A little goes a long way:

Latest Proposal: UPAVIM Soy Food Processing, Marketing, & Nutrition Program 2003-2004

Unidas para Vivir Mejor (UPAVIM - United to Live Better) is a women's association and non-profit organization with 70+ members. Members manage a clinic, pharmacy and medical laboratory, providing health care services for families living in barrio Esperanza, one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of Guatemala City. UPAVIM manages preschool and elementary education services and provides small financial scholarships to help make sure children are able to go to school. UPAVIM manages growth monitoring and breast feeding advocacy and support programs. Members and non-members are employed to produce and market crafts, funding from which helps support community medical and education services. Plenty proposes to help them launch a soy nutrition program—Click UPAVIM for details.

Toledo Maya Renewable Energy Initiative

Plenty and Solar Energy International are working together to increase knowledge and use of practical small-scale renewable energy systems in the Toledo District of Belize. Click BELIZE for details.

$1500 will pay the cost of sending Thomas Heikkala from Austin to demonstrate small-scale practical applications of solar voltaics to Mayan farmers and agricultural coops. Thomas, Ed Eaton from Solar Electronics International, and local representatives will also review revolving loan systems that could assist families and community-based organizations pay the cost of installing renewable energy systems.

$700-2000 will pay the cost of materials for lighting one home, clinic or small school in a rural Mayan community that has no electricity.

$1500-2000 will pay the cost of materials for one solar irrigation pump.

Nicaragua/San Juan de Limay Post- Hurricane Mitch Housing Initiative

$750 will pay for materials and transportation costs needed to construct one house. Local volunteers provide the labor. Plenty is assisting families who have been living in makeshift plastic and scrap wood huts since hurricane Mitch, to construct small (approx. 14' x 20') and secure houses made of brick, cement and wood. Single women and their children are given top priority. Most of the land in San Juan de Limay was covered by 3 to 6 feet of huge rocks and sand from the mud slide.

The Carib people of Dominica are the last remaining indigenous people in the Caribbean region who continue to hold their land in common trust and elect tribal leaders to manage the affairs of their community. Plenty is supporting efforts of the Carib people to reforest vital water shed areas and to establish a new land use agreement among the approximately 3,400 residents of their 3,700 acre collectively owned territory. Click DOMINICA for details.

$400 meets the cost of transportation, planting and field maintenance for every 100 successful tree seedlings.

For more information about Plenty Austin or its programs please contact Chuck Haren.

Send mail or donations to:

Plenty Austin
502 Arbor Lane
Austin, TX 78745

Donations to Plenty Austin are tax deductable. We will return an appropriate receipt for all donations received.