Qué pasa No. 19 - June 2015
We’re already well into 2015, and it’s time to share with you the latest news from Casa Alianza in Switzerland and in the field since the beginning of the year.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue and wish you a wonderful summer.
The Casa Alianza Switzerland Team
Mireille Caloghiris Exhibition in Support of Casa Alianza Switzerland
Mireille Caloghiriste, a talented watercolorist and ambassador for the Fengarion philanthropic platform, has been regularly exhibiting her work in Europe, the United States, and China for nearly 30 years. The proceeds from her exhibitions are donated to charitable causes. From February 12 to March 4, 2015, Casa Alianza Switzerland had the good fortune to benefit from this artist’s generosity by being the focus of her 2015 exhibition titled “Retrospective: 30 Years of Love for Lake Geneva and Children” at the Oleowine & Art Gallery in Geneva. The proceeds from this exhibition helped support the health program at Casa Alianza Honduras.
The organization extends its heartfelt thanks to Mireille Caloghiris for her generosity, as well as to the Fengarion platform for facilitating this event.
Casa Alianza Switzerland at the Henry-Dunant General Education School (ECG)
Following the “Step Into Action” days in November 2014—which aim to raise awareness among young people about sustainable development issues—students in a class at the Henry-Dunant ECG took the initiative to raise funds to support Casa Alianza’s programs. Our association was deeply touched by this gesture and met with the class in March 2015 to thank the students and discuss Casa Alianza’s work in Switzerland and in the field.
Casa Alianza Switzerland General Assembly
On April 14, 2015, the Casa Alianza Switzerland General Assembly was held in the main dining room of the Mère Royaume restaurant.
This was an opportunity for our association to present its results, activities, and objectives for the previous year and the coming year to some thirty members and supporters.
2014 was a successful year, both in terms of its awareness-raising, advocacy, and communication activities, and in terms of its fundraising results. These efforts set a new record: with CHF 987,300 raised, the association came very close to realizing its dream of raising one million francs. It should be noted that this excellent result is due in large part to an exceptional anonymous donation of CHF 506,000. Detailed results for the year will be presented in the 2014 activity report, which will soon be sent to active members and published on the association’s website.
The evening of the General Assembly continued, for those who wished, with a convivial dinner, providing an opportunity for informal discussions between committee members and supporters of the association.
Universal Periodic Review of Honduras
On May 8, the second round of Honduras’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place—a review of the human rights situation in the country to which every state must submit every four years. Casa Alianza presented four recommendations addressing issues of concern: the migration of unaccompanied children; violent deaths, extrajudicial executions, and impunity; children at social risk; and, finally, child sexual exploitation. We are pleased with the results of our advocacy efforts, as several states have adopted our recommendations, as well as with the media coverage we received, including an interview with Eliane Hauri on Honduran radio and television and another with Fanny Bauer in *Le Temps*.
Delegation from the United Nations Secretary-General to Casa Alianza Honduras
The beginning of 2015 in Honduras was marked by the visit, on January 14, 2015, to Casa Alianza Honduras by Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Human Rights Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and Mr. Efraín Pérez Escobar, representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Casa Alianza Honduras was proud to showcase the activities of its residential center as well as its research on the situation of violence in the country. The children in the organization’s care had the honor of giving the United Nations delegation a tour of the center and presenting them with gifts they had made themselves.
It was also an opportunity for Casa Alianza Honduras to voice its concerns regarding the alarming rate of violent deaths and violence against young people, the severity of the situation facing street children, the issue of unaccompanied migrant children, and the problem of human trafficking and sexual violence in the country.
La Alianza Guatemala Celebrates the Victory of One of Its Beneficiaries
On April 26, Alianza Guatemala was very proud to celebrate the bronze medal won by one of its beneficiaries in the 400-meter track and field event at the national games for people living with intellectual disabilities, in which nearly 650 people participated. This podium finish was a source of immense pride for this 16-year-old girl, who hopes to continue her athletic career and secure a scholarship so she can train with the Sports Federation. Alianza Guatemala, which views sports and artistic activities as a key element of the rehabilitation process, is exploring ways to help this young woman pursue her athletic career to the fullest while supporting her long-term reintegration into society.
A Metalworking Workshop at Casa Alianza Nicaragua
Thanks to a donation from Casa Alianza Switzerland, Casa Alianza Nicaragua was able to establish a metalworking workshop at its residential center to offer young participants in the rehabilitation program courses at various levels and enable them to acquire new skills that will be useful for their reintegration into society.
Because the workshop is located within the center, it is more accessible to the association’s beneficiaries and is highly appreciated by the young people. For example, they learn how to repair furniture or make decorative objects.
For more information about this workshop, you can find a short report at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r1uG_nmDIc
