Below is a letter the IAC received from Fundacion Koinomadelfia after the IAC-sponsored pizza and gift giving party. A big thanks to all participated for helping to make this a special Christmas for some well-deserving kids.

Señores.

International Association of Chile

Presentes:

                                                                                                                   Diciembre 2009.

De mi consideración:

                                        Junto con saludarlos cordialmente y desearles una Feliz Navidad, a nombre de  Koinomadelfia,  Hogar familiar que acoge 81  niños y niñas abandonados y en grave vulneración de derechos, les agradecemos a ustedes, por habernos proporcionado tan emotiva y linda fiesta de Navidad con abundantes pizzas y bebidas para nuestros niños y niñas.

                                        La Misión de reconstruir la familia para los niños que la perdieron, es posible gracias a la ayuda solidaria de personas  como ustedes, que no son indiferentes a las necesidades de los más pequeños.

                                        Valoramos tremendamente los regalos que les trajeron, ya que los niños y niñas quedaron muy felices.   Esperando  poder seguir contando  con su apoyo.

 Les saluda y agradece

 Mónica Hernández L.
Directora Ejecutiva
Fundación Koinomadelfia
Fono :8140697- Fono Fax: 8143164
monica@koinomadelfia.cl
www.koinomadelfia.cl

Every year the IAC chooses a charity to support for the Christmas holidays; this year, we have chosen Fundacion Koinomadelfia. Fundacion Koinomadelfia is a residential facility for children who have been placed by the Ministry of Justice. They are taken from homes deemed unsafe: domestic violence, alcholol and drug abuse, neglect, etc., and come to the Fundacion for a chance to live in a safe environment. The organization has 10 houses, witha total of 81 children, ranging in age from 2 - 18.  The IAC hopes to raise enough money from membership donations to purchase a Christmas gift for each child.

At the upcoming IAC General Meeting on Tuesday, November 17, we will be collecting donations for this very worthy cause. We hope that you will join us in making this a very special Christmas for some well-deserving kids.

Many of you may be familiar with the non-profit group Habitat for Humanity, especially if you have lived in the U.S. Habitat is now a world-wide organization whose mission is to provide adequate housing for all. The IAC is currently working with Habitat Chile on several different projects to improve living conditions for children with diseases that threaten their lives.

Who They Are

Habitat for Humanity Chile is working with communities and families at risk by providing housing solutions, providing support to the community and providing various services in an efficient and sustainable, thus benefiting the entire nation. Habitat Currently Chile has helped over 3,500 families obtain adequate housing. Habitat Projects exist in each of the five regions (Antofagasta, Valparaiso, Valparaíso, Maule, Bio Bio and Araucania).

In the 1970s, the Chilean government made a drastic cut in the budget used for housing that the country is still trying to overcome. In order to assist with this shortfall, Habitat Chile has been in partnership with government programs still in progress. With the extra support and leadership of organizations like Habitat, the government housing program and subsidy programs have successfully encouraged low-income sectors to obtain their property legally through formal channels, creating a foundation safer for the future of each family.

IAC and Habitat Chile

In addition to new construction, Habitat Chile is working to improve conditions for low-income families by remodeling and rebuilding home infrastructure. The IAC is working with Habitat on a project called "That our Children Can Go Home". In many cases, children who have life-threatening diseases and live in unhealthy, unsanitary environments, spend an inordinate amount of time in hospitals or clinics, because their living environment makes more ill. This project is aimed at creating a healthy and safe home so that these children can live with less risk of infection and worsening of their diseases.

The IAC is working with habitat to assist in the home of Antonella and Martina, 2-yr old twins with severe respiratory problems. They live with their parents in a 1-bedroom home with poor ventilation and no insulation. Habitat will provide the construction and volunteers, while the IAC will provide funds for all materials. In the case of HIV-positive Juan, who lives with 6 family members in small shed-like structures behind his grandmother's home, we are working with Habitat to provide running water and improve the kitchen for a healthier space. 14 year-old Gladys is HIV positive and has lost both her father and a sister to the disease. Gladys, her mother and brother share one room in a small home. After the constructin is completed, Gladys will have her own room, which will help avoid the spread of infections. 

All-in-all, the IAC is hoping to help 9 Habitat families, so that with proper medical care, their homes will clean and safe while providing a place of comfort and love.