Solidarity Group

4 April

2010-04-09T04:03:00.000-07:00

Visit 4 to Los Coipos & Barba Rubia: Preparing the Los Coipos Galpon for storage space for local peoples belongings

Visit to BR school, revision of damage and discussion for future projects.

Site visit to see the situation in other villages in Hualañe.

Assistance with reparations to the Los Coipos Galpon.

Meeting with the Mayor of Hualañe to discuss local Municipalities actions, their plans for supply of building material rations, distribution & allocation of temporary wooden housing (media aguas).

Assistance in the preparation & distribution of Easter eggs to local children.

1 April `10

2010-04-09T04:02:00.001-07:00

Donation of materials for construction work to Los Coipos Galpon.

The Galpon is a large wooden structure which at some stage in the past was used for cattle shearing. It is a large structure, still in tact after the earthquake. It is now going to be used for storage by local villagers who have lost their houses to store their belongings to protect these items from the rain. Basic reparations such as replacing broken floor boards, adding more corrugated iron roofing to cover wholes, and covering the sides of the Galpon with plastic to stop rain getting in were required and undertaken by a very internationañ group of volunteers this weekend.

(Special thanks to the Hash House Harriers for financing these materials.) Cost: $236.190

29 March `10

2010-04-09T04:01:00.001-07:00

Creation of New Bank Account for donations

Creation of a separate bank account only to receive Donations which will be used in their 100% in relief work:

Voluntary Horizons

Account No: 62323393

Account Type: Cuenta “Vista”

Thank you everyone for your support. Your financial contributions are enabling these activities to continue and enabling us to make a difference to these peoples lives. Please keep giving!

Production of Video for group Raising Los Coipos Video

To be used to show to organizations that have given the group support, to raise awareness of the situation in Los Coipos, enlist more volunteers & assist in further fundraising initiatives. (See SOON in www.youtube.com).

(Special thanks to Carlos Rojas, Pablo Llao, Mauricio Torres & Hector Ortiz).

27-28 March `10

2010-04-09T04:00:00.002-07:00

Visit 3 to Los Coipos & Barba Rubia.

Financing of Bus for 25 volunteers to support construction work in Los Coipos and investigative work in Barba Rubia,

(Thank you to Meltour Buses for the discounted rate). (Cost: CLP$150.000).

Construction Work in Los Coipos:

Erection of Temporary house.

Assistance with clearing rubble, rescuing materials, taking dangerous tiles off roofs, etc.

Assistance with erection of a MediaAgua (wooden temporary house) supplied by a national charity.

25 March `10

2010-04-09T04:00:00.001-07:00

Safety Equipment

Donation of Safety equipment to protect our volunteers: 10 of each

(Special thanks to Schlumberger Water Services): Hard hats, Safety Goggles, Gloves, First Aid Kit

22-23 March `10

2010-04-09T03:52:00.002-07:00

Creation of Posters to put up and attract more volunteers

(Special thanks to Nick Charlesworth).

Creation of Solidarity Group Blog

See http://solidaritygroup.blogspot.com/ (special thanks to Anna Garcia).

19-21 March `10

2010-04-09T03:52:00.001-07:00

Barba Rubia: investigation of needs & potential projects

Visit to Barba Rubia to make contacts with local figures, other support workers, and the local municipality.

19 March `10

2010-04-09T03:51:00.003-07:00

Presentation of The Solidarity Group

Coordination & hosting of a meeting in Santiago to raise awareness of the situation in Hualañe, project, and capture more local support from volunteers. Showing of videos created by Carlos Rojas. Approximately 35 people attended.

W/c: 18 March `10

2010-04-09T03:51:00.001-07:00

Construction work in Los Coipos

Andrew Smith stayed in Los Coipos to continue helping local people rescuing the materials they can from the rubble and from houses pending demolition.

16 – 18 March `10

2010-04-09T03:48:00.000-07:00

Construction Work in Los Coipos

Assistance with clearing rubble, rescuing materials, taking dangerous tiles off roofs, etc

Investigation of urgent village needs in Los Coipos.

Time spent talking to local people and investigating forms to respond to the urgent need for temporary shelter for local peoples possessions (all they have left after losing their house).

16 - 18 March `10

2010-04-09T03:36:00.000-07:00

Visit 2 to Los Coipos & Barba Rubia: Raising Los Coipos Musical Show Support

Financing of Bus for 25 volunteers to support “Raising Los Coipos” music show, architects and civil engineers at discounted rate from (Special thanks to Carlos Rojas)

Coordination of local TV presenter to host the music show.

Coordination of professional photographer to attend & document the music show.

Invitation to attend music show to members of Barba Rubia local residents (house by house as there are no communications in the village).

Return bus transfer of Barba Rubia residents to Los Coipos show.

2010-04-09T03:15:00.001-07:00

Various tools were bought and donated for use in construction work including:

Ladder, 4 x shovels, 3 x pick axes, 4 x hammers, Work Gloves, Tape measure, Crow Bar, etc

(Cost: CLP$ 194.280)

12 March `10

2010-04-09T03:14:00.000-07:00

Creation of The Solidarity Group

In a meeting in Santiago, the decision was taken to form a committee, and formalize our group, with the intention to continue with support for those affected by the earthquake medium term, and try to use the network we have of contacts both within Chile & abroad, to capture more funds, and channel resources.

