Happy Holidays and Happy New Year

The year 2020 has been full of challenges and sacrifices for everyone globally but even more so for those less fortunate in the world. Our focus has always been to support children and youth who need to have access to education, improve the lives of children in child centred facilities and focus on environmental health initiatives. We often work with communities and people who are vulnerable both socially and economically and that any slight change or shift in policy, economy or social issues could have significant effects on their lives. The COVID pandemic has done just that, revealed the already widening social and economic divisions that existed before the crisis began. But communities we work and support have shown incredible resiliency, patience and hope that a better year and future are still on the horizon and believe that better days are ahead.

We have supported local organizations since the lockdown began in March and we managed to keep providing funding to communities in Mexico and Philippines. We realized that organizations we support locally are some of the most committed volunteers and will do all they can to ensure projects remain sustainable despite challenges they faced.

We want to celebrate these heroes who sacrificed time and resources to go beyond their capacity and wish them the very best this holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2021!

Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Salamat po!

Isa Mundo Foundation

 

** Photo is from the 2021 -13 Moons Halq’eméylem Calendar. Created and designed by Bonny Graham from Sto:lo Nation (Skwah and Snuneymuxw First Nation). To learn more about her work and commitment to preserve and promote the Halq’eméylem languge, visit her website at B.Wyse Coast Salish Art.

Adaptation is Key to Success

We wanted to highlight a great project that our education coordinator in Boca de Tomatlan (Cynthia Leigh) launched in the community. Due to the lack of access to our IMEC and the Boca Education Project facility, Cynthia still wanted to continue contributing to improving access to education for students in Boca.

Cynthia also manages a hotel in the community and offered the rooftop patio as temporary space for students to gather and learn in a safe environment. We are supportive of this project and have committed to provide funds needed to purchase school supplies and other materials for both teachers and students.

We invite our members and funders who have traveled and volunteered in Boca to do the same and divert some of our holiday stocking gifts to a few students in the community. The students have remained committed to learn so let's support them by ensuring they have the space and resources to continue their education. 

To learn more and support this program, please visit the Boca Education Project site.

Maligayang Paslit 2021

It has been a few years since we have contributed to Maligayang Paslit in Bambang Bulakan due to other priorities and launching of new projects. Given the situation of most communities and the global effect of COVID, it has been a very difficult and challenging year for most non profit organizations and charities.

Maligayang Paslit has been a consistent event in Bambang, Bulakan, led by a youth group of volunteers and funded via private and business donations. We will do our best to support this year's event and contribute in any way we can.  

For his year, there will be a Christmas Caravan Drive to provide food, cloths and gifts to most needy folks in the community and we are asking our members and funders to provide what you can. We acknowledge that most of us have given a significant amount of our time and resources and have sacrificed many things in 2020 but there are other communities that are not as fortunate as we are in Canada and a small amount will really change lives of families heading to 2021.

We thank you in advance and please stay safe and healthy.

Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Salamat po.

Boca de Tomatlan Food Bank

We are continuing our efforts to support communities we serve in Mexico, including Boca de Tomatlan. In the past few years, we have committed to develop an education project in Boca and successfully launched Isa Mundo Education Centre (IMEC) with the support of the Global Young Leaders Network. We have been gathering education supplies and technology to bring to Boca when the COVID lockdown hit.

The Boca community has been hit hard by the COVID lockdown with businesses suffering due to the lack of tourism and its trickle down effect on service industry and other jobs. This has resulted in local organizations in the region coming together to launch the Boca Food Bank to help support citizens who are most vulnerable. 

Isa Mundo has been working with local businesses and our members to collect funds to donate to the Boca Food Bank and support food delivery in the community. We would like to thank folks who have already contributed and invite others to join in providing much needed help to those less fortunate in Boca de Tomatlan. 

To learn more about the Boca Food Bank and ways to donate, visit Collectivo Viva Boca.

Thank You Saputo !

We would like to acknowledge the commitment and passion of Saputo Dairy Products Canada to support the work of Isa Mundo Foundation throughout the years. In particular, the hard work of long time Isa Mundo supporter, Alan Yau. His dedication to coordinate with stores and Saputo allowed Isa Mundo to fulfill its commitment to provide KidSafe with 600 litres of milk and 200 dozen eggs for its lunch program.

This is a great example of individuals, businesses and non-profits coming together and collaborating to provide assistance to the most vulnerable in our community. Without this partnership, it would be challenging for Isa Mundo to continue its work. We are grateful for Saputo and we hope to continue this partnership in the future. 

A big thank you to Mundoers who volunteered to deliver food for KidSafe during this COVID crisis, we are aware of the risk but Mundoers were able to step up and remained safe and healthy while providing essential service to our community.

It has been a productive summer for Isa Mundo and we look forward to continuing our work in the Fall and the rest of 2020!

Salvation Army Community and Family Services

We are continuing our efforts to partner with local organizations that are in need of our support. This week, we visited and met the staff at Salvation Army Community and Family Services to learn more about its services and programs offered in the community.

The organization is always looking for volunteers both to deliver daily supplies, support services or assist in seasonal programs such as the Christmas Toy Program. Everyone is welcome to join and contribute different skills and talents or learn new things in a group environment.

Isa Mundo is committed to support Salvation Army's food hampers program and delivered much needed supply of bread and baked goods during its first on-site visit. Mundoers will be collecting additional food supplies in the coming weeks and help deliver food in the community. We invite everyone to lend a hand and share your time or resources to this organization. To learn more about the Salvation Army Community and Family Services and their programs, visit its location or website at Salvation Army Vancouver.

Bread for KidSafe

We are thankful for an anonymous donor who provided Isa Mundo with 150 loaves of bread to help organizations providing nutritious food in communities. We were able to work with KidSafe and donated all the bread to the organization and its summer lunch program partner BitterSweet Kitchen.

BitterSweet Kitchen provides scratch made lunches with quality ingredients for elementary schools, and kids spring break and summer camps in Vancouver. This summer, BitterSweet has volunteered to make lunches for KidSafe kids and families it serves.

Isa Mundo was able to learn about BitterSweet's operations and meet the dedicated staff providing support to KidSafe. We hope to continue supporting the two organizations this year.

To learn more about BitterSweet Kitchen, visit www.bittersweetkitchen.ca