9 March 2010 - The World Alliance of YMCAs and Latin American and Caribbean Alliance (LACA) of YMCAs are launching an emergency appeal of 106,000 USD to support YMCA Chile's life-saving work with earthquake victims.
Nearly three weeks after the devastating earthquake that struck central Chile, the full extent of the damages and loss of lives is becoming clear. An estimated 2 million people have been affected by the earthquake of 27 February and the subsequent aftershocks. Communities in Santiago, Valparaiso, Concepcion and Temuco were worst hit; thousands have lost their homes and livelihoods.
YMCA Chile's own premises have been badly affected, but the YMCA continues to provide desperately needed relief to affected communities. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, YMCA Chile acted quickly to provide food, clothes and medicine to victims, and set up two dining rooms in Valparaiso.
Under the leadership of the Chilean Federation of YMCAs, a detailed emergency response plan for the next six months has been developed. The goal is to reach out to 10,000 people in seven communities affected by the earthquake. YMCA Chile will help them reconstruct their communities, and recover from the social, psychological and economic damages caused by this tragedy. Work will also be done to repair damages to local YMCA premises, so that they can become fully operational. Specific activities in the regions of Santiago, Valparaiso, Concepcion and Temuco will include:
· Recreational workshops for 500 boys and girls to help them cope with trauma
· Training sessions to provide 300 heads of household with new skills for income-generation
· Repair of 12 YMCA premises affected by the earthquake
· Establishment of public dining rooms to provide food to children and young people
· Establishment of networks with other organisations, government authorities, and volunteers to expand the YMCA's reach and ensure effective coordination of activities.
The detailed for YMCA Chile's emergency response has been shared with the world YMCA Movement, and a more detailed budget is available upon request.
Local YMCAs in Chile are already working hard to raise funds internally to support this work, and have pledged 87,000 USD of their own funds, but a further 106,000 USD is still needed.
The World Alliance of YMCAs would like to thank those who have already pledged funds, and encourage other YMCA Movements to donate generously to support this critical relief work.
Account Details:
Account name: Asociacion Cristiana de Jovenes de Valparaiso
Account Number : 05-110-80004-7
Swift Code: BSCHCLRM of Valparaiso
Bank Address: Santander Santiago Bank, Prat 882, Valparaiso
Bank Telephone : 56 - 32 - 2156900 - 2156901
US Correspondent Bank: Wachovia Bank N.A., New York (PNBPUS3NNYC)
ABA : 026005092
Account : 2000192290409 (account number of Santander Bank)
Please communicate all pledges and funds transferred to the following persons:
Oscar Ordenes, General Secretary, YMCA Chile oscarordenes@ymcachile.org
Miguel Blasco, Deputy General Secretary of LACA: miguelblasco(at)lacaymca.org
Simon Pluess, World Alliance of YMCAs:simon.pluess(at)ymca.int
This will allow the YMCA to adjust its response according to available funds.
Further updates will be shared in the coming days.
For further information on the appeal, please contact:
Mauricio Vandorse: secretariogeneral(at)lacaymca.org/
Simon Pluess: simon.pluess(at)ymca.int