W/c 11 March `10

2010-04-09T03:11:00.000-07:00

Construction Work.

Andrew Smith stayed in Los Coipos, living with his host family - Adam & Eve (no joke!) to help local people rescuing the materials they can from the rubble and from houses pending demolition. (Special thanks to Andrew Smith).

First visit to Hualañé Area

2010-04-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

Visit 1 to Barba Rubia & Los Coipos

Distribution of collected donations, house by house to Barba Rubia to help people in the emergency situation .

Assistance with erection of plastic to temporary shelters in Barba Rubia.

Emotional Support: Time spent talking to local people in Barba Rubia about their experiences, situation , needs and emotional welfare. (It was heartwrenching to speak with people and see how deeply they have been affected psychologically by the strength of the earthquake, the destruction caused, losing their houses, and having to live outside in tents while the aftershocks (often up to grades 7 on the Richter scale) continue to affect them).

Meeting with Natalia Bustos and the group “Raising Los Coipos”.

W/c 1st March `10

2010-04-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

Emergency Collection of Tents, Blankets, Sanitary items & non perishable foods in Santiago.

Purchase of roll of plastic to use as temporary protection for make-shift temporary shelters. (CLP$68.500)

Ongoing – Emergency Collection of financial donations to support those affected by the earthquake. To date we have collected over USD$3000 –

Thank you to all of you! Please keep the donations coming in!

Fotogalería de voluntarios - Los Coipos y Barba Rubia

2010-04-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Esta es una selección de fotos de los voluntarios que estuvimos el pasado fin de semana ayudando tanto en Los Coipos como en Barba Rubia.
Recuerda que si quieres sumarte a nuestro equipo de voluntarios sólo tienes que estar motivado para ayudar a levantar el país y escribirnos un mail a solidaritygroupchile@gmail.com

Tercer fin de semana de ayuda en Los Coipos y también a Barba Rubia

2010-03-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hoy partimos de nuevo a la comuna de Hualañé para ayudar tanto a Los Coipos como a Barba Rubia tras el terremoto que azotó a Chile el pasado 27 de febrero.
Saldremos un grupo de 25 personas en bus, con el objetivo de:
- censar a las familias
- catastrar casas con ayuda de un arquitecto
- hablar con las familias para dar apoyo emocional
- retirar escombros
- recuperar materiales de las casas antes de que llueva
- nivelar los terrenos para poder construir casas

Etapas del proyecto piloto Los Coipos

2010-03-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Requerimientos inmediatos

Apoyo emocional y entretenimiento de la comunidad. Plan de acción: Se necesitan voluntarios para venir los fines de semana y organizar actividades.
- Actividades con niños y adolescentes: apoyar al grupo de estudiantes de Natalia con estas actividades. (Teatro, música, canto, juegos, etc.)
- Actividades con adultos y adultos mayores: visitarlos en sus espacios, sentarse y hablar con ellos. Tal vez ayudar en sus actividades diarias y en lo que necesiten.
Recuperar materiales de casas dañadas: recuperar chapas de zinc, Madera y cualquier otra cosa de las estructuras dañadas que pueda ser reutilizable en un futuro. Plan de acción: conseguir materiales y voluntarios con conocimiento de construcción o sin conocimiento pero con ganas de trabajar en ello bajo la supervisión de un profesional.
Bodegas: todas las familias que tienen sus casas destruidas no poseen ningún resguardo para ellos ni sus pertenencias. Algunas familias están viviendo en carpas, galpones o al aire libre. Plan de acción: construir pequeñas bodegas para las familias en su terreno.

Sede comunal: una construcción comunal es necesaria para proteger de la lluvia a aquellos a sin refugio. Esto puede ser utilizado para otros propósitos comunitarios en el futuro. Plan de acción: construir una estructura comunal de materiales simples.
- Materiales necesarios: madera, zinc, material aislante, pintura antioxidante.
- Voluntarios: adultos, preferentemente con conocimiento de construcción o que quieran trabajar fuerte bajo la supervisión de un profesional.

Corto plazo: reconstrucción y reparación de casas

Etapa 1: Encontrar profesionales: ingenieros civiles, profesionales en construcción para hacer catastro que serán validos legalmente para la Municipalidad para evaluar cuales casas deben ser demolidas o si pueden ser arregladas y reutilizadas. Las casas que necesitan ser demolidas: buscar voluntarios para ayudar en recoger los escombres más pequeños después de que las maquinas las hayan demolido y hayan recogido los pedazos más grandes. La extracción de los cimientos que la maquino no pudo extraer completamente.
Etapa 2: Reconstruir. Las casas que pueden ser reutilizadas: reparar techos o estructura. Buscar voluntarios bajo supervisión profesional. Construir casas temporarias (estructura pequeñas de madera, media aguas) Encontrar voluntarios que trabajen bajo supervisión profesional.

Largo plazo

Reconstrucción y reparación de casas y otros edificios usando materiales apropiados y de larga duración.
Financiamiento
Profesionales
Mano de obra: especializada o voluntarios bajo supervisión profesional.
Apoyo con ideas para auto sustentarse y generar una fuente de ingreso: Proyectos de agricultura (Prodesal e Indap), Proyectos de turismo sustentable, Reforestación, Crianza de Animales