Chile
FATHER VENANCIO SCHOOL
Padres Las Casas, Chile
School Music Project
This school is located in a very poor socio-economic region of Chile and caters for many children from the Mapuche indigenous minority. This indigenous minority is composed of around 45% of students. Overall, over 80% of students come from families where the parents are unemployed.
The school was in very poor condition, with inadequate facilities for the number of students that they must cater for. There was an urgent need for more classroom space, but also for the introduction of programs that build students' self-esteem and sense of personal worth. DBL constructed a new classroom and provided the instruments to introduce a small music therapy program.
Project commencement date: Q2.2012
Project completion date: Q1.2013
Individuals directly impacted over 20 years: 700
Individuals indirectly impacted over 20 year: 11,820
ESCUELAR TAMARUGAL
Santiago, Chile
Community Centre Construction
All students come from poor facilities with little or no capacity to pay. The school is located in one of the slum communities of Santiago. The facility is in need of extensive works to make it suitable for the special needs children, but is generally in sound condition.
While the facility requires extensive work to make it suitable for special needs, there were some works that would allow the school access to increased government funding, essential to their sustainability. As a result, DBL focused on these works, which included; kitchen ventilation, bathroom access and wheelchair access.
Project commencement date: Q2.2015
Project completion date: Q1.2016
MIRAME FOUNDATION
Santiago, Chile
Community Facility Project
Mirame Foundation provides services to families with children with Autism, who due to socio-economic circumstances cannot afford treatment.
The staff at Mirame are professionals who volunteer on a fostered basis. They currently do not have a permanent base and operate by moving equipment around. They have now been provided with land on which to establish a facility in Santiago.
DBL worked to assist the Foundation in setting up a permanent container-based facility on the land provided. This will allow the Foundation to better provide the therapeutic services needed by the community.
Project commencement date: Q2.2017
Project completion date: Q4.2017
Individuals directly impacted over 20 years: 319
Individuals indirectly impacted over 20 years:1,118
FILIPENSE COLLEGE
Santiago, Chile
Community Development Project
Filipense College is a catholic college operated by nuns in the very poor Pudahuel area of Santiago. The school is attended by a combination of middle-class students and some from the very poor communities of Pudahuel and the area, which suffers from extensive generational unemployment, substance abuse and a broad range of social problems.
The college launched a program to work with the children of these families to lead them through a broad range of programs to (hopefully) set them on a path to a positive future notwithstanding the challenges of their upbringing and social disadvantage.
The programs are run in the open and as a consequence regularly interrupted by or suspended due to weather. In winter sessions are very seldom held which results in children being lost to the program and or reverting to bad habits. A minimum of 30 children attend each session with the opportunity for many thousands to benefit in the longer term.
DBL constructed a center where the sessions with these children could be held and provided some basic equipment for the center.
Project commencement date: Q2.2018
Project completion date: Q3.2019
CASA ESPERANZA ORPHANAGE
Padres La Casas, Chile
Orphanage Upgrade Project
Casa Esperanza is an orphanage established in 1980 which provides support to children and young people from birth until 18 years of age unless they are able to fend for themselves.
The Orphanage operates from two donated houses which have a permanent staff of qualified people along with short and long term volunteers. The facility houses 60 children and has long term plans to expand their capacities, but this is dependent on the availability of funding and being able to sustain any growth in the long term.
DBL committed to provide funds for the acquisition of a small bus to enable children to be ferried to school and for medical care safely, and the acquisition of new washing machines for the laundry. As well as the provision of this equipment, DBL constructed perimeter security fences, covered play areas and provided educational services
Project commencement date: Q3. 2010
Project completion date: Q3. 2010
LA MONTANA CHILDREN'S REFUGE
Santiago, Chile
Community Centre Construction
La Montana is a home for at risk boys and youths who can no longer be left in the family home. The risks generally arise as a result of generational poverty, substance abuse and mental illness. Some of the residents have been physically, mentally and sexually abused others are at significant risk of such abuse. A key objective of the refuge is family rehabilitation.
The facility is operated by a registered NGO in premises provided free of charge by the local government authority and funding is raised through events and donations.
DBL undertook essential and urgent works to remove asbestos, constructed a pathway and upgraded bathroom facilities.
Project commencement date: Q2.2015
Project completion date: Q1.2016
MIRAME FOUNDATION
Santiago, Chile
Community Facility Project
Mirame Foundation provides services to families with children with Autism, who due to socio-economic circumstances cannot afford treatment.
The staff at Mirame are professionals who volunteer on a fostered basis. In 2015 DBL worked to provide Mirame with a permanent base from which to undertake their work. This saw the establishment of a container-based facility, that is now in use.
DBL has once again worked with Mirame to allow them to continue and expand the services they provide with the assistance of support animals such as dogs and horses. This will allow the Foundation to better provide the therapeutic services needed by the community.
Project commencement date: Q2.2017
Project completion date: Q4.2017
Individuals directly impacted over 20 years: 319
Individuals indirectly impacted over 20 years:1,118
