News
First Official Newsletter - December, 2010
ATRAVES is excited to publish our first official newsletter. Download it here for news, photographs and perspectives on our work.
Disaster Relief in Bo. William Galeano - September, 2010
In late August, tragedy struck the Managua neighborhood where ATRAVES works, when a family of three was killed by a landslide caused by a heavy rainy season hitting the steep hill where most of the community resides. 250 people were evacuated, and have been sheltered in a nearby abandoned school. ATRAVES organized a disaster relief campaign. The response from returned volunteers and other friends was extraordinary. We had exceeded our fundraising goal within 48 hours of calling for support, and were able to adapt our efforts to the evolving needs of the community. This has included food aid, medical services, child-care, hygiene and cleaning products, coordination and logistics support, and social and educational services. The refugees’ future is still uncertain, and we continue to accompany and support them.
Education Delegation, Professional Development for Educators -August, 2010
Health Month and Nurses Group - May-June, 2010
Our third annual May Health Month was a great success thanks to the volunteers from ATRAVES at the University of Michigan, Drs. Veronica, Alberto and Adalberto, the generosity of Escuela H.D. staff, and the tireless community volunteers from Camilo Ortega/William Galeano. We offered three weeks of free clinical service, saw 630 patients, gave 312 free lab tests, and provided free medication to those who needed it. We also offered 7 health education workshops to community members, English and curriculum reinforcement in classes at EHD, and after-school programming to local children. After the month-long participation of the U of M volunteers, we hosted two professors of nursing, Pam Santarlasci and Elaine Hossler of Delaware County Community College. These two provided follow-up care to patients we saw in May, home visits to patients with mobility issues, and an exciting training program in first aid and other health skills to residents of the neighborhood. Congratulations to the 7 women who completed this training program!
Welcome Lara Jackson! - July, 2010
Lara Jackson volunteered with ATRAVES from April to June of 2010, and was soon playing a key role in helping us organize Health Month. Experienced manager, food service guru, "logistical genius," and contender for solidarity heavyweight champion, ATRAVES welcomes her as Volunteer Coordinator. "Its Lara Jackson time."
"We made things" - June, 2010
Volunteers-extraordinaire Katrina Grigg-Saito and Jonah Goldstein worked with artisans and children in San Juan de Oriente in May and June of this year. Their projects included English education, web development, computer skills education and a variety of other support for artisans work and trade. They worked with children in the community to create the website www.wemadethings.org/artesanos-de-sjo/, which showcases artisans creations, stories and photographs. We hope that this website will be an effective tool in helping expand San Juan de Orientes reach in the fair trade market. It is a beautiful representation of the craft and the people who practice it. For more stories and crafts from SJdO, you can also see Katrinas website www.beinginlovethere.com.
Unitarian Church of Sharon Youth Delegation - February, 2010
ATRAVES worked with 8 youth and 3 adults from the Unitarian Church of Sharon, Massachusetts on an educational volunteer delegation this February. The volunteers taught English and organized after-school enrichment activities at Escuela H.D. in Managua, and worked with children in San Juan de Oriente and Catarina. ATRAVES thanks the UCS congregation for its financial and moral support of the youth group, and thanks the participants for their remarkable work and enthusiasm. We hope to repeat this experience in the near future!
Casa de Salud
ATRAVES is excited to welcome Engineers Without Borders Cal Poly on their return trip in August-September to complete the building shell of the Casa de Salud William Galeano! We are currently seeking funding to support clinical, health education and health leadership programming in the new facility.
Casa de Salud William Galeano - Sep, 2009
The first phase of construction on the Casa de Salud project begins in September, with Engineers Without Borders Cal Poly San Luis Obispo building the retaining wall and foundation. We are seeking grants to complete construction in early 2010, and for clinical, educational and leadership development programs in this facility.
Earthwork for the Casa de Salud - Aug, 2009
ATRAVES broke ground on the site of the Casa de Salud in Barrio Camilo Ortega/William Galeano in early August. The earthwork is a massive undertaking with manual tools, and many community members have volunteered to help, as have three volunteers from California.
First Annual Board Retreat - Jul, 2009
For the first time ever, the boards and staff of ATRAVES came together for a strategic planning retreat in late July. We established deeper working relationships and bonds of solidaridad, created new priorities for our development and growth as an organization, and began the process of charting a plan for the future of our programs.
Health Month - May, 2009
With the tireless support of 24 volunteers from ATRAVES at the University of Michigan, many dedicated community volunteers, additional international volunteers, and the remarkable doctors Veronica Espinoza and Adalberto Davila, ATRAVES attended to more than a thousand patients in Camilo Ortega with free care, medicine and exams. Dozens participated in health workshops, and educational activities at Escuela H.D.
ATRAVES at the University of Michigan - Oct 10, 2008
Students at the University of Michigan who volunteered with Pangea in Camilo Ortega in May of 2008 found the first ATRAVES chapter organization. After a competitive application process, the 8-member organizing committee has accepted 21 people to the group, which is planning a delegation trip in May. ATRAVES welcomes our new volunteers!
Engineers Without Borders Returns to Plan Health Center - Sep 14, 2008
The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo chapter of Engineers Without Borders returns to Camilo Ortega, taking measurements and conducting community meetings to work towards the goal of building the facility for an ATRAVES Casa de Salud in the Managua neighborhood.
Health Month in Nicaragua - May 1, 2008
Pangea World Service Team, an 18-member student group from the University of Michigan, 5 US medical personnel, 2 supervising Nicaraguan doctors, and 4 other individual volunteers undertake May Health Month in Barrio Camilo Ortega. ATRAVES provided medical attention to nearly 600 community members, a screening of the students at Escuela H.D., health workshops for community members, and a Kids' Club for children in the area. Read the report »
Engineers Without Border Conducts Needs Assessment - Apr 20, 2008
Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide, conducts a needs assessment in Barrio Camilo Ortega to begin designing a project to support community health and development.