One of the primary missions of the International Association of Chile is to provide a coordinated effort to raise funds to improve the living conditions and educational environment of the disadvantaged in Chile. Through our annual fundraiser, Noche de Arte, we are able to provide financial support to a variety of charitable projects by working with non-profit institutions in Santiago throughout the year. See below for highlights of some of the charities which the IAC has been able to assist these past 12 months.
We have also continued to support the British Commonwealth Society, the Royal British Legion and the 14th Company Bomberos (fire fighters), all former charities of the British International Group. Information about these 3 charities is also listed below.
Finally, our members volunteer, hands-on, with several charitable organizations on a continual basis. See our "Hands-On" section of the web page for more information on these activities.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION CHARITIES ASSISTED IN 2009-2010
Casa Acogida Grada Nunoa
This residential facility provides a loving home environment for 41 babies, placed by the Ministry of Justice. They were granted a new facility by the Municipalidad, but needed funds to complete the renovation and furnishing of the home. The IAC funded the purchase and installation of solar panels to reduce overall living expenses as well as purchasing furniture for the new home. Project costs: $7.1000.000
Fundacion Escuchame Santiago
This foundation provides funds to Corporacion Comunica which is a rehabilitation center for children who have profound hearing loss and as well as those who are hard of hearing. They work with children from 2 years and older to provide implants and hearing aid. The IAC purchased two sets of hearing aids for this organization. Project costs: $4.000.000
Fundacion Koinomadelfia Malloco
This foundation provides residential facilities, with a total of 10 houses and 81 children, in a safe and secure environment. The children come from homes of abuse and violence and the fundacion offers a loving, secure environment. The IAC purchased new appliances, and provided funds to completely renovate a bathroom and bring it into working condition as well as to construct a loggia and laundry area to provide additional living space.
Project costs $5.100.000
Fundacion San Nectario Nunoa
This school for autistic and mentally-challenged students located in Nunoa, provides a haven for these special needs children. In addition the school provides community services and free autisim and hearing checks for the community. The IAC provided funds to equip and upgrade 8 new classrooms. Project Cost: $1.500.000
Habitat for Humanity Chile Santiago
Habitat for Humanity is an international organization whose goal is to provide adequate housing around the world. In Chile, the IAC is working with Habitat Chile to improve and upgrade houses for seriously-ill children and their families, whose living environment contributes to their illness. We have worked on seven home projects to improve the living conditions for a healthier environment and even, in some cases, allowed the children to move back home. Project costs: $4.000.000
Hogar Las Creches La Reina
This residential facility is home to 23 girls, ranging in age from 5 to 17 years old, who have been placed by the Ministry of Justice where their own homes were deemed unsafe. The IAC provided funds for a termite inspection to assure the safety of the structure and to upgrade and paint the dormitory building. Project Costs: $800.000
Hogar Oncologica Felipe Rivera Nunoa
This hogar offers a place of refuge for children suffering from cancer. They provide residential facilities for children and a parent, while the child is undergoing cancer treatment. They offer psychological, social and spiritual support throughout the process. The IAC provided funds to replace broken counters and upgrade the kitchen area; in addition, we funded the renovation of the ceiling throughout the entire home. Project costs: $3.800.000
Mision de Maria Nunoa
This residential hogar is home to more than 30 infants (0-3) placed by the Ministry of Justice due to unsafe home environments or because they have been abandoned. They offer a loving, safe environment where they try to reunite families or find loving adoptive homes. The IAC purchased new furniture and bedding for the facility. Project Cost: $1.300.000
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SANTIAGO CHILE BRANCH
The Royal British Legion is a charity which supports Ex - Servicemen of the British Armed forces. Its major fund-raising event is the Poppy Appeal. This occurs on Remembrance Day, which is the Armistice Day of the First World War. The Armistice occurred at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, and the Poppy is the Flanders poppy which grew on the battlefields of northern France and Belgium.
The Santiago branch of the Royal British Legion is also a Chilean registered charity that helps ex servicemen who live in Chile. Many of these are Chilean nationals who volunteered for the British Services to fight in the two World Wars. Those who went to the Second World War are now very elderly. The Santiago Branch of the Legion helps primarily with the costs of hospitalisation and other medical expenses. All of our money is spent in Chile and currently we are spending our total income.
Our major fund-raising event is the Annual Poppy Appeal, and on the nearest Sunday to Remembrance Day the Legion remembers those who died in recent wars. This service takes place in the Community Church, Av. Holanda, Providencia, at 10.30 am.
Various other fund-raising social events and activities are organised during the year.
Membership consists of Legionnaires, who are currently serving in the forces or are ex-servicemen, as well as any other members who wish to support the Legion.
Everyone is welcome to join, British, Chilean or any other nationality, and we especially welcome young people to help with our fund raising activities.
