Earthquake Relief Projects for 2010-2011
The fatal effects of the earthquake and tsunami that swept Chile on February 27, 2010 had a devastating effect on Chilean children. In response to the needs generated and thanks to the generous donations of our partners and friends of the Chilean-American Foundation spread across the United States, we have been able to support five programs in different towns in the Maule region.
Project: Pedagogical materials and psychosocial help for girls and their families.
Fundacion Mi Hogar-- Pelluhue. Pelluhue - Maule . Chile. ($ 4,000)
In the first weeks after the earthquake, girls and staff of this foster home near the Pacific Ocean had to camp on a nearby hill for fear of a new tsunami. This project benefits girls between 4 and 18 years old that reside in this home. The girls are currently attending school in a restricted half-day schedule in the single public establishment of education in the area that operates in a provisional building. To help the girls with their studies, a special room in the foster home is being remodeled as a study hall with shelves for educational materials and appropriate installations for computer use. Also, the project provides psychosocial support to children and their families through training workshops on emergency preparedness and coping with natural disasters.
Project: Favoring the emotional recovery of girls and their family group.
Fundacion Mi Hogar – Cauquenes Residential Center. Maule . Chile. ($ 4,000) 
Girls that reside in this center attend public schools in the town of Cauquenes that are partially operating because they were severely damaged by the earthquake. The project provided psychosocial support to girls between 4 and 18 years old that still live in fear and have sleeping disorders. The psychologist of the Centre giave individual attention to those children who require it. Emergency preparedeness workshops and recreational activities provided the girls and their families an opportunity to share experiences and receive guidance to help them overcome the trauma caused by the earthquake.
Project: Contributing to the development of children of our rural community: help them recover their smile and their peace.
Fundacion "CRATE" . Talca - Maule . Chile. ($ 4,000)
The project was a specific initiative designed to help heal the children psychosocial damage occurred as a result of the earthquake in four communities in Licantén (2) and in Hualañe (2). The project motivated active participation of the community through identification and selection of three leaders in each of the four communities; a day of awareness and training; interviews with 20% of families in every community to assess their situation and a workshop for the leaders to exchange ideas and experiences to identify possible healing initiatives with children and families in the communities. As a result, the community built several playgrounds and libraries and got community committment to maintain these facilities. The project helped more than 300 children and their families.
Project: Child Crisis intervention. Volunteer Psychologists of Chile . Cauquenes - Maule. Chile (US $ 3,500)
The project addressed the continuing fear and trauma caused by the earthquake and aftershocks through the development of a community theater with the children of the community as actors. A humorous play "El Bosque del Aprendizaje" was prepared to promote positive experiences and strengthen teamwork in the community. Both parents and young people collaborated in the preparation of scenery, music, rehearsal and enactment of the play. The rehearsal permitted the expression of emotions, opportunities for reflection and the use of psycho-educational tools to help the children develop resiliency and heal their traumatic earthquake experience.
Project: Psychosocial support for families affected by the earthquake.
"Santa Fe" rehabilitation center . Curicó - Maule. Chile (US $ 2,500) 
The project included two training workshops at the "Santa Fe" rehabilitation center facilities: The first one provided psychosocial support to the parents of the children that attend the Rehabilitation Center for a period of two months. The second one provided healing through art therapy, music and crafts. Direct beneficiaries are children and their mothers. The content of these workshops was based on querying the recipients themselves about their interests and concerns.