Objective: Promote women's rights. Promotion of volunteering in youth. Education of at risk teens and children. Education about problems facing developing countries.

Vision: Be a solid group of volunteers with theorical and practical understanding to be prepared and take action for those in need of help.

Mission: We are a group of young men and women dedicated to serve individuals, institutions and communities in need of help under the Salesian philosophy.

 

Work Descriptions

Train volunteers. Volunteering in local and international level (Volunteer meeting in El Salvador). Promote self-sustainable micro projects (Create chicken farm. Make ovens to bake bread. Haircut training.) Fund-raising campaign. Study about issues in developing countries (poverty, illiteracy, unemployment). Participation in congress and volunteer seminar in local and international level. Work in solidarity camp. Study of our religion and Salesian philosophy.

There are 4 committees to plan and execute the activities.
Socializing committee: Takes care of internal affairs such as celebrating member's birthday.
Training committee: Plans activities and workshops to train the members.
Project committee: Plans new projects
Management: Manages funds and plans activities to generate funds.

Past projects
Visit to the Home of physically handicapped children "Santo Hermano Pedro" (09/19/04)
Visit to the Home of less fortunate seniors (07/10/04)
Visit to the Sunday group of shoeshine boys (10/16/04)
Visit to the HIV and tuberculosis patients in the national hospital of Dr. Rudolfo Robles (3/13/05)
Visit and donation to the residents of Caserio Pomal in Coatepeque (04/30/05)
Visit the municipality of San Pablo La Laguna in Sololá department to visit the Ixcaya Ujpan family. They are living in extreme poverty and their child is suffering from facial cancer that makes it difficult for him to swallow foods. We have donated juicer and others materials. (07/30/05)
Visit to the pediatrics ward of the Western Region Hospital (05/11/05)

 

Solidarity Camp - 4 days camp to engage in various activities. In the mornings, we visit the homes of those in need and share our time with them. In the afternoon, there are workshops for personal development and later we give vocational trainings to local community such as making watches, piñatas, flower crafts, etc so that they can have additional source of income. During the night, we have parties and spend time with local community. Done in Magnolia Miramar village, of the Municipality of Colomba, Quetzaltenango. (12/ from 26 to 29/04) Done in Caserio El Pomal village of the Municipality of Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango. (12/ from 26 to 29/05)

Participation in events
Participation in the seminar "Donation of resources and volunteering in the new century", sponsored by the City of Quetezaltenango. (11/from 06 to 20/04)
Virgen de Rosario festival in Quetzaltenango (10/01/05)

Weekly meetings
Meetings begin with a little activity to warm-up and followed by listening a song and prayer. Then there is a little seminar on personal development topics such as "Regaining a peace in family environment". Finally, there is a time to prepare for various activities in a whole group and in committees.

5 activities are planned out for 2006
March 11
May 6
July 1
September 2
November 4

Solidarity Camp is planned for April 8

 

List of necessities

1. broom, wax, disinfectant, mop, detergent to help clean up institutions that we visit
2. Foods in 100lbs: sugar, rice, oat, beans, bread, etc.
3. For children: piñantas, candies, toys, clothes
4. For adults: paches, coffee
5. For people suffering from sickness: tooth paste, toilet paper, vitamins, medicines, etc.
6. Stereos, amplifier

Description of the organization

VIDES is an international, non-governmental and non-profit organization. Its headqueater is located at Roma, Italy and there are about 50 brances world-wide. It is the part of Salesian family. VIDES Quetzaltenango brance was established in Saturday, June 19, 2004 by the initiative of Sor Arabella Garcia who is member of the Institute of Maria Auxiliadora. It is being operated by youth volunteers.