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Establishing Long-term Fundraising and Advancing the Eco-Orphanage Vision

We are currently working to create sustainable, long-term fundraising by growing our community choirs and recording music. These efforts will help support the development of our eco-orphanage initiative in Latin America.


Next Steps: Scouting for the Eco-Orphanage Site

Our immediate focus is raising funds to continue scouting locations for the eco-orphanage and building relationships within these communities. We are exploring opportunities in Mexico and Ecuador. In Southern Mexico, there is land that may be donated to us, and we aim to assess whether it is suitable for our project and what it would take to make it a sustainable orphanage.

In 2023, our founder, Shaela Noella, embarked on her first scouting mission to Ecuador. She was captivated by the land but deeply moved by stories from locals about the prevalence of sexual trauma experienced by women. This revealed the need for empowerment programs for women and safe spaces for orphaned children. Ecuador also calls to her heart and spirit because of its fertile soil, offering year-round opportunities to grow food, which aligns with our vision of sustainable food production to nourish many children.

Given these factors, further exploration of Ecuador and the potential land donation in Southern Mexico are top priorities for this phase.

Estimated Costs for the Scouting Phase

To adequately scout locations, build community relations, and assess logistics, we aim to raise at least $5,000. This will cover 2-3 months of scouting, transportation, accommodations, and occasional guides or companions on  more modest or lower budget travel. If additional funds are raised that aren’t used for the scouting phase, they will serve as seed money for purchasing land or beginning construction.

Below is a breakdown of the estimated costs, with modest-medium resources:

  • $1,000–3,000: Round-trip airfare for our founder + 1 companion (or hired guide in the country) to explore and research in  Mexico and Ecuador
  • $2,000-4,000 : Lodging for 3 months- less expensive if staying in longer term or local places, and less touristy places. Though depending on the area sometimes the touristy places can be safer to stay in, so worth the extra cost.  
  • $1,000-2,500 : Local transportation, including buses, taxis, or rental cars (short-term car rentals for 1-2 weeks at a time; more car rentals would increase costs. Usually the public transportation is efficient and could be done well on a budget, and sometimes car rentals are good for more rural places, or if there is more limited time to travel)
  • $1,000-3,000: Food for 3 months (self-prepared meals makes significant lower cost; dining out could triple, or more, this cost)

Estimated Total:

  • $5,000–12,500 for a 3-month scouting journey
  • $2,200-4,250  for a 1-month scouting journey

A longer trip would allow deeper connections with local communities, better understanding of the land, and more informed decision-making.

Scouting and Travel Considerations

Shaela Noella brings extensive travel experience throughout Latin America and is enthusiastic about continuing the search for a suitable eco-orphanage site. While she is fairly comfortable and has done a lot traveling alone, her experience has shown that having a companion or hiring local guides can provide added safety and cultural insights. For this reason, part of the budget is allocated toward hiring help where needed.

With your support, we look forward to finding the right location to plant the seeds of this eco-orphanage, creating a safe and sustainable space for children to thrive.

 

The second phase of our goal is to either purchase land and build, or acquire land with an existing home to accommodate many. Once our scouting efforts are complete, we will have a clearer understanding of the total costs. However, our initial estimate ranges between $50,000 and $100,000.
We welcome support, advice, financial donations and good vibes.
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