Last May in Madrid, ANUPAZ was invited to participate in an event organized by BAI at Las Ventas shopping center. Thanks to the generous efforts of Elizabeth and Malú, who manned our stand, we were able to increase public awareness of the situation of children in Latin America and present the work being done by ANUPAZ together with major NGOs such as Doctors of the world, the Prader Willy Association of Madrid, the Red Cross and Greenpeace.

In Brussels, it all began in April with the Latin American Festival at the Woluwé-Saint-Pierre Cultural Center. Highlighted: Argentina and Bolivia, conferences, films, dance, food and drink. ANUPAZ Belgium couldn't miss it!

This event gave us an opportunity to present a slide show about the school in Suri Pozo, with photos of the major renovations carried out there during the summer holidays (remember, the seasons there are reversed!) and to increase public awareness by distributing our brand new brochure.

We were honored by the visit to our stand of the Minister plenipotentiary from the Embassy of the Republic of Argentina, Mr. Marcelo M. Giusto, who showed great interest in our work, and who, after a lengthy conversation, assured us of his wholehearted support.

Beautiful little markets of all kinds flourish in the  month of May. ANUPAZ participated in the annual plant market at the Center Crousse park, where amateur and seasoned gardeners go to trade, buy, sell and chat about flowers and plants.
ANUPAZ offered for sale a lovely assortment of decorative and vegetable garden plants thanks to the contributions of our volunteers with green thumbs. Between sunshine and showers, with enthusiasm and good humor, we were able to earn precious funds for our rural schools in Argentina.

On Sunday, May 13, there was a mega-flea market on Avenue de Tervuren, one of the main arteries of Brussels.  Mr. de Patoul, the town council member responsible for international cooperation in Woluwé-Saint-Pierre (where ANUPAZ has its headquarters), provided us with a tent there.

It was a great opportunity to meet hundreds of people! We displayed awareness-raising information on children in Argentina at our stand. But it was, after all, a flea market, so we offered our wares, too, selling used books, plants and beautiful, original watercolor painting bookmarks by Belgian artist Claudine Volckerick (you can see her at work in the photo). Many thanks to Philippe, Cécile, Isabel, Sophie and Michèle for their active participation in these events.

More than positive! In addition to generating donations, we were able to publicize ANUPAZ' s actions in a region of the world often ignored by the media. We also gained new volunteers with their abilities, ideas and willingness to make a contribution to our projects.
That's how, through the efforts of Ornella and María (thanks to both of you!), we launched a project to send clothing, shoes, blankets and small bicycles to rural schoolchildren (6 to 13 years old). If you have any of these, live in or near Brussels and want to donate them to us, contact anupaz.bel@anupaz.eu or ring 0496 737 937.

Shipping: even by sea, it's relatively expensive. Do any of our readers know a freight shipper (air or sea) who might be willing to donate shipping free of charge or at least at a big discount? Each euro is precious to the children!!! Thanks in advance!

What next? …
It's thanks to you that our project at the Suri Pozo school will be completed. What joy it will bring to the children, their parents … and to you, of course! Your support is precious, indeed indispensable!

THANKS TO YOU ALL!
til the next Newsletter!