Shawi Children Critical fundraiser information:
February 2021 - There is a current health crisis in Shawi communities, three children in Nueva Nauta have passed away (C19 or Dengue still being assessed) and Eda is currently coordinating with a doctor to provide care for the children of the communities at this time.
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Ways you can support:
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Donate to GO FUND ME for this effort - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-children-of-the-shawi-people-in-peru
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Contribute to PAYPAL Pool - https://tinyurl.com/shawichildren
Share these links above with your friends and community
Donate cell phones and computers
Cover shipping costs for donated electronics from a corporate account
Funding to launch many of the programs and provide initial materials and education is one of the most effective ways to support the tribe right now. All donations go 100% to Shawi programs, and this site, and it's contents are made by volunteers.
For those inquiring about non-profit status we are currently using the fees that would go to the legal process of setting up and maintaining a non-profit to directly help the Shawi. In the coming years as we develop a foundation of support and mutual exchange we intend to secure a legal status as a non-profit. Currently for donations that can only be made through this legal entity we partner with Impact a Village as fiscal sponsors.
SHAWI EDUCATIONAL FUND
We are currently developing the fiscal partnerships required to receive and transmit the volume of donations we'll need to get Shawi schools up and running in all villages. In the meantime please support us in keeping our kids healthy (and alive!) fighting this outbreak of Dengue fever.
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Challenges in Partnership
While many of us in the west have done good work to de-colonize our minds and re-learn what our cultures have forgotten about respecting nature and all people, the Shawi are facing not only the violence of invading loggers and miners, the inaction of their government, but also the incursion of western missionaries who seek to "help," by destroying indiginous culture.
The Shawi are, rightfully, cautious.
We are grateful to have this opportunity to be of assistance with pure intentions, and recognize that some of our ideas, even ones we think are best, may not be appropriate or accepted at this time.
Current Needs for Volunteers
Remote
- Graphic design/ visual storytelling for the project pages.
Keeping partners informed on goals and progress is important to success- We would like to develop the website to better tell the story and engage more partners in each project. This simple project involves fleshing out the projects page with data we have on funds raised, schools built, and whats planned for the future.
-Solicitor of in-kind donations. We are looking for Windows based laptops in good condition, cell phones, cameras, and easy to use audio recording equipment.
We are also seeking small shipments of pre-natal and children's vitamins, which are charged an import fee.
-Information on the medicinal crops best cultivated in the area and best able to replace the wildcrafted medicines formerly used. A challenge we face is the mistrust bred from abuse- we can not demand the Shawi tell us their traditional plant medicines, but can offer them helpful information already gathered from the region.
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-Information design for communicating the "best of the west" to those unfamiliar with the culture and language- including useful alternative health practices, economic wisdom etc. These are offerings, the Shawi may choose to implement if they see fit. If all they have available is information from missionaries and under-resourced local governments it will be a long road before they will find better information by themselves.
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-Anyone traveling to the Tarapoto/ Yurimaguas area to bring donated materials such as laptops, cell phones, solar lights, and nutritional supplements to help reduce shipping and import fees.
In Peru
-Someone who works in the fashion industry in Peru to partner with us on pattern making designs
-Assistance with developing cotton growing and production methods (Paid)
- A carpenter in the Yurimaguas area to teach woodworking skills (Paid)
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-Aquaculture expert to design fish pond (paid)
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