rodgers can be contacted and she can help you with this.

Thanks alot for taking the time to read this.

William Russell

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William Russell

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Tragedy in the Andes

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