We send you a brief report about our last working action with the people affected by
the earthquake in February 2010 in the south of Chile.
On one side, we do not want to bore you with the reports, but on the other hand, we
want that everybody who have helped “Shelter to Chile” economically, get known
about what are we doing with your precious donations. We also want to keep contact
with friends from all around the world, who have had this impulse in their hearts and
who have been weaving this web of spiritual solidarity, which also heals and protects
the people from Itahue. Thanks everybody!
Our last visit to Itahue was the 11th and the 12th of September. We were 45
enthusiastic volunteers. The work which had been started was continued. This time,
the medical team had five doctors, one pharmaceutical, one massagist and one
psychomotor therapist. There were three psychologists who worked in the praxis box
and on field, visiting their patients in their own homes. Like usual, the people were
thankful for the attention they received and they packed us with presents from the
country.
There was a workshop about the usage of non disposable diapers, which were given
to the people them from Imse Vimse donation, Sweden. This was perfect to create
ecological consciousness.
Beads and Crafts workshops took place very succesfully once more. This time,
people learned to felt the characters for the Christmas Stall. Thus, the participants
had beautiful pieces which were offered to sell there and in Santiago. This has been
encouraging the participant a lot, because as much as they enjoy learning making
handcrafts and improving their skills, they also have got the hope of getting a
economical support on this activity.
Due to the people interest on this workshop, another similar one was available in
Cerrillo Bascuñán School, the village across the highway also belonging to our action.
Was amazing to see how fruitful the participation on these workshops of three women
with disabilities was. They were totally integrated by the rest of the participants, who
helped them with care.
For the first time, a bakery workshop took place. Women from Itahue were taught to
bake dark bread. Previously, they had a talk about the benefits of eating wholegrain
flour versus white flour. White flour is in excess in their diet, especially because they
usually bake kneaded bread at home just with white flour. We brought wholegrain
flour, which they could buy for a little money, because is impossible to get in Itahue
that kind of product. After baking, they tried their delighful bread.
The Waldorf Pedagogy worked with kindergarden and school children, in Itahue as
well in Cerrillo Bascuñán School. A medicine student volunteer found in the research
about the therapeutical effect of Fairy Tales in traumatized children that the kids
expressed that they were waiting for the story the whole month. That kid had started
to tell his younger brother stories.
Construction built up the room for Itahue’s Mothers’ Center. Their building was
destroyed by the earthquake, and they were really sad because they had no space
where to meet and where to work in the crafts activities they used to have.
As usual, we came back with our hearts fulfilled and truly convinced that we received
more than what we gave.
Carina Vaca Zeller
For “Shelter to Chile”
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RESUME OF THE 4TH VISIT OF “SHELTER TO CHILE” TO ITAHUE.
31th July & 1st August
This weekend, a team of fifty volunteers participated working with the people affected by the earthquake in Itahue.
The work, which started in Easter and has continued with periodic visits, this time was as satisfying as ever. Two buidings were made for people who really needed a space where to live: kitchen-bathroom and inner insulating for a shack. The owners helped to build up their new home with enthusiasm.
We gave away 15 beds with warm bedding to people who did not have a proper bed where to sleep. This visit, specially, Shelter to Chile brought enough bedding, to warm up the Itahue’s cold winter nights.
The organization “Phoenix für Chile” donated to Shelter to Chile 170 boxes with clothes and medical supplies. These presents were totally appreciated and welcomed due to their high quality and the wrapping procedure was made skillfully and tenderly for the people from Itahue. Thanks german friends! The local people were absolutely thankfull for receiving this precious items.
The medical team included five doctors, a massage therapist, a nurse, a dentist, two pharmaceutical chemists, two psychologists and one psychomotor therapist. Although the patients were absolutely satisfied with the approach of anthroposophical medicine, there were not enough professionals to cover the need of the population from Itahue and its surroundings.
This time we have got a priceless donation of medicines and oils from WALA. We enormously appreciate having this “luxury healing” to work with the people who attended our improvised therapeutic clinic. A patient, who looked very sad, was sent by her doctor to rythmical massage. When the massage therapist started to move her hands gently and kindly, the patient immediately began crying. She could get off her soul the sadness she was holding inside. We always come back home fulfilled with intense and rich human experiences, it is the deep sense of what we do what inspires us to continue doing this.
The Waldorf Pedagogy work was once again done at Itahue School. We were glad to see the same children. The teachers know their names. They attended the stories with fascination and participated with enthusiasm in whatever was offered by our Waldorf teachers.
The same workshops were available to the people. The knitting workshop received 37 women, who learned to make beautiful dolls out of fleece. The beads workshop was successful once more, specially among teenagers who made pretty items. The “Rebuild Itahue” embroidery workshop continued to work with its loyal members. The organic garden workshop couldn’t take place because it didn’t gather the people who stated with the impulse, however, they are willing to meet again.
We have already built up a relationship with the people from Itahue. The work has slowly turned up from an urgent help in emergency time, into a fraternal friendship. We are glad to work with human beings seeking for growing and developing themselves, we are happy that they want from us, not just the material help, but the spiritual element which flows between human beings.
We truly thank to Linda Hillinger, a german Waldorf student, who fundraised her final work in school, a flamenco show, and donated it to “Shelter to Chile”. To the ecuatorian Waldorf teachers, who made amazing toys for the children from Itahue, and to all our friends who have supported with benevolence, our work in Chile. The next visit will be on the 11th and 12th of September.
Carina Vaca Zeller
para “Cobijo para Chile”
