Disaster Recovery: Family in Need
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Since 2011, we have been working on Recupera Chile, a Harvard faculty-led initiative that seeks to improve the living conditions of a myriad of communities in Chile’s Biobío Region, which were affected by the 2010 tsunami and earthquake. Sadly, these communities have recently been affected by another adversity.
Over the past few weeks, the largest wildfire in Chile's history devastated homes, farmland and livestock in dozens of rural towns in the country's southern and central regions. Entire communities were displaced and hundreds of families lost almost everything. Through this campaign, we hope to help at least one of those families recover their livelihood.
The Riquelme family, from the rural and tiny town of Tomé Alto, is composed of José and Isabel, an elderly couple, their daugther (a single mother), and their three grandchildren (ages 14, 17, and 20). The family's sole source of income comes from farming and livestock. Sadly, the wildfire burned down their home, devastated their land, and killed most of their animals.
With help from volunteers and the local municipality, they were able to rebuilt their one-bedroom house. However, they currently are not able to work because the fire killed their horse and destroyed their tumbrel, which were their only means to transport their products to neighboring towns to sell them. Moreover, the fire burned down the fences they used to keep their animals from running away. Thus, they are at risk of losing the few animals that survived the fire.
The $2,500 we aim to raise will go towards getting them a horse and a new tumbrel, as well as building them new and sturdy fences for their farm. If we surpass our fundraising goal, we will use the extra funds to help another family. From our calculations, we estimate that we need $2,500 per family.
"After several days the flames finally go down, however, they leave permanent devastation," said José and Isabel to my colleagues in Chile.
Over the past few weeks, the largest wildfire in Chile's history devastated homes, farmland and livestock in dozens of rural towns in the country's southern and central regions. Entire communities were displaced and hundreds of families lost almost everything. Through this campaign, we hope to help at least one of those families recover their livelihood.
The Riquelme family, from the rural and tiny town of Tomé Alto, is composed of José and Isabel, an elderly couple, their daugther (a single mother), and their three grandchildren (ages 14, 17, and 20). The family's sole source of income comes from farming and livestock. Sadly, the wildfire burned down their home, devastated their land, and killed most of their animals.
With help from volunteers and the local municipality, they were able to rebuilt their one-bedroom house. However, they currently are not able to work because the fire killed their horse and destroyed their tumbrel, which were their only means to transport their products to neighboring towns to sell them. Moreover, the fire burned down the fences they used to keep their animals from running away. Thus, they are at risk of losing the few animals that survived the fire.
The $2,500 we aim to raise will go towards getting them a horse and a new tumbrel, as well as building them new and sturdy fences for their farm. If we surpass our fundraising goal, we will use the extra funds to help another family. From our calculations, we estimate that we need $2,500 per family.
"After several days the flames finally go down, however, they leave permanent devastation," said José and Isabel to my colleagues in Chile.
Organizer and beneficiary
Judy Palfrey
Organizer
Cambridge, MA
Judith Palfrey
Beneficiary