Humanitarian Projects: Our Initial Overview

Sister Kenison, hard at work
in our little office

As we received our introduction and training to our assignment, we were told it was typical for us to spend an average of three weeks each month in the office and one week out of the office. We didn't quite understand at first why so much office time was needed; we wanted to be out working among the people, getting things done! But we have come to understand the need for the preparation and coordination that occurs in support of the actual projects. There is a lot of "virtual paperwork" (online information) that is done for every project, describing the needs, the costs, the benefits, etc. We have a limited budget that has to be carefully allocated among the proposed projects, and so there is prioritization to be done based on priorities set by the Area Presidency and the Church. In addition, we have lots of partners to work with, lots of followup to do, and so on. So there is a lot of "administrative overhead" that goes into the actual efforts!

Here's a summary of projects we have been working on since arriving in Argentina. The numbers on the map correspond to the list and show where in the country each project will occur - spread throughout the central and northern parts of the country:

1. Emergency relief for a flooded area in greater Buenos Aires following the heavy rains the first week of our time here, including delivery of mattresses, blankets, and fresh water
2. Hospital supplies and cribs for children in Neuquen
3. Providing playground and school equipment for a summer camp project for a school that serves underprivileged children in Jujuy
4. An endoscopy equipment sterilization machine for a hospital in Mar del Plata
5. A small medical project to fund the correction of harelip conditions of six children in Mendoza
6. Thirteen pediatric oximeters donated to a hospital in Mendoza
7. School and hygiene kits for refugee children
8. We are preparing to participate in a wheelchair delivery event in mid-November in Paraguay
9. Working with a Catholic group to refurbish a comedor (dining hall for homeless) in Concordia

We are hopeful that many, if not all, of these projects will come to fruition in the next several weeks. Others are in earlier stages of proposal and investigation.

Here are some further details about some of these projects:

A flooded area in greater Buenos Aires recently, where the Church helped provide emergency relief aid

There is an NGO named CILSA (Centro de Integración Libre y Solidario de Argentina) that has partnered with the Church in Argentina for some years in delivering wheelchairs to individuals dealing with handicaps. We had the chance during our second week in the country to meet with many of their directors and be introduced to impressive work on behalf of individuals dealing with handicaps. We expect to have much contact with CILSA in the coming 18 months!

Incidentally, President Nelson met with these same partners when he was in Buenos Aires a few weeks before we arrived in the country. The woman standing behind President Nelson in this photo is Laura Wierszylo, director of social programs at CILSA, who was our host when we met with them. In a wheelchair next to her is Silvia Carranza, president of CILSA.

Here's a link to a great summary article from the Church News about President Nelson's visit with CILSA and the Church's partnership.

Click HERE to view Church News article