The Fatima Parish Charity Needs Your Help

Make a donation today!

Fatima Parish has been at work in Casco Viejo for 50 years. We know Casco Viejo well-it's our adopted home in Panama City. You'll find our in-country staff and our Panama office on the corner of Plaza Catedral, across the street from the Panama Canal Museum.

As you know, we focus on opportunity in the places where we spend time, but we can't help but notice, as well, the people who could use a helping hand. We're at home here in Casco Viejo, and we'd like to do what we can to help our neighbors.

How the Parish Makes a Difference

The Parish offers an orphanage for kids whose families can't support them. They have day-care for working moms. Kindergarten. Before- and after-school care. Tutoring and homework help. A research library. A computer lab. And a regular round of courses and workshops to help kids learn a trade (auto repair, carpentry, computer tech, etc.). Graduates of these courses receive certificates that are respected throughout the city.

Right now, the Fatima Parish hosts:

• 25 full-time boys and 35 full-time girls.
• 175 kindergarten-aged kids (and younger) who attend the Fatima Parish during the day so their parents can go to work. (Seventy of these children are aged from 5 months to 4 years old).
• 300 infants that participate in a healthy eating program.
• 40 senior citizens.

They're helping the children of Casco Viejo who, without a little help, are likely to get mixed up with the local gangs, drop out of school, go hungry, get sick, or worse.

Plus the parish serves a few hundred meals a day to locals…offers a dental clinic a few days a month…and care of the elderly.

But here's the thing…

The Fatima Parish needs money for operating expenses, food, hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies to keep the facility clean, and also school supplies (books, pencils, pens, etc…). Right now, the operating expenses for the Fatima Parish run around $20,000 a month.

However, the state subsidizes them to the tune of only $2,000 a month…leaving the Parish $18,000 short each month in operating expenses.

We at International Living would like to help the Fatima Parish.
And you can help too. Here's how:

We have been looking to find ways to become more involved with the group's efforts…and we've come up with a few ideas:

1. Birthday Club

Firstly, we've started a Birthday Club, whereby we invite all the kids in the orphanage with birthdays that month on an outing…say for pizza, ice cream, and a movie. These Birthday Outings are organized through our in-country office.

2. Make an Instant Monetary Donation

You can make a donation right now here.

3. Bring Much Needed Supplies With You to Panama

If you're planning a trip to Panama, we encourage you to fill an extra suitcase with anything from toothpaste and diapers to deodorant and soap. School supplies such as pens and notebooks are always very useful too.

You can drop it off at our offices in Casco Viejo and we'll make sure it gets to the kids. Or, if you're coming to an event in Panama, give your supplies to an IL staff member and well get it to the Parish.

4. The Thom Hickling Charity Gala Night - October 27, 2007

Enjoy a meal, entertainment, entry to special prize drawings, a chance to take part in some special auctions and much more. The Thom Hickling Charity Gala Event will take place from 8pm on October 27 at the Sheraton Hotel in Panama City, Panama. All profits will go to the Fatima Parish. For more details email events@internationalliving.com

Thanks for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

If you have any suggestions or feedback please email makeadifference@internationalliving.com

Make a Donation Today!