I’m travelling to Bolivia on the 22nd of September to visit our heart project, the wildlife refuge Senda Verde. It still feels surreal and until my feet are firmly on bolivian soil on the 23rd, a million things could still go wrong.
At the same time, I can’t wait to arrive at Senda Verde and reunite with all the amazing animals and people after four long years. I’ll spend three weeks there on a personal timeout, but will also take lots of pictures and videos so I can show you where and how all your donations have helped maintaining and improving the lifes of many wild animals.
I thank each and everyone of you with all my heart for the tireless support you have shown…
…may it have been in the form of a financial donation or one in kind, for sharing our campaigns and also for every inspiring discussion about Animalma’s animal welfare work!
Of course I’ll also use this newsletter to promote our current campaigns. That way I can bring as many donations as possible directly to Bolivia.
The construction work for the nursery cage has begun – thanks to the already received donations through Animalma and other supporters of Senda Verde. Any further help will make sure that the baby monkeys can move in sooner.
PS: All the returns from Jeannine’s beautiful bracelets will go to this project from now on. Send your order to info@animalma.org or directly to the artist via jeannine@brugger.me.
Bolivia is burning
Like every year, the forests of Bolivia are burning. And like every year, countless animals burn alive. Whole ecosystems are destroyed forever. These lands are set on fire on purpose – to be used for agriculture.
This complex (and global) problem hits me at my very core and paralyses me each year anew, which is why I have decided to set up a periodic campaign. A mixture of raising awareness and funds for an emergency relief, beginning in 2022.
If you want to help the voluntary firefighters right now and send your help with me, you can do so through our general page by remarking you donation with «fire relief»: https://www.animalma.org/en/support-us/ Every amount is greatly appreciated. I would love to receive any and all feedback or inspiration concerning this new topic.
I won’t have any internet or mobile reception at the refuge, so if I get the chance I will report directly from Bolivia through Social Media. I will definitely update you in detail on Animalma’s website once I’ve returned in the end of October.
Until then I’ll say
„¡Hasta pronto!“, “Take good care of yourself” “Be kind to one another” & “Always help an animal in need – wherever, whenever!”
It is the 18th of May 2020 today – day 55 of the Bolivian lockdown…
…Senda Verde is still closed to the public and can not welcome visitors nor volunteers. They still rely completely on donations from all over the world to take care of the animals living at the refuge.
This is why we are very happy today to be able to send another CHF 737.- in donations to our shelter, making our campaign total climb up to CHF 11’681.-.
Handmade animal welfare
Today’s money transfer has been made possible by the following direct donations and handicrafts:
CHF 300.- in donations… Thank you Carmen and Roberto, Sylvia and Corinne!
CHF 120.- from 3 of our handmade sock monkeys.
CHF 317.- from the sale of various bracelets. Thank you Jeannine for your amazing, creative support and thanks to everyone who shopped with us!
My last entry from end of January was lost due to technical problems on our website www.animalma.org.
Instead of re-writing it, I’ve decided to make one massive update covering all the highlights since the beginning of the year. And because we are all in lockdown now, I’m adding a lot of pictures, posts and videos.
As you will see, it has been a quarter full of “firsts”…
1st live interview on Facebook
On 20th of January I met the Bolivian journalist Edwin Perez Uberhuaga, publisher of the magazine “Aqui Latinos”. In my very first live interview we talked about the illegal wildlife trade in Bolivia and I presented the work of Animalma and Senda Verde.
Through the interview with Edwin I’ve got invited by Raul Calizaya to join him as a guest in his radio programm “Voces de Latinoamerica” on Radio Stadtfilter. We talked in German and Spanish about wildlife trafficking in Bolivia and the devastating fires from last year.
I was excited that Vicky Ossio from Senda Verde joined us live from Bolivia and that we were able to present our animal welfare project in Switzerland.
