Community Development

building capacity in the developing world

AIRLINE AMBASSADORS’ humanitarian efforts also lead to long term commitments and development projects. This year we provided community development support and services worth $645,382. We
helped establish wells in Port au Paix Haiti, providing pure water for the local community, and provided fishing boats for 22 families in Thailand and India. The boats are owned cooperatively by several families, giving the families a way to provide livelihood for themselves also. Last year we started a sewing program for indigenous women in Mexico. The cost of the sewing class was a commitment by the women to teach the class when they graduated and the system worked beautifully. This year we expanded the program to try it out in El Salvador and also embarked on a fundraising campaign to provide a sewing machine to women supporting their families.

This year we also completed our project building 150 houses in Soyapongo, El Salvador for families who had lost heir homes in the devastating earthquakes of 2001. We have continued to support the community and opened a school and community center there and we plan to complete a playground in 2006.

Our CASA Corps began work this year on a manual for distribution to developing countries with clear simple instructions for local builders in communities without building codes. The team provided more building inspections, consulting and training in both EL SALVADOR AND ECUADOR, responding to local professional requests. These programs built capacity at the local level and shared valuable knowledge with technical schools and local authorities in both countries. Our CASA Corps program provided a platform for US technical expertise to be adopted and adapted by local municipalities. The program holds important potential for other developing countries in the future.

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