Space is still available for several Amizade programs this summer. Call our office for more details:

Peru: Session 1:    June 14- June 28, 1997
Brazil Session 2:     July 14 - July 28, 1997
Bolivia: Session 1:     July 29 - August 11, 1997

  In July of 1995, Amizade ran a pilot program in Santarém, Brazil.  The program consisted of a group of volunteers who came down to Santarém for two weeks.  The main project was to build an orthopedic shoe workshop for APAE.  APAE, the Association of Parents and Friends (Amigos) of Exceptionals, is a Brazilian non-profit organization which provides health, education, and social services to low-income handicapped children.  Over 100 children are born each month with impeded motor skills that require some form of corrective intervention.  Unfortunately, orthopedic shoes and boots are only manufactured in big cities and come to Santarém at a great cost.  Thus, it is difficult to acquire the orthotics that are needed. For this reason, Amizade and APAE developed a program in which a trained shoemaker, with the assistance of some of the APAE students, who are handicapped, will make orthopedic footwear for the handicapped in the community.  Under the guidance of a local mason and carpenter, Amizade volunteers and students, parents, and friends of APAE built the workshop.

  On the program, two of the volunteers really stood out.  One was a school teacher from Illinois, and the other was a thirteen year old boy from Santarém.  Corky Schwartz teaches fourth grade at Kipling Elementary School in Deerfield, Illinois.  For several years, part of her curriculum included a section on the rainforest.  For Corky, it was a dream come true to come to the Amazon - a dream she wanted to share with her students and her school.  As a way to include her students in her adventure, Corky organized the students at Kipling to sponsor Amizade for Earth Day.  Students collected tools and other items for Corky to take to Brazil to use on the project.  Some of these items included trowels, hammers, and saws that were used to build the workshop.  They also collected school supplies for the students of APAE.

  Corkyís enthusiasm prior to the program carried over when she arrived in Brazil.  Corky made the most of her time in Santarém.  She worked and played hard.  In addition to befriending the Amizade volunteers, she made a lot of friends with the local Brazilians who ask me about her every time Iím in Brazil.  One of her closest friends was a 10 year old boy named Elioto.  Elioto worked with the volunteers everyday, and especially liked working with Corky.  He took her to his house so that she could video tape how Brazilian children live and show it to her class.

  After the program, I had the good fortune to make a presentation with Corky and Kim Palmer, a another teacher from Kipling and Amizade volunteer, to the students of Kipling.  They enjoyed seeing the slides of the Amazon and the jungle, but their eyes lit up when Mrs. Schwartz appeared in the slides.  It was apparent that Corky was able to truly share her experience with her students.

  Another very notable volunteer on the program was a 13 year old boy named Graciliano.  He spent his entire summer vacation working with us to build the orthopedic workshop.  In his brief life, Graciliano had a pretty tough time.  His mother died when he was six, and he didnít know his father.  He lived with his aunt, 2 brothers, 2 sisters , and 5 cousins.  His aunt was a maid and worked most of the day and evening.  Graciliano and his  older cousin took turns taking care of the other children.

  Gracilianoís 12 year old brother, Christiano, is a student at APAE.  Christiano has Downs-syndrome and severe neurological disorder.  Graciliano liked his brother very much and liked APAE for helping his brother.  To show his appreciation to APAE, Graciliano volunteered to help build the workshop.  He enjoyed the work and thought it was especially fun to straighten the rebars and bricks.  He hopes to work again with the Amizade volunteers next year.

  Our thanks to Corky, Graciliano, and all of the volunteers - both American and Brazilian.

- Daniel A. Weiss

  We would like to thank the kind folks at the WPWR Channel 50 Foundation who awarded Amizade a $7,500 grant to continue to develop meaningful community service projects and volunteer experiences.

  The Rotary Club of Deerfield, Illinois has chosen to sponsor Amizade as its international charity by raising money and tools.

  It is with great sadness that we mention the passing of Dr. William Harsha.  Dr. Harsha was a surgeon, author, philanthropist, and humanitarian.  It was his generous donation of $40,000 spread over 3 years which allowed us to build the William Harsha Orthopedic Clinic at APAE.  We offer our deepest sympathies and best wishes to his family and friends.

Daniel A. Weiss, Ph.D., Executive Director
Board of Directors
Kelly Conway, Chair
Keith Weiss, Treasurer
Joseph Bertram, Secretary
Keith Butler
Anthony Mariani
Andy Roberts

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