Amurtel

Didi Ananda Jivaprema es una monja que lleva sobre 20 años ayudando a miles de niños y niñas en Puerto Príncipe, capital de Haití. Hace unas semanas Didi tuvo que huir con un grupo de 40 de esos niños y niñas a Cabo Haitiano, ciudad al norte de Haití, para salvar la vida del grupo, debido a la violencia extrema en Puerto Príncipe. Estamos recaudando fondos para construir una casa grande para Didi y sus niños y niñas. Nos urge proveerles los bienes básicos de subsistencia, además de la construcción de la casa.

Más información sobre Amurtel en inglés: The mission of AMURTEL is to provide immediate and long term relief to women and children in need, in a manner that improves their overall quality of life. If women have access education, health care, economic self- reliance, and a voice to determine their own progress, then this will, in turn, be reflected in the improved welfare of their children and community.

Help families in need during this season of giving by donating to the Asheville Community Relief Fund. This fall fundraiser will be running Oct. 23rd – Dec. 1st to raise money for pressing needs in the Asheville community after Hurricane Helene, including for Lowe’s gift cards, construction projects, blankets, heaters, warm clothes, and more.

All proceeds of this fundraiser will be donated to Amurtel, a disaster relief non-profit organization (501c3).

From the Amurtel website:

Hitting landfall as a Cat. 4 hurricane in the Big Bend region of Florida, Helene left catastrophic destruction in its wake as it roared north. Though eventually downgraded to a tropical storm, Helene became the worst storm to hit N Carolina and Tenn in over 100 years, sweeping away roads, bridges, homes and livelihoods. Whole towns were swallowed up by the flood waters, destroying all access in and out of parts of western NC.

Amurtel has a team on the ground in the Asheville/ Marshall areas of NC, and we will continue to provide aid and support to those who have lost their homes and everything they owned.

Please give what you can as we help these communities get through this heartbreaking time.

Visit amurtel.org for updates and information.

 

 

The school educates approximately 90 – 100 local children in a normal year, aged 3 to 13.  It currently has six classrooms, but needs nine so some of the classes share a room.  It is a very poor school and many families struggle to pay the minimal school fees for their children.
The school and local businesses have been closed during the coronavirus lockdown, so many of the usual donations of food and other supplies from the locals have dried up.  Didi needs help to feed the orphans, as well as to repair and make basic improvements to the property.

Financial Needs

The school and orphanage have many financial needs, both short and long term.  For now, we are focusing mainly on the short term needs. 

This summer, our group of former volunteers donated funds to enable Didi to complete the construction of new toilets and a bathroom building.  The toilets and bathroom were in the process of being rebuilt when the lockdown started and ended up costing more money to continue the construction during that time.  Summer is the rainy season and so it was important to get a roof on these toilets quickly to provide basic facilities for the children.

Please help Amurtel assist those most affected by the devastating Kahramanmaras earthquake that hit Turkey and the surrounding areas on feb 6th. This massive earthquake of 7.8 hit the region at 7:17am, followed by a 6.7 aftershock, and then another with a magnitude 7.6 at 1.24 that afternoon. With over 25,000 confirmed dead, the numbers of those killed and injured is expected to rise, with frigid temperatures making the situation that much worse.

The situation in both areas is dire. AMURTEL has begun relief efforts, focusing first on getting food and supplies to survivors. Our teams are also preparing to set up Psychological Trauma counseling centers along with Child Friendly Spaces.

Your donations will make it possible for our teams to act quickly and effectively; please consider giving generously, and passing this on to your friends and contacts.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Reminder- all donations are tax deductible.

2/15/23

Report from our team on the ground in Turkey:

We next went to the Kahramanmaras stadium where 5000 of the most vulnerable earthquake victims are temporarily staying in tents. There are no bathrooms on site - they must walk to a mosque nearby. There is no running water in the city as the water pipes were damaged in the quake, so water is bubbling up from the asphalt, but not running in the houses. The level of suffering here is overwhelming, and with thousands still missing, people are filled with an almost unbearable sorrow.

Earthquake Relief Underway in Syria and Turkey

As many are aware, there were two devastating earthquakes affecting Turkey and Syria on Monday, Feb. 6. The first was magnitude-7.8 and hit southern Turkey at 7:17am and was followed 11 minutes later by a magnitude-6.7 aftershock. There was a reprieve for nine hours and then "a magnitude-7.5 earthquake rocked the region at 1:24pm local time. The numbers of those killed and injured are rising daily, and torrential rain and frigid temperatures are making the situation that much worse.

