2019 started with the well founded premise that the coming twelve months would be the most fruitful in the brief history of Seeds of Life International. Bolstered with reserve funding carrying over from 2018, and a substantial increase in regular donor giving, we set our sights high.

 

Our vision has always been and continues that poverty is alleviated in every impoverished family by concentrating on changing the life of one person. That one person then influences their family. That one family influences a community. Thus our charge, changing the world ONE PERSON, ONE FAMILY, and ONE COMMUNITY at a time.

 

Emboldened with financial reserves, we initiated the first phase of a building project in Curionopolis, Para, Brazil. The lower Amazon community of Curionopolis is one of several small towns and villages in the lower Amazon Basin wrecked by poverty and lack of resources necessary to end poverty for individual families and communities.

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Our team planned a multi-phase project to build a community center in the poorest area of Curionopolis - near a land fill where several families have established makeshift homesteads. We know from experience and research that community centers are central to establishing a base of operations for volunteers to serve families who are in desperate need. The most successful community centers focus on the whole person, with an emphasis on children. Children advancing under the guidance of volunteers stand an exponentially greater chance of finishing primary education and moving on to university or technical schools. Literacy is the key component to ending poverty in a family line.

 

In the span of four months, we were able release funding for the first three phases of the community center project in Curionopolis. By the first of June, the foundation, walls, and roof were constructed. The speed in which the project was advancing allowed for our first community wide event hosted at the Center - a medical and dental clinic for the residents of the area.

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For the second year in a row, Seeds of Life International sponsored and funded a medical/dental clinic in the lower Amazon. Partner doctors and dentists from Sao Paulo flew over 2000 miles to offer their time and talent to make the clinic a success. Dozens of tooth extractions and emergency medical procedures were performed in Curionopolis and Serra Pelada.

 

Also, the team, which was comprised of our medical professional friends and highly motivated volunteers from California, New Mexico, and northeastern Brazil, provided over 150 food baskets for families who were in dire need. The food baskets contain about one month’s provisions for a family of 4-6 people. The generosity of our donors allowed Seeds of Life International to purchase food baskets for the fifth year in row. Our efforts provide a needed boost for regional non-profits and their volunteers. In essence our financial commitment and volunteer work allow for our hosts to have a few weeks of rest from their year round efforts to provide aid to the families living in extreme poverty.

 

Our team returned to the States in late June after a hugely successful trip. Although our annual trip to the Amazon was now over, our commitment was simply gaining strength.

 

Moving through the summer and into the fall, we continued to fund the final phases of the Community Center building project in Curionopolis. 

 

In October 2019, we initiated a donation campaign to raise funding for Christmas gifts for children leaving in northern Mexico. A small team of volunteers traveled to Mexico from Sacramento delivering love and joy to children who would have gone without.

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The successes of 2019 are a catalyst for our belief that 2020 will be even more fruitful. Once again we begin the calendar year with reserve finances, due in large part to a generous gift from the Shell Oil Corporation.

 

Here’s to a wonderful 2019, and a promising 2020!!

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Change the WORLD.

 

One Person

 

One Family

 

One Community

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Seeds of Life International

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