Our interview on “Voces de Latinoamerica” can be listened to anytime online:
1st talent donation
An extra-wonderful first came end of January: my dear, talented, creative friend Jeannine contacted me to make a talent donation.
She knots beautiful bracelets which I can sell now for Animalma. The profit from the sale and her work are donated towards my project and I’m still over the moon by this kind and awesome gesture.
MUCHISSIMAS GRACIAS Jeannine!
I give you a little teaser of her work – if you are interested in ordering a bracelet let me know via info@animalma.org.
1st BLICK-interview
Thanks to my apprenticeship at the foundation TierRettungsDienst I had the chance to have my very first media experience last year. In December BLICK (a big media brand in Switzerland) published a video interview of me presenting the job profile of an animal keeper and mid February an article was published online.
My February was filled with birthday preparations as I organised a fundraiser event for the very first time. As my biggest wish – to celebrate my 33rd birthday in Bolivia – was not fulfilled, I decided to do something FOR Bolivia here in Switzerland.
A zero-budget-event turned into an amazing, colorful evening thanks to the support of friends and family and together we collected a stunning amount of CHF 5’110.- in donations for our Emergency fund.
I’ve teared up while writing the last sentence as I am still deeply touched by the generositiy and love from everyone for me and my project. I thank you with all my heart for the best bday gift ever – the biggest donation in the history of Animalma. What a start into my “Jesus year”!
And now? Now we are all in lockdown, our lifes slowed down and it’s all about #stayathome #flattenthecurve and #covid19.
Bolivia is under quarantine too, Senda Verde had to close its’ doors and again vital tourism income and volunteers are missing. This is why I keep the Emergency fund up and running as donations for food and medical supplies are now even more needed than before.
At the same time I do believe that this situation is also a chance…
…a chance to combat illegal wildlife trade, which gained medial attention through Covid.
….hopefully a chance for humanity to finally correct its’ destructive way!
….and a chance for each and everyone of us. We are forced to slow down and to have a good look at ourselves. We feel locked away like zoo animals… And hopefully think about how we treat nature, animals and our planet as a whole. Rethink our values. Take responsibility for our actions.
And hey don’t forget that you can still do a lot of good for our animals during lockdown. Here are a few examples…
For our wildlife
…plant bee- and bird-friendly flowers and plants on your balcony.
…instead of having a groomed lawn, go for an untamed meadow being a paradise for bees and other insects. Add some bushes to make the hedgehogs feel welcome too.
…and if you live in the city feed the pigeons (with pigeon fodder please!)
For our farm animals
Rethink your consumer behaviour – in general but especially when it comes to animal products. Scan your products with the app CodeCheck, research your meat labels on labelinfo.ch, look for vegetarian / vegan alternatives and try them out!
We all have more than enough time to do so and can make an important impact towards reducing animal suffering and global pollution.
For our domestic (shelter) animals
I am currently looking after the cat of a friend and I am so glad to have this feline companion in this otherwise lonely lockdown. Isn’t it amazing how much an animal can give back? At the same time I read a lot of reports about abandonded cats and dogs arriving at shelters around the globe…
The shelters in Switzerland (and I guess in other countries aswell) are closed for now due to Covid. They depend as much on donations as our project in Bolivia. Moreover, they will have a lot of animals waiting for their forever-home as soon as the pandemic is over. So please give these souls a chance…
Adopt, don’t shop!
And in case you’re living in a country with street animals, you can provide them with water and food.
I will definitely use this time in lockdown for Animalma – so come around again soon!
Vicky and Marcelo, the founders of Senda Verde thank everyone who has supported our emergency fund.
They have made this beautiful video for YOU showing you exactly where your donations are going – into the beautiful bellies of the 850 wild animals living at the shelter.
Have fun watching our wild family and we from Animalma also say…
Covid affects us all – including animal welfare projects around the globe
Our wildlife shelter Senda Verde is closed due to the current corona pandemic. Bolivia is in lockdown which means that vