This is because the tents will be collected up and delivered to World Emergency Relief. We will then send those tents that are in good condition on to our partners around the world for use by people in need of shelter.
]]>Integración Juvenil (IJ), located in Puerto Plata was established in 1978 by a group of local women who were concerned about the hardships faced by children growing up in the extensive slums in and around the city the project provided a safe place at their Munoz centre for young people to help them escape street culture and participate in classes such as woodwork and basic literacy
]]>Integración Juvenil (IJ), located in Puerto Plata was established in 1978 by a group of local women who were concerned about the hardships faced by children growing up in the extensive slums in and around the city the project provided a safe place at their Munoz centre for young people to help them escape street culture and participate in classes such as woodwork and basic literacy
WER have been working with IJ for 7 years and in that time have seen major improvements and expansion of their programme.
Now, instead of providing basic workshops, IJ provides a nationally recognised, accredited education programme that aims to bring children into mainstream education or where this is not possible to provide education themselves. In many cases children who have attended the programme are able to be integrated into the state education system and attend conventional schools.
To facilitate this involves more than just the three Rs. IJ also have a team of social workers and psychiatrists who work alongside the teachers enabling children to develop the necessary behavioural and emotional skills for success in education. IJ now support 340 children in 3 different locations across Puerto Plata.
WER’s most recent visit to IJ coincided with the opening on 14th May 2009 of the new City Centre Programme. This new centre is housed in a building donated by WER with restoration costs coming from a combination of the DR department of education and IJ’s own resources.
The aim of the City Centre Programme is to improve the educational opportunities of children in difficult circumstances by forming a team of social workers, psychiatrists and teachers who have developed strategies to draw in the children, enrol them on the programme and support the integration process of 60 new pupils, who at the end of the year will be ready to be integrated into the formal education system.
Amongst the strategies is the creation of a support committee and a social audit committee which works with families in the community alongside six educational social workers.
IJ have also signed agreements with the Ministry of Art and Culture and the Regional Hotel Association, both of which have guaranteed their support for the City Centre Programme. These historic agreements mean that it will be the local community that acts as the primary supporter of the centres.
Commenting on the profound effect the project has had on the lives of local children, Alex Haxton said: “The work that Integración Juvenil has done means that the local community is beginning to see all the local children as a communal responsibility, a gift rather than a problem, including those children that live in terrible conditions in slums and on the streets. This is obviously good for the children themselves, but also for the community at large. Through this collective responsibility they are bringing themselves closer together."
This is because the tents will be collected up and delivered to World Emergency Relief. We will then send those tents that are in good condition on to our partners around the world for use by people in need of shelter.
Your tent could be used:
In south Sudan by families who since the peace accord are returning to their homes after being displaced by conflict for more than 20 years. It will take a long time for them to rebuild shattered communities but while they do so your tent could provide much needed shelter.
In the Congo by communities fleeing rebel forces who have attacked their villages. Many thousands of people are forced to live in refugee camps. Your tent could help provide immediate shelter to people with nowhere else to sleep.
In disaster areas across the world victims of natural disasters and man-made emergencies require rapid assistance. Your tent could be shipped out to provide urgent shelter for victims in any part of the world. WER have shipped goods to help during the Pakistani earthquakes, the Asian Tsunami, the Myanmar Cyclone and on many other occasions, all to people with nowhere else to turn.
The tent in your loft or at the back of your cupboard really could save lives.
To take part all you need to do is take your old tent down to Millets. Please be sure that you have packed all the necessary parts and if something is missing or damaged please let the shop staff know to avoid shipping unusuable goods overseas. You will still receive the 20% discount even if the tent is damaged.
For more information please contact ben@wer-uk.org
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The child in this picture is enjoying nutritious, organic baby food courtesy of Plum. The shipment contained over 21,000 servings of Plum baby food for distribution by our partner African Revival Ministries. This food is being given to 140 babies and toddlers ensuring they have substantial daily meals for up to 3 months.
As part of the same shipment WER sent over £100,000 pounds worth of medical supplies including antibiotics, vitamins and other primary healthcare goods. A substantial amount of the medical supplies were donated by the International Health Partnership.
It is generous donations like these that keep people alive in some of the most difficult situations in the world and offer them a future . But it is not just companies and large organisations that can help. Even individual donations that by UK standards would be trifling sums can make a huge difference. If you would like to help then please click here to donate.
]]>The weather was a touch grey but after a windy start and more than a few leaves and twigs ingested and inhaled along the embankment, the cool morning turned out perfect for running.
]]>The weather was a touch grey but after a windy start and more than a few leaves and twigs ingested and inhaled along the embankment, the cool morning turned out perfect for running.
There were a number of fantastic costumes on the day. Full marks to two trees (Woody and Chip of course) running for St. John's Ambulance, to a gorilla and banana (not sure who they were running for) and a special mention must surely go to the SPANA donkeys for completing the course wearing 20 Kg costumes.
For the WER team the chicken and egg raced once again. The result was a draw, so the question remains unanswered for now but who knows what will happen next time?
If you would like to run or take part in an event on behalf of WER then write to ben@wer-uk.org. We have plenty of chicken costumes spare, though these are optional of course.
]]>Join Team WER for this spectacular 10k race through the heart of London!
]]>Join Team WER for this spectacular 10k race through the heart of London!
Based around the proposed 2012 Olympic Marathon route, this exciting new 10k race is one not to be missed! Runners will start and finish in St James’ Park and follow an anti-clockwise route around the City of Westminster and the City of London, passing famous sights such as Big Ben, Millennium Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.
Running with Team WER
WER is delighted to have race places available for those who wish to run in support of our life-saving work with children around the world. To claim your Team WER place for the Bupa London 10000, please email WER with your name and telephone number and we will be in touch to confirm your entry.
All Team WER runners are asked to raise a minimum of £350 in sponsorship which will make a huge difference to the lives of children living in poverty around the world. You may find that raising sponsorship for WER is easiest through www.justgiving.com – all you need to do is create a fundraising page and nominate WER as your chosen charity. Your friends and family will then be able to sponsor you directly through the site – quick and easy!
Places are set to go fast with this high profile race and are allocated on a first come, first served basis, so sign up as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
Please email info@wer-uk.org or call us on 0844 249 2129 if you would like any more information on the run. We look forward to welcoming you to Team WER!
]]>The ‘Be a Good Egg’ campaign raises funds to buy laying hens for poor families in Africa, to offer them a much needed source of nutrition. In the run-up to Easter this year Primary Schools and Church groups up and down the country have been raising money to buy hens through egg and spoon races, sponsored breakfasts or by giving up one of their own chocolate Easter eggs and donating the money to the campaign instead.
Docdata Managing Director, Jane Dunster, and the rest of the team invited one of the ‘Be a Good Egg’ mascots over to headquarters for a couple of weeks to inspire them into raising money. Jane is happy to report that the chicken enjoyed her 2 week getaway and that £300 was raised for WER, which means we can buy 50 laying hens for African families.
Thanks DocData!
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