While Paraguay typically experiences devastating fires, this year’s are some for the record books. Areguá, home to several Peace Corps staff members and many former Peace Corps host families, has been hit particularly hard. A fire that started in Cerro Koi spread to nearby homes and businesses. Paraguay relies on a volunteer force of firefighters, and they are stretched beyond capacity. As an RPCV, I wanted to be able to do something to support Paraguay and Paraguayans in this difficult moment. After seeing a post in Friends of Paraguay, I was inspired into action but wasn’t sure how to best help. My friend and former tech trainer Cristhian Fretes reached out with additional information about the situation and an opportunity to leverage and pool donations through a Paraguayan environmental conservation NGO, OPADES .
Why OPADES?
OPADES is a well-respected organization that can quickly get resources and funds where they are most needed. The team met this evening (10/1) with Ing. Agr. Jose Perez Perez, an honorary member of OPADES and a forest fire expert who has worked with USAID on projects training firefighters throughout Paraguay, to quickly analyze the situation and prioritize needs. OPADES additionally knows the head of the park rangers in Cerro Koi and has worked in the park and surrounding buffer areas. OPADES is committed to transparent use of any funds donated.
Additionally, OPADES has managed funds from WWF-Paraguay and Guyra Paraguay and is currently carrying out a project with U.S. government funding (Inter-American Foundation).
What will OPADES do?
The situation on the ground is complex: there are many different actors involved, and no one is taking the lead. The root causes of the current dysfunction are too complex for us to immediately and effectively address. OPADES’ primary priority, as established in consultation with Ing. Perez Perez, is to support the volunteer firefighters on the ground in Areguá through purchasing and distributing water, food, electrolyte drinks, and any other immediate need they may have. OPADES will provide transportation as a counterpart contribution. While many areas are currently in need, OPADES expects that a concentrated effort in Areguá is the best place to start.
If funds raised exceed current need (unlikely...but plausible? One can hope?), OPADES has in mind several medium- to long-term plans for funds. Additionally, I recognize that the situation is in flux and I trust OPADES and its team of experts to decide if funds and resources will be most effective elsewhere. OPADES, in efforts to be transparent, will keep us updated through this page on how funds are spent.
As OPADES cannot directly receive a transfer from GoFundMe (and no other option was quickly available), I will transfer all funds to Cristhian Fretes, OPADES president, who will immediately deposit funds into OPADES’ organization bank account. I will share transparently the total raised and transfer fees.
I will be making the first transfer of funds on Monday, October 5th. If you can, please donate by Sunday night (Oct. 4).
Read more:
https://www.ultimahora.com/bomberos-voluntarios-necesitan-donaciones-insumos-n2907430.html
https://www.ultimahora.com/declaran-situacion-emergencia-nacional-incendios-y-autorizan-solicitar-ayuda-internacional-n2907415.html
Photo: Ministerio del Ambiente y Desarollo Sostenible (MADES)
Photo: Claus Brehm
Why OPADES?
OPADES is a well-respected organization that can quickly get resources and funds where they are most needed. The team met this evening (10/1) with Ing. Agr. Jose Perez Perez, an honorary member of OPADES and a forest fire expert who has worked with USAID on projects training firefighters throughout Paraguay, to quickly analyze the situation and prioritize needs. OPADES additionally knows the head of the park rangers in Cerro Koi and has worked in the park and surrounding buffer areas. OPADES is committed to transparent use of any funds donated.
Additionally, OPADES has managed funds from WWF-Paraguay and Guyra Paraguay and is currently carrying out a project with U.S. government funding (Inter-American Foundation).
What will OPADES do?
The situation on the ground is complex: there are many different actors involved, and no one is taking the lead. The root causes of the current dysfunction are too complex for us to immediately and effectively address. OPADES’ primary priority, as established in consultation with Ing. Perez Perez, is to support the volunteer firefighters on the ground in Areguá through purchasing and distributing water, food, electrolyte drinks, and any other immediate need they may have. OPADES will provide transportation as a counterpart contribution. While many areas are currently in need, OPADES expects that a concentrated effort in Areguá is the best place to start.
If funds raised exceed current need (unlikely...but plausible? One can hope?), OPADES has in mind several medium- to long-term plans for funds. Additionally, I recognize that the situation is in flux and I trust OPADES and its team of experts to decide if funds and resources will be most effective elsewhere. OPADES, in efforts to be transparent, will keep us updated through this page on how funds are spent.
As OPADES cannot directly receive a transfer from GoFundMe (and no other option was quickly available), I will transfer all funds to Cristhian Fretes, OPADES president, who will immediately deposit funds into OPADES’ organization bank account. I will share transparently the total raised and transfer fees.
I will be making the first transfer of funds on Monday, October 5th. If you can, please donate by Sunday night (Oct. 4).
Read more:
https://www.ultimahora.com/bomberos-voluntarios-necesitan-donaciones-insumos-n2907430.html
https://www.ultimahora.com/declaran-situacion-emergencia-nacional-incendios-y-autorizan-solicitar-ayuda-internacional-n2907415.html
Photo: Ministerio del Ambiente y Desarollo Sostenible (MADES)Photo: Claus Brehm