The situation in both areas is dire. At the epicenter of the disaster, the temperature at night drops to -8 degrees (C), and survivors pulled from the ruins literally have nothing to protect them from the cold.

AMURTEL has begun relief efforts in both Syria and Turkey, focusing first on getting blankets and food to survivors. Our teams are also preparing to set up Psychological Trauma counseling centers along with Child Friendly Spaces.

All donations to support this work are much appreciated.

Update March 23

AMURT/EL psychologist helping an autistic boy find his place of safety and calm after crossing the border

The power of art helping children deal with the trauma they've been through

After a grueling journey to flee the bombs and shelling of their homes, mothers and children arrive at the Romanian border, only to wait for days to get across.  AMURT/EL volunteers are now crossing into Ukraine to meet them and help them deal with  overwhelming stress and exhaustion. 

Thanks to your amazing support, we are also continuing training other volunteer organizations in setting up and running Child Friendly Spaces, and our team of psychologists are offering psychological first aid, not only to refugees arriving at the centers, but also for other NGO volunteers who are so deeply affected by the stories they are hearing. 

Our AMURT/EL team is providing centralized leadership for this NGO humanitarian effort, including setting up and maintaining strong oversight in protecting against child trafficking.  

We have just sent off a large shipment of solar lanterns with USB ports, to be flown to L'viv, Ukraine. When it arrives, volunteers will distribute these little beacons of hope to those most in need.  

The work continues on into the night, as the situation changes on a daily basis.  Thank you all for your help- by working together we can make a difference.  Please join us in reaching hearts and hands to our neighbors and friends escaping the horrific violence. If you can make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated. And please, share this GoFundMe link with your contacts.

Thank you. 

Finally, after the long journey and wait at the border- preparing to cross to safety. 



Update March 17th

Hi Friends,  Here is an update we received over yesterday from our team on the ground in Siret, Romania.  And it is thanks to your support this is all possible. 

In the past week our role has continued to expand. Perhaps due to our extensive background in disaster relief, AMURT/EL has been asked to assume the coordination of the overall NGO humanitarian response in Siret.  This includes helping organizations find their place, avoid duplications of efforts, and making sure needs are being met. All NGOs and volunteers register with AMURT/EL when they first arrive and then we deploy them to the area that is the best fit for what is needed and what they can provide.  This has led to a marked Increase in the effectiveness and capacity of organizations and volunteers. 

Meeting of NGO humanitarian  response teams. 

Along with the emergency trauma assessment and response,  we have been training psychologists and teachers in a new program focusing on psychological first aid.  It became clear this was something urgently needed. There are thousands of people waiting up to 5 or 6 days to cross  the border, most often without proper water, food, hygiene, or shelter, and they have been outside in the cold.   Most of those waiting are women and children, with some elderly men.  The process of fleeing Ukraine, then waiting days on the border, and finally arriving into the town is overwhelming and exhausting. 

When the refugees arrive, they are now met by people trained to offer not only shelter, food and water, but emotional support and a feeling of safety. It has made a huge difference for so many.  

And some big news for our emergency response!  Just this week we have made a connection  to safely get supplies into Ukraine itself.  With your help we are sending over cases of light-weight solar lights. These are portable and include a USB port.  With most of the electricity now cut off,  these little lanterns will be a huge help for those who must seek shelter from the artillery shelling and bombing in dark cellars. 

As people can see from what is on the news, this humanitarian crisis keeps escalating. We have no idea when things might improve, and it is clear the need for action and relief efforts will continue for months.  AMURT/EL is committed to the long haul, and we hope you will help us in this effort. 

Thank you all for your overwhelming and generous support.  The need is urgent and any help you can share is appreciated. Please forward this link to others so they might also help out. 

Update received Friday night, March 11:

We have  just received word 280 children with disabilities will soon be crossing the border. Our Psychologists are mobilizing to meet them when they arrive in Siret. With your support,  they will do everything  they can to help these kids feel safe, and begin the process of settling in. 

 

Over 5000 people are crossing the border a day, many of them mothers with small children.  The lack of food and water as they flee the fighting in Ukraine is making the journey that much more harrowing.  AMURT/EL is now filling the role of central command for the team of NGO’s, working through the night to welcome the exhausted and terrorized families and let share with them the amazing support coming in from all over the world. 

