by Thomas Schwarz.

Every year, there is a „Teletón” in Chile, a big TV-show with loads of artists, celebrities and Chileans, who donate money. During a normal year this money would be donated for needy children and their parents. Critically ill people and the disabled could afford treatments which would be otherwise beyond their reach.

But this weekend the Teletón was all about the recent earthquake. True to the motto “Chileans help Chileans” the event raised more than 30 billion Chilean Pesos. That is just short of 60 million US-Dollars. (more…)

by Thomas Schwarz.

I spent yesterday morning going around Santiago de Chile with Roswitha. She has told me of a home for the elderly that has been ravaged by the earthquake. It is lead by Franciscans since the 90s and more than 150 years old.

The first floor can not be used any more, due to the effects of the quake. Some of the 60 inhabitants – all of them women – have to sleep in the corridors and the sisters moved out of their quarters to make room for the elderly. (more…)

by Thomas Schwarz

I was sitting down with Michael Raczynski, who is called „Don Miguel“ here in Chile. We were talking about all the things coming up in the next couple of days: his trip to the south of Chile with my colleague Axel Rottländer; the logistical question of where, when and what to buy. Axel is part of the emergency response team of CARE Germany-Luxembourg and an expert in managing disasters like the recent earthquakes here in Chile or Haiti.

And there is Roswitha sitting with us. At 72, she has already worked for the Fundacion Alemana para el Desarrollo, CARE’s partner in Chile, for 24 years. Tomorrow, she and I will visit a home for the elderly which was heavily damaged during the earthquake. Afterwards, we will visit an orphanage for HIV-affected children. (more…)