June 2010 Newsletter

no. 2, June 2010

AMURT Portugal

Recognition and registration of AMURT as an NGDO in Portugal

After a few months of waiting, on May 17 IPAD (Portuguese Institute for Development Support) / Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted AMURT Portugal the status of NGDO, under article 8 of Law no. 66/98, of October 14, for a period of two years.

Besides other provisions that will facilitate this association's work, article 13 of the said statute provides that the cultural patronage regime set out in the personal and corporate income tax codes (IRS and IRC) applies to donations made to AMURT. We thus hope to continue to improve and speed up AMURT's work in Portugal.

AMURT-Portugal collaborates with a Peruvian puppet-making company, Machu Picchu Stars

The project began in the year 2000, with a budget of 6 dollars and volunteer work. In 2003 the project grew and one of its initial goals was achieved: employing poor or disabled people in Lima, with 5 deaf women being hired.

A company called "Machu Picchu Stars Peru" was created, which sells more than 10,000 finger puppets a year, not only in Lima but also in other countries, such as Sweden, Italy, England, Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Taiwan, Japan and the United States of America. The diversification of the business is real: the company also produces children's clothing. In this way 10 hearing-impaired people are employed, which allows them to support themselves more decently while feeling useful to a society that does not employ or educate the deaf, since deafness, and the social consequences that follow from it, namely difficulties in communication, learning and relationships, are an obstacle to hiring these people.

In an effort to employ more deaf people, the organization began construction of a workshop and a worker training center, employing exclusively these people, in January 2010. The 1st floor is almost complete, but funds are lacking for the construction of the 2nd floor, which will allow 34 people to receive training and be employed. For this, 15 thousand dollars are needed, which could come through donations or loans, to be repaid within a maximum of 2 years.

If you are interested in buying some puppets, please contact us! We have discounts for quantities and we send your order by mail. http://www.amurt.pt/node/38

A Volunteering Experience by Susana Machado

The decision to become a volunteer came shortly after the adoption of a child from what was then SOS India. The project seemed interesting to me, and the flexibility of volunteer work, which is normally not found in other organizations, was a decisive point in my choice. Besides the reward of helping others, my work as a volunteer helped me feel useful and motivated when I was unemployed. During these years, I have had the opportunity to see AMURT grow in Portugal and, without a doubt, to grow along with it as a person, feeling as if the achievements we have made were also mine. It is not always easy… there is not always the same availability of time and even willingness, but regardless of the freedom of action I have, volunteering is a commitment I made to myself, and knowing that there are tasks and people who depend on what I do motivates me to give more of myself.

AMURT International

Response to the Earthquake in Haiti – the children

AMURT, in partnership with "Kinder not Hilfe" and Catholic Relief Services, runs ten spaces for 4,000 children in Port-au-Prince. The goal of the centers is to help children affected by the earthquake restore normalcy and improve the overall well-being of their lives with psychosocial and educational support. In addition to these activities, they also receive meals.

Community development work
AMURT began its operations in Haiti in 1988, when it opened a school under a tree in Port-au-Prince. Since then AMURT has grown to include about 80 full-time staff and the training of five teams working in areas as diverse as community health, environmental recovery, infrastructure, education and much more. Between 2004 and 2007, the NGO alone secured more than 2 million dollars in international aid, becoming one of the dynamic forces for change in northwestern Haiti. For a better understanding of our programs, please see our past and present projects on the website: www.amurthaiti.org.

Becoming an AMURT member

By becoming an AMURT member you are helping us help those who need it most. Members benefit from the possibility of obtaining discounts on participation in special activities or events organized by AMURT and also on the purchase of products made available by the association. Individuals over 18 years of age, and legal entities with an interest in pursuing AMURT's objectives, can become members.

Admission fee: €30
Monthly dues: €5

To become a member visit the page http://www.amurt.pt/ser-socio

Learning more about… India

The Indian subcontinent is formed by three large regions: in the north the mountain barrier of the Himalayas; in the south the plain formed by the great rivers Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra and the Deccan peninsula, resulting in a great morphological and vegetative richness, which is reflected in terms of natural heritage. India consists of 28 federated states and 6 territories, spread over an area of 3,287,263 km2. It is one of the most populous countries in the world, home to a diversity of ethnic groups, religious groups and languages, factors that often lie at the root of conflicts and tensions, such as that of Kashmir. Millions of people live in poverty and injustice arising, in part, from the caste system. The literacy rate does not exceed 52% and average life expectancy 64 years. The economic system, essentially rural until a few years ago, is currently a mixture of agricultural activities, modern industries and support services; it is an expanding economy in which it is already possible to find highly qualified labor, namely in the high-technology sector.

Expansion of Project SOS – Distance Adoption

With the recent possibility of making distance adoptions of schools, Project SOS – Distance Adoption now has two forms: Adoption of Children and Adoption of Schools. To learn more about this project, see the page http://www.amurt.pt/adopcao-a-distancia.

Volunteering opportunities

For all those who wish to enrich their personal experience, AMURT offers various volunteering opportunities, in Portugal and in the world. At the international level, we highlight the need for a person with a good command of English and experience working with children and young people, for the Namaskar Primary School in Ghana, between May and July.

New NIB for distance adoptions Given the growth of Project SOS – Distance Adoption, AMURT has opened a new account to receive solely the donations intended to help the children. If you have transfers scheduled with your bank, please update the information with the new NIB:
0035 2168 00020600530 24 Follow our activities on Facebook or Twitter!

AMURT – Social and Humanitarian Support Association
Rua Visconde de Santarém, no. 71 3rd floor, Room 1 1000-286 Lisbon