Look How Far We've Come!
Looking Back at 25 Years of Service

By Heidi K. Brenner Hayatgheyb

Although there is no real way to quantify Amistad’s efforts and accomplishments throughout the past 25 years, we have compiled a brief overview of the major projects funded in recent years thanks to the countless donations and tireless efforts of those involved in Amistad International’s outreach.

Mexico

More than 131,617 lbs. (66 tons) of food and famine relief have been delivered to Huichol villages; 100,000+ hot meals have been served to students and needy adults.

Medical/dental teams have performed at least 20,000 treatments, consultations, and vaccinations. Amistad has provided and delivered nearly 6 tons of medicine, and built clinics.

We have helped to purchase 2 airplanes (and rebuilt several engines), and also bought at least 12 vehicles (trucks, vans, and ambulances) in order to reach those in need of medical aid.

Approximately 5 tons of clothing and thousands of blankets have been delivered to the Huichol.

More than 11,000 chicks and chickens have been purchased and delivered to three Huichol poultry programs we’ve established.

Amistad has helped the Albergue Los Reyes Alcoholism Treatment Center in Guadalajara, Mexico, to remodel a kitchen, bathroom, shower room, and clinic, and has supplied the center with 380 mattresses and pillows.

We have delivered 109,632 lbs. of building materials to the Huichol Indians, and have built two libraries. We have also completed 11 Huichol water projects, which include miles of pipe being delivered, and have helped to install electricity in at least one town.

More than 50 worthy students have been sponsored, and Amistad has delivered 1040 lbs. of school supplies as well as various technical equipment for schools and clinics.

Amistad has purchased tools and materials for use in trade cooperatives for Lacandon Indian artisans.

Aid of many types has also been given to the Tarahumara, Pina, Seri, Mayo and Lacandon Indians.

India

Amistad has been able to help the Sweet Home Orphanage by building a wall around the campus, constructing a playground for boys, and finding sponsors for the orphans. (Ongoing sponsorships are managed by International Children’s Care in Vancouver, WA.) We have provided 2 large air conditioners and one commercial generator, and have helped purchase a van with air conditioning. Amistad has provided nutrition and family planning classes, and has donated monthly rice allotments, as well as clothing, for widows.

At Rajan Kaur's Buddha's Smile School in Varanasi we provide teachers’ salaries, transportation for the children from the slums to school, uniforms and food for over 200 untouchable caste children. Aid ongoing.

Amistad provided funds to open Soma Home for Girls, which provides a nurturing home and education for young daughters of Kolkata's (Calcutta) prostitutes.

Zimbabwe

Outreach to the destitute in Zimbabwe. The figures given are conservative estimates; the reality is certainly much greater.

An average of 250,000 hot meals are prepared for the destitute people each year.

An additional total of approximately 223,000 lbs. (111 tons) of food has been delivered and prepared for the poor.

One orphanage for AIDS orphans has been built.

1,500+ patients have been transported to clinics and hospitals.

Four youths have been sponsored to attend gardening schools.

Kenya

Amistad has provided enough funds to remodel the Amri School, in Amri, Kenya, for extremely poor children, build desks, and purchase books and a water tank. We are funding teachers’ stipends, AIDS orphans’ school fees, teaching materials, and providing daily food and uniforms for the children. Aid ongoing.

At Manor House, an agricultural school, several students have been sponsored in sustainable agriculture.

Amistad has purchased a commercial corn-grinding mill for the Kaijadado Rescue Center for Maasai tribe girls.

We are providing ongoing help for Nyalwodep program, a village for AIDS widows and orphans in Kisumu, Kenya, a project founded and operated by Alice Ouma. Our support has included a vehicle, help with construction of a home for widows, gardening classes, AIDS orphans’ school fees, and water tank. Aid ongoing.

South Africa

We are providing ongoing assistance for the Lambano Sanctuary, a refuge for HIV+ babies and children.

Mongolia

Over 4,000 people in Mongolia have been touched by Amistad in countless ways:

Amistad has helped initiate various classes and training for children unable to afford school. Classes consist of buryat boot-making (for girls) and carpentry (for boys). We have also provided a series of handcraft classes for women and girls, as well as courses in family hygiene, birth control, and nutrition.

Eight homes (yurts) have been purchased, as well as about 100 livestock, including 8 cows, 30 goat families, and 1 horse. Many families have been given small grants to begin family businesses.

At least 8 young adults have been sponsored for higher education or trade school. Aid ongoing. Courses of study range from fireman training to law school. We provide ongoing literacy and math classes for at-risk children ages 6-16 in the Gobi desert.

Amistad has purchased a computer, printer, and camera for a social worker in Gobi, and another computer for a college.

(Thanks to Kristina Reiber for compiling these facts!)