Dr. Jim (Jaime) Boland

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Jim (Jaime) Boland.  Jaime had been one of the biggest fans, strongest supporters and loudest advocates of the Isa Mundo Foundation.

We first met Jaime in Mexico in 2007 and showed us some of the not for profit organizations, charities and communities he was supporting in the Puerto Vallarta area.  He introduced us to the R.I.S.E. organization, the first orphanage we have ever visited for the foundation.  He also opened our eyes to Pasitos de Luz, the day care centre for children with disabilities.  To this day, we continue to work with Pasitos and follow the vision of Jaime on how to best support the organization based on our capacity.

Jaime was a great mentor to Isa Mundo, constantly exposing us to new ideas along with teaching our team how to work with individuals, organizations and communities in Mexico. Most importantly, he preached cultural sensitivity and to be adaptable to different values and ideals.

We will be doing the first project site visit of the year in Mexico on February 2014 and will honour Jaime by visiting the new Pasitos de Luz facility being constructed (also known as Casa Connor). We hope to find a way to partner with the organization and support the work Jaime was doing in improving the lives of less fortunate children in the Puerto Vallarta area.

We will miss our friend and colleague but our time with Jaime was a blessing and he would want us to celebrate and continue the good work he started.

Happy New Year

It has been a great year for the Isa Mundo Foundation.  We forged new partnerships this year both with businesses and other not for profit organizations.  Most notably, we collaborated with Big Mountain Youth Society to bring school supplies to Indonesia and partnered with St. George's Academy to bring laptops and educational tools to Peru to establish our first Isa Mundo Education Centre in the country. 

We are looking forward to 2014 and potential projects that we will be developing. We will return to Mexico in February to visit the Volcanes Primary School and see the new Pasitos de Luz facility being constructed in Puerto Vallarta.  We also have a potential site visit in Guatemala to see first hand the Project Somos Children's Village.  We hope to complete this trip by summer 2014.

We all need to take time to reflect on a successful 2013. All the hard work resulted in projects that continue to improve the lives of children, students, families and communities we work with.  We could not have completed all our projects this year without the continued support of our funders and volunteers. Our work will only progress when we all work together. 

We are wishing everyone a peaceful, healthy and prosperous New Year and we look forward to a successful 2014!

The Generosity of Canadians

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our Typhoon Haiyan Relief Campaign. Our fundraising ended on December 8, 2013 and we raised over $1500 between November 18 to December 7.  We have chosen to give our funds to the Red Cross and continue the solid partnership we have established. This amount will be matched by the Government of Canada dollar for dollar as part of Canada's commitment to the relief efforts in the Philippines.

In addition, Isa Mundo provided another option other than a monetary donation.  We collected boxes of non-perishable food items, blankets and medicine to be sent to the Philippines in partnership with a local shipping company.  We also suggested for other supporters to donate directly to the Red Cross  under the Typhoon Haiyan Fund, if this is their preferred approach.

Given the Foundation's on-going focus on education, children and youth and environmental health projects, it is not typical for our organization to fund raise for disaster relief efforts.  But we do respond when our supporters, funders and friends choose to donate only through the Isa Mundo Foundation and request that we start a campaign. It really shows the trust that people has bestowed on our organization and the immense generosity and care displayed by Canadians.

As someone who was born and raised in the Philippines, I followed this event very closely as I have family and friends affected directly or indirectly by this disaster.  I have to say, that the outpouring of sympathy and support globally reminded me of what we can accomplish together. From governments, not for profits, businesses, communities, families and individuals -it shows we can put our differences aside and work for the common good. I will never forget the horrifying images of the disaster but I will also remember the remarkable story of the spirit of humanity.

I recently read an article published in the Philippines that summarized it best:

".... there are few events in the world that make humanity come together so selflessly. Typhoon Haiyan was one of them. We, Filipinos, will never forget this"

Salamat po

Typhoon Haiyan Relief Campaign

In response to the devastating typhoon that occurred on November 8, 2013 in the Philippines, Isa Mundo Foundation has launched its Typhoon Haiyan Relief Campaign.

We have chosen to partner with the Canadian Red Cross due to the organization's global reach and its ability to mobilize effectively to provide humanitarian relief in places affected by natural disasters.

In addition, the Canadian Government is matching all funds donated dollar-for-dollar until December 8, 2013 for the relief effort.  We are encouraging all our members, supporters and funders to consider giving to this cause.

To donate through Isa Mundo Foundation, visit our website at www.isamundo.org and click on the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Campaign banner for more information.

Thank you, Salamat po.

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Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, struck the Philippines on the morning of November 8, 2013.  The typhoon carried wind with gusts of up to 200mph (320km/h).

Eight days after the typhoon made landfall, more than 3,600 people have been confirmed dead with the number expected to rise each day.

According to UNICEF, assessments show an estimated 11.5 million people in need of support in 36 provinces. Some 544,600 people continue to be displaced, with about 70 per cent in 1,215 evacuation centres and the rest in host communities or makeshift shelters such as schools.

Although a huge international aid effort is under way, widespread infrastructure damage is hampering efforts to distribute it to some areas.  Health experts have warned that the worst-affected areas are entering a peak danger period for the spread of infectious diseases.

The Isa Mundo Foundation will be launching the Tyhoon Haiyan Relief Campaign to send funds and much needed aid to the Philippines. We will look to partner with an international aid agency in the coming days and begin our fundraising effort.

We hope all our Isa Mundo members and friends will support the rebuilding of communities most affected by this natural disaster.

*** Photo courtesy of Red Cross ***

Project Somos

Isa Mundo Foundation was able to meet with Denis Knox, one of the Board of Directors for Project Somos.  Isa Mundo's Director and Founder, Paul Lorilla, learned about the work of Project Somos through the St. George's Academy group who also sent volunteers to Guatemala to support construction of various infrastructure and facilities.

Project Somos is currently working to establish a village for abandoned and orphaned children in Guatemala near the town of Tecpan.  The Village will have seven family homes with Guatemalan Foster Mothers raising a household of children.  The goal is to create an eco-sustainable environment that will use alternative power, have organic agriculture and orchards. They also hope to establish Social Enterprises to provide long-term financial sustainability to support the village.

Paul learned that Project Somos' vision to improve access to education aligns well with Isa Mundo Foundation's support of providing basic primary education for all. Denis invited Paul and the Isa Mundo team to visit Project Somos in the future to see first hand the work being completed in Guatemala. We hope to travel and complete a project site visit with Project Somos in 2014.

To learn more about Project Somos and its team, visit www.projectsomos.org

CASA Connor

We wanted to update everyone about a new facility being constructed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in partnership with Pasitos de Luz.

Pasitos de Luz (PDL) is a non-profit organization providing services to children with disabilities and their low income families. Isa Mundo Foundation visited PDL back in 2009 and we partnered with Meryln Power to install solar panels in 2010 to help reduce the cost of electricity and allow children to benefit from a heated pool and therapeutic bath.

PDL currently serves about 140 children but can only support a small number on any given day due to the size of their current building.  CASA Connor is partnering with PDL to build a new facility that will serve the increasing demand in the area.  The new site will be 15,000 square foot and began construction in 2011.

CASA Connor was established by the Caring Abroad Society of Alberta, and by family and friends of Connor Vanderveen. Connor is a young man who passed away in October 2011 from Hunters Syndrome—a genetic degenerative disease with a terminal diagnosis.  To honor the life of Connor, his family and friends decided to assist PDL to construct a larger facility and provide much needed services to children with disabilities in the Puerto Vallarta area.

To learn more about CASA Connor visit their website at www.casaconnor.org