President's Annual Report 2000-2001

I am pleased to inform that we had another successful and busy year. Before I start this report, I would like to emphasize that nothing of what we achieve could be possible without the hard work, commitment and generosity of the Executive Committee and the Members of the Management Committee.

I want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Bolivian Ambassador and to our Honorary President Miriam de Quiroga We are deeply indebted to them for their support, generosity and encouragement.

As you all know the main purpose of Friends of Bolivia is to raise funds to assist projects in Bolivia that work to relieve poverty. To this end we hold as many fund raising events as possible during the year. What follows is a summary of our main activities during the period covered by this report.

For the first time we printed our own Christmas Cards in aid of Friends of Bolivia. This proved to be a very successful initiative; we sold 1500 cards. We hope to repeat the idea this year and will give you the opportunity to place orders in advance.

Our Latin American Fiesta on Saturday 4 November was held in aid of The Children's Hospital in La Paz. It was a well supported event and we were able to send USD 2.600 to the Hospital.

In November we participated in the Anglo Latin American Foundation (ALAF) Christmas Fair with a food stand and a handicraft stand. Our handicrafts sold particularly well and we hope to participate in this Fair again this year.

Our Andean Carnival on Saturday 10 of March, was a great success. The Bolivian Group "Alma del Ande" and their wind instruments made us all feel we were in a real Bolivian Carnival Fiesta.

Your support, your presence at our events, your memberships and donations allow us to go ahead and to respond to at least some of the requests of help we receive. Our membership has increased this year, but we look to you all to bring new members and new people to our events. Your support and donations are fundamental to us.

In the enclosed Annual Report prepared by Teresa Terrazas, our Treasurer, you will be able to see how the proceeds of the fund raising events were distributed. This year we were able to help:

The Children's Hospital in La Paz, We have a fund to purchase medicines for children whose parents are not able to do so. The hospital is free but the medicines have to be provided by the parents.

The Educational Centre Maria Auxiliadora El Alto, The Sisters have several day care centres for children who receive food and medical care. The María Auxiliadora Centre looks after 100 children. They are totally dependent on donations. We will be forwarding more funds shortly.

The ANET Rehabilitation Centre in Tarija, Helps mentally and physically disabled children and young people who on several cases have to stay for long periods at the Centre.

The old people's home "Hogar Sagrada Familia" in Oruro, the sums we sent were used to buy bed linen which was in urgent need of replacement.

Project for children who live in the San Sebastian Women's Jail in Cochabamba, About 80 children are given the opportunity once a week to use the sport facilities, workshops and computers of a school. They are also given food and materials for their workshops and activities.

CEAMCOS Potosi, This Centre for the Education of Adults promotes women groups in different communities where leaders, chosen by the communities, teach the women a variety of educational, sanitary and other practical subjects. Friends of Bolivia pays the yearly salary of a Rural Community Teacher who visits the different communities to supervise and guide the educational work carried out by chosen women group leaders.

FAN Bolivia Voluntary doctors who provide medical care, medicines and clothing to two Communities in the remote area between the Paraguá and Iténez rivers, between Santa Cruz and Beni.

Thanks to the generosity of CHAD, Helping with mobility in developing Countries, and the hard work of Annie Copponex from our Committee, we again were able to send five wheel chairs to the Hogar de Ancianos in Trinidad. Children's clothes and shoes were donated to the Residencia Infantil Corazón de Jesus in Santa Cruz. Bags of baby's clothes were sent to the Proyecto Maurer in Sucre and to the day centres La Hormiguita and Plan 3000 in Santa Cruz and to CRIN in Cochabamba. Books and educational toys were sent to PRONIDE and LA Hormiguita in Santa Cruz. A suitcase of donated medicines and medical equipment was distributed between CRIN, centre for undernourished children in Cochabamba, Plan 3000 in Santa Cruz and Boliven, La Paz (diabetics). Baby's clothes and toys were taken to Oruro and to the Barrio San José, (neighbourhood of relocated miners) and to the General Hospital.

I would like here to give our special thanks to all those members of the Committee and also friends who very kindly volunteer to take these parcels when they travel to Bolivia and to Mrs. Cecilia Kenning de Mansilla our representative in Santa Cruz. Without their help this part of our work would be impossible as the air freight charges are too high. Air lines on many occasions accept these parcels free of charge if they are taken by passengers. You all could help us either by donating baby's clothes or by letting us know if you can take one of these parcels when you travel to Bolivia. The person in charge of this programme of assistance is Annie Copponex, telephone 020 8994 8027

This year we lost a dear member Mrs. Gaby Suaznabar. Our thoughts and thanks to her family who made a donation to Friends of Bolivia in her memory.

Now for the future; Friends of Bolivia is planning an ambitious programme and any assistance you can offer us will be welcomed. We have appointed a Sub Committee of younger members to deal with specific projects, they are at present working to produce our own web page. On July the 29th we will participate with a food stand in the Latin American Village Carnival "Carnaval del Pueblo" which will take place at Burgess Park, Camberwell, Chumleigh Street, SE5 0RJ. Entrance is free; look out for our stand. On Saturday 8th September we shall have a Riverboat Party aboard the cruiser "Viscountess" departing from Westminster Pier on the Thames. Keep the evening free. We shall forward the details to you, nearer the date. We are planning another of our Fiestas on Saturday 20th October.

I look forward to your continued support.

Marcela de Montes
President

London, 12 June 2001

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