CHILDREN OF THE AMAZON
Become part of a perfect alignment with spirit
Imagine being a part of a movement that aligns perfectly with the spirit of giving and transformation. Our journey began with a generous donation from Bernie, a traveler who found healing and purpose in the Amazon.
Inspired by Bernie’s journey, we launched a matching campaign to support a primary school that has never received outside help. This school, attended by 29 eager students; 9 kindergartners and 20 in primary, is a beacon of hope in a region where resources are scarce.
At the heart of this project…
Bernie came to the amazon with physical challenges, feeling depressed and no longer full of vital life force energy. He didn’t feel strong enough to do several of the early excursions and chose to stay back at the lodge to sleep. It required a staff to wake him for every meal.
Then, through the work of the amazon plant medicine Ayahuasca and master shaman Don Guido’s herbal remedies he experienced a miraculous healing. Day by day his energy came back. Suddenly he was in the lodge journaling before meals. His eyes began to glow and his face shone with life.
And he went with us for an excursion to a small local school that we’d never visited before. This small primary school was where many of the children of lodge employees attended.
Because it was the rainy season we took a boat, the side tributaries were all flooded. Bernie was with us. He shares that although his health was transforming it was still a steep hill and longer walk from the boat ramp to the school and he was concerned about the effort and his ability to make the hike.
He shared that as he climbed the hill toward the primary school there were two little boys, probably 5 or 6, peeking out from an open door. They were watching him with excitement in their eyes. He says their delight, excitement and connection was palpable.
Bernie could feel their energy and knew in every cell that the Ayahuasca and working with Don Guido was healing him emotionally and physically. At that moment of soul connection with these little boys he knew he needed to give back his gratitude and appreciation for the profound healing.
“They gave me a purpose and a way to help. I knew I could make a difference. So many of the children need help. This is my give back, ” said Bernie. Thus the project CHILDREN OF THE AMAZON was born.
Bernie’s dream and vision allowed the project to be born, but you are key in the next step. You are needed for the co-creation of CHILDREN OF THE AMAZON.
Bernie’s Story
Other people are already helping US…
We have the support of a dedicated fathers committee, akin to a PTA, led by Chizor Guibato Rimachie. They are not just supportive; they are ready to roll up their sleeves and contribute labor as needed.
Village community leaders Percy Tugsta Murayare and Jaimon Torres Barolali-Agenle Apafa are also on board, ready to donate their labor to our cause.
Our financial accountability and project implementation are in the capable hands of Marina Rivas Gomez, the Heliconia Lodge Manager. Many of her staff have children or family at this school, adding a personal touch to our mission.
School Principal Leonor Huacachi Romero has the vision and foresight to guide us on what would be most beneficial for the children's future.
And of course the support of The Way of the Earthkeeper not-for-profit who has continued connection and relationships to the primary school community
- Our first priority is to lay the groundwork for building a new primary classroom so MORE children can attend school so they have MORE options and possibilities for a brighter future.
- To Build a secondary school (age 11-17) so MORE children can receive MORE education. (The current secondary school is 30 minutes by boat, and many families don’t have the means, resources or ability to travel from Yonomono One Village daily, or cover the cost of boarding so very few children go beyond 3rd grade - Age 11).
- For more support on future projects
This project is not your western model of helping, because of the value of the dollar in Peru even a small donation will make a profound impact.
BUT NOW WE NEED YOU!
What is needed for Children of the Amazon? YOU!
1. Donate today to double your impact.
Be part of our first Matching Gift Campaign with a generous donation
Your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000
2. It’s easy – make a donation by clicking the donate NOW button
3. Watch your support make a difference.
Join Bernie’s journey to change an Amazon child’s life
“We need your support to build a secondary school, enabling more children to continue their education beyond the age of 11.”
Why your donations is so important to the world?
These Amazonian children are here to create a world that has the best of the indigenous and modern world. The children hold the gift through education to be able to eventually create options to have for both.
As westerners we do exploit the amazon experience. How do we now give back to make their life better? By taking care of the children. In the western world we have a model of taking… including the indigenous wisdom, this project is about giving back support to the next generation. Giving back!
Every child should have the right to an education, to have an opportunity for a better life. To have more choices than to work hard farming, or fishing or being married and pregnant at 15 and then working hard the rest of their life to raise a family. In the Amazon a woman’s life expectancy is less than a man’s which is directly opposite from the USA in which women live longer, this is because in the Amazon the girl gets pregnant so early, has many children and does hard physical labor most of their lives.
The future wisdom of these children may be needed to contribute to the survival of mother earth.
Come change
a child’s life
Our goal is $50,000 and your donation is matched dollar for dollar up to a total of $10,000 until September 28th, 2023.
Can we count on your compassion to reach our goal?
Any donation is welcome!
every single donation we receive, EACh contribution we receive, no matter its size ($30, $50, $100, $500) matters significantly. In fact, it’s the abundance of outpouring of small donations that forms the heart of our mission.
However, imagine the profound impact of a larger donation!
this is a call to action, an invitation for you to create extraordinary change. Will you step forward to make a larger commitment?
Join our community of generous donors…Whether big or small, every donation counts and makes a real difference.
YEs, I want to support
the Children of the amazon
Every donation counts!
Giving Changes Lives!
Every Gift Matters!
Please DOUBLE my gift
to support the Children
With a $1000 - $5000 donation
With a donation of $1000+ receive a a picture posted at the school or donate in memory of
With a donation of $2500+ receive a thank you note from the students
With a donation of $5000+ receive a penpal letter from one of the children
I want to Create an even greater future for the children With an appreciative donation
We are looking for someone to step up and build a classroom - It can be named after you or in memory of a loved one forever - donation of $10,000
With an appreciative donation, you can receive
Plaque hung in donor wall
Preferred status - Gifted session with Don Guido 1/1
YOUR DONATION DOLLARS AT WORK
Project Elements
Scheduled Cost
Two weed whackers to keep grass around the primary school trimmed —poisons snake bites happen frequently. 60-65% of the kids have bites and many of the them don't have the chance to get to medical care.
$740
Copy machine - must travel by speed boat 1.5 hours to Iquitos weekly to print lesson plans/paper and bring back to school
$524 machine + $235 ink cartridges = $759
Solar panels - currently is generator power only to the school 2 hours per day
$3,073 Solar Panels + Batteries
Internet and Wi-Fi - currently teachers travel to Iquitos and download the weeks material.
$991 Equipment & Install
$1,800/year annual fee
LuminAid lanterns. Provides light for school children to do their homework. Normal sunset is 6 pm daily all through the year. For accountability the lanterns will be checked out from the school (like library books). Lanterns are both rechargeable and solar powered. Note these are approved not-for-profit prices and will be brought to the amazon via the USA.
$1,100
Plans for using matching donations
Construction of a Secondary School
That will allow children to stay in school, now they must travel by boat daily to another location or pay for weekly residential housing, if available, which limits many students from continuing their education.
Scheduled Cost: estimated $30,000
Approximately 2 classrooms and one central area
Construction of primary school classrooms
The government will provide a teacher if a new classroom is available. The village said they would do any construction needed if the supplies - bricks and boards to be provided.
Scheduled Cost: estimated $9,500/classroom
Additional primary classes will allow more students to attend school and open the opportunity for children who live in more remote locations to attend. Eventual increase of primary classrooms allows additional children from surrounding areas to also receive schooling.
What’s in it for YOU?
Watch the difference you donation makes for the children
Knowing their education will allow them to help support their parents including affording future health care if necessary
Knowing you are giving them a possibility of long term dreams (beyond working hard in a field and having babies at such an early age)
Knowing you have a long term impact with their education and safety
Girls from jungle having careers versus just babies and lengthening their life expectancy
Eventually Integrating the wisdom from their ancestors with modern technology
A world without your donation
Kids are not educated
Snake bites causing major injury, loss of a limb or even death
Poverty
Opportunities for freedom not available
Amazon: These children hold the key to the future of the amazon
Without you there is the potential for:
Loss of wisdom needed for peace and survival as a species
Loss of wisdom needed to stop the destruction of the earth
Lost connection to the mother earth and father sky
Loss of more of the precious jungle environment