For further details please contact the secretary Roger Barlow at 3514200 or rbarlow@empresastaylor.com
BRITISH COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY
History
The society started its existence as the ¨British Society¨ in 1922 when it was granted legal status by the Chilean Government. The name was later changed to ¨British Commonwealth Society¨ which is used today.
The granting of the legal status requires annual filings to be made with the Chilean Ministry of Justice to ensure our continuity as a registered charity.
Why We Exist
Article 2 of our by-laws says it all, as follows:
¨The object of the Society will be to carry out charitable activities for citizens of the British Commonwealth of Nations resident in Chile; coordinate the social and general activities amongst citizens of the British Commonwealth of Nations resident in Chile and to promote the well-being among its members: to provide to British citizens who have fallen on hard times: to promote and maintain relations of any kind between the British Commonwealth and Chile and other nations¨
How We Achieve the Foregoing
Over the years the prime activity of the Society has been assistance to persons in the community. During the 87 years since the Society was founded this has taken on many forms.
In recent decades, the Society ran a retirement home for both gentlemen and ladies but latterly for ladies only. This eventually was closed due to the difficulties of running such a home and the increasing complexity and cost arising from the requirements of the Dept. of Health and other authorities .
An enthusiastic group of lady members operated a very successful ¨Casi Nuevo¨ shop for many years that sold second hand clothing and other goods in Nuñoa.
The organization of fund-raising events, such as the recent Casino Night held at the British Ambassadors’ residence.
More recently, when members have had a need for funding, we have assisted them with realizing cash flow from their assets.
Current Activities
We give monthly financial support to a number of individuals in need. This gives rise to periodic visits being made to the beneficiaries by the Society´s committee members, to ensure that their needs are being satisfactorily met.
Social activities of a fund raising nature are also important- the Casino Night and film premieres are examples.
Membership
We are always looking for new members. Membership is not onerous, although we always look for volunteers from the membership to help with the social activities. If you are interested in membership, please contact Miller Templeton, the society’s secretary who will help you with the application process- mainly personal data such as phones, e-mails, etc. His phones are: Home-3216057; Cell: 89032314
FUNDACIÓN 14ª. COMPAÑÍA DE BOMBEROS
the british and commonwealth fire company foundation
Avenida Tobalaba 455, Providencia, Santiago, Chile Tel 946 1414
Email: fundacion14cia@yahoo.com
The 14th FIRE AND RESCUE COMPANY was founded in 1958 as a way of recognizing the hospitality and friendship received by the British community over the years in Chile. The spirit of the founding volunteers, including the dedication and discipline of many war time veterans, was based on British inspired education and ideals. Our mission is defined as:
To provide the community at large with a free voluntary quality driven, efficient and professional fire fighting and rescue service that ensures peace-of-mind and Trustworthiness based on the best principles of British tradition.
We are proud of our British tradition, a feeling shared by all volunteers today most of whom are Chilean attracted by our inherited values of community service. We have been honoured with several Royal visits and on the occasion of our 50th Anniversary in 2008, HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex graciously accepted our invitation to become an Honorary Member of our Company.
The 14th is part of the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Santiago serving the capital city. Chile is unique and probably the only country where all fire and rescue services are provided and manned by volunteers whose only reward is the satisfaction of serving the community.
During the year the 14th receives over 700 emergency calls attending fires of diverse magnitude in addition to rescue work resulting from vehicle accidents, rescues from high-rise buildings, watercourses, gas leaks, etc. as well as providing many other services. From a total of 127 volunteers of which 70 have more than five years experience, 50 are licensed paramedic trauma operators and 40 urban rescuers. Active volunteers receive near to 100 hours of training per year. Modern appliances and equipment are used to render these services that are permanently being renewed with the invaluable help of many benefactors. The Company is run by a group of elected officers, led by a Director (Sr. Andrés Verdugo) and a Captain (Sr. Fernando Ugarte).
Our running expenses are met through fiscal and municipal support as well as individual contributors. Volunteers pay for the privilege of belonging to the Fire Company by means of a fixed monthly amount. Major acquisitions, such as our new Fire Station, have been financed in great measure by the Municipalidad de Providencia and the Santiago Fire Brigade but we rely heavily on local benefactors to complete our financial needs. For example, we are currently actively campaigning for funds to enable us to acquire a much needed Heavy Duty Rescue truck.
The fund raising activities are administered by a separate legal charitable organization – the Fundación 14 Compañía (President – Donald Filshill OBE) - constituted under Chilean law. The aims of this Foundation are fully focused on supporting the work of the 14th and, for example, a scholarship scheme has been created to enable selected volunteers to travel to the United Kingdom for professional training at the Fire Service College and the London Fire Brigade.