Thank you all for continuing to make this work possible. 


Melinda, one of our psychologists trained in emergency trauma response presenting a training to CFS coordinators.
 

Update received over the weekend: 

"I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures flooding the internet and TV.  Already by March 3rd, thousands of refugees have fled Ukraine, primarily women and children. Arriving to the safety of Romania, the people are traumatized, forced to flee with just the clothes on their backs, leaving behind burning buildings. The unknown fate of family and loved ones, and with no idea when they will be able to return home only adds to their overwhelming stress.

"Mama, I'm ready. I won't cry. Let's go!"

Already over 140,000 people have crossed the border so far, and 18,000 are children, like Maya, a four year old little girl who arrived with her 10 year old brother and mother today. They were taken to an improvised shelter in a hotel in Siret, where she met with Melinda, our volunteer emergency psychologist. Earlier this morning, Maya had been sheltering with her family in an underground metro station, listening to the frightening explosions and high-pitched whine of sirens outside. When suddenly the noises stopped, she put on her little jacket all by herself and turned to her mother, who was comforting her sobbing 10-year-old brother.  "Mama, now I am ready. I won't cry. Let's go!"

You can provide Maya with immediate trauma care 

You can provide safety, protection and care to Maya and the other refugee children fleeing to Romania from the bombing by supporting the establishment of at least ten Child Friendly Spaces. We urgently need your help to set them up; the earlier children like Maya and their parents  can receive safety and counseling, the more the harmful impact of such trauma can be reduced. 

 
AMURTEL already on the ground at the border

Our AMURTEL team has been busy doing direct assessments and began emergency psychological care at the border in Siret, where most of the refugees have been flooding into the country.  Maya drew this drawing of bombs and an explosion that looks like a flower as she talked with Melinda about their escape.  Her older brother also drew this one of the bombing in Kyiv. Both children were fortunate to meet with Melinda and other AMURTEL volunteers within an hour of arriving".

      


Art display made of children's drawings. Captions given by the artists and written by our volunteers. 


Earlier Post 
You can provide safety, protection and care to Ukrainian refugee children fleeing the bombs and shelling to the safety of Romania. Over 80,000 people have crossed the border so far, with about half of that number moving to other EU countries and the rest staying in Romania. Women and children are arriving traumatized, forced to flee with the clothes on their backs and to leave behind burning buildings, the unknown fate of family and loved ones, and no idea when they will be able to return home.

 

You can ensure children whose lives have been so brutally disrupted receive the opportunity to process their trauma, feel cared for and safe, and build resiliency in Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS). Drawing on extensive experience setting up CFSs in disaster situations, AMURTEL/EL is providing ‘train the trainer’ classes to fellow members of FONPC, (Federation of NGO’s working for Child Protection). We will assist in training 200 + psychologists in setting up 10 Child-Friendly Spaces. The CFSs will be in the border towns of Siret, Iași, Satu-Mare, Tulcea, București, Timișoara, Vaslui (Bârlad).

 

Once trained, these members will then train Ukrainian refugee parents and teachers to run the Child-Friendly Spaces. This ensures children are in environments where their language is spoken and provides employment for refugees.

 

AMURT/EL is putting together CFS starter packets, which will include therapeutic stories, toys, art supplies, musical instruments, sports equipment and other things that make the children feel welcome and connect with others. This weekend, an assessment team will be evaluating the needs directly at the border and planning the best way to support the efforts.

 

As this heartbreaking situation continues, AMURT/El is working with various agencies on resettling refugees across Poland and Romania. Funds raised will be also be used to provide food, shelter and clothing for those fleeing Ukraine. Already one family is on the way to stay in AMURTEL Romania’s farmhouse this week.

 

Thank you in advance for giving this crucial opportunity to children who are so vulnerable at this critical time. We are praying this situation will end soon, but in the meantime, we are all wanting to do the best we can for our friends and neighbors in Ukraine.

 

Please forward this appeal to friends who would like to help the people of Ukraine, and check back regularly for further updates and photos.

 

More information about Amurtel: The mission of AMURTEL is to provide immediate and long-term relief to women and children in need in a manner that improves their overall quality of life. If women have access to education, health care, economic reliance, and a voice to determine their progress, then this will, in turn, be reflected in the improved welfare of their children and community.

 

 

 

You can make a difference by donating today to AMURTEL.