Centre for Dominican Street Children and Abandoned, Ill-Treated Horses
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PROJECT ISOBEL REVIEW



August, 2011

We thank those of you whose support and encouragement has helped us achieve the following during the last 9 months since we moved into our base:

  1. Provide safe accommodation for the children we intend to take in, including extra protective iron-work, improved sanitary and kitchen facilities, the setting up of a dormitory for 10 boys, safer electrical installations.  We have covered the upstairs terraces to protect the fabric of the building and have converted what was just a covered space into an office and guest room for   up to two volunteers staying at a time. We have installed more economical security lighting.
  2. We have developed relationships with the police and local TV.
  3. We have received the funding for school books   and uniforms for the children we take in and are receiving the funding to accommodate one child [from 4 agencies].
  4. We have had numerous children to visit and learn experientially.

A happy child learning to be of service

  1. We have built a safe garden for some of the dogs, including a kennel made of local, typical construction materials.
  2. We have built rustic stables for 5 large animals [funded mainly by the HSI] and converted an onsite transport container into a feed and tack room.
  3. We have created 4 small paddocks using rustic materials, and constructed additional paths to reduce the problem of mud during wet weather.
  4. We have rented a 7 acre field where two young men spent three weeks digging out and burning   the vegetation unsuitable for our animals.
  5. We have completed a survey of the condition of  the horse population within a 25 mile radius.      This was funded by WSPA.
  6. We have continued to work on our other rescued horses to give them a future.  Our elderly stallion  is now being ridden again, albeit very gently.
  7. We have sent our first horse out on long-term supervised loan.

Brigitte, his new carer, on Zorro as he  meets his new field mate, Carissimo, with Pauline on board

  1. We have intervened in a number of cases of neglect or cruelty to horses and donkeys, gaining the written permission from one owner that we may temporarily confiscate any of his donkeys if  we see them mistreated in any way.  We can confirm that sticks are no longer being used on them.
  2. We have been involved, in an advisory capacity / hands on, in the heart-breaking euthanasia of a 5 month old donkey foal and a 9 month old filly,  both with broken legs, both abandoned by their owners and both of which could have possibly  been saved if veterinary attention had been   sought immediately.
  3. We have been involved in the rescue, care and rehabilitation of two donkeys.

The prostitute’s son above has major behavioural issues, yet here he is interested and involved as he assists the vet...

  1. We have improved fencing to protect children, animals and livestock.
  2. We have provided safer accommodation for our free range chickens and ducks to protect our stock of birds and to increase our supply of eggs.
  3. We have constructed a well, funded and organised totally by a generous, local developer.
  4. We have cleaned out our 10,000 gallon water cistern to reduce the risk of disease and contamination.
  5. We have developed our small nursery and created a vegetable garden to add to the produce from our fruit trees.
To those of you who have donated:
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE HELPED TO MAKE ALL THIS POSSIBLE.  THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN AND ANIMALS.

 

 
 
 










 
 
OUR IMMEDIATE GOALS:
 
1.    To obtain the funding to maintain 9 more children and thus be allocated some children by the police, who want to preserve the group culture of those currently homeless and sleeping rough.

2.    To find a foster home for the latest donkey or acquire funding to keep him with us.

3.    To paint the exterior of the building where necessary.

4.    To acquire an office computer [available locally at approximately 400GBP/600US$] to replace the old one I gave to the project but which was destroyed by a local power explosion [despite having a UPS in use].

5.    To purchase four new batteries [available locally at approximately 250GBP/375US$] for the inverter, used during the frequent power cuts, to replace those damaged by the long power outage caused by Hurricane Irene.  We were without mains power for 50 hours.  The inverter discharged after approximately 10 hours, so as the pump requires electricity, we were also without water for the remaining time.  We also lost a number of banana and papaya trees.

6.    To maintain the existing status quo for our loyal staff, who contribute with such loving commitment to children and animals.  If additional funds do not come in, it will be necessary to reduce their hours.  These are hard-working people who live on extremely limited incomes in a country with high unemployment.

7.    To install electric fencing [promised] to divide our rented field, so that we can put all our animals out to graze at the same time rather than for a few hours each, thus reducing our needs to purchase hay and to cut grass.

8.    To create garden furniture and a child play area from logs donated by the local developer.

WISH LIST:

1.    Funding for the replacement of my elderly vehicle which I use almost exclusively for project business.  Currently, I claim nothing for fuel used and I direct and manage this project totally without remuneration.  In fact, I fund the major part of everything, but my resources are severely limited, especially by increasing inflation.

2.    Funding to insure the property against earthquake, hurricane and third party injury [at a local cost of 800GBP/1200US$ p.a.]

3.    To have a sign made for outside the project and smaller direction signs to help people find us.

 
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If you can help in any way at all, with fund raising, legacies or practically, please contact Pauline:
 
 

Dominican Republic: 001 829 763 5578

UK: +44 7969 839431 /+44 1788 811871

Email: paulinewren2@hotmail.com 

            isobel560793@gmail.com

              Ref: Project Isobel

Or make a regular or one off donation via paypal online through the web site or contact Pauline [see above]. 

All money received benefits the children/animals.  Please indicate which aspect of the charity you wish to support:
 
CHILDREN
ANIMALS
CHILDREN AND ANIMALS
 
and if there is any item you specifically want your donation to be spent on, then please indicate that too and it will go to that directly.

Website:  www.projectisobel.com  Please visit this and sign the guest book or find us on Project Isobel Facebook Cause

NB. The Yahoo address has been deleted since we had inordinate problems with it.

Again, THANK YOU to those of you who have donated items for the use of our children or animals, your time in any way at all, and finally your money which helps to keep us afloat!
 
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Will YOU help us to make another child’s future brighter and more productive and his present more than just survival?

Will you contribute to improving the life of a helpless, suffering horse or donkey?
 
Help us to help them!
 
THANK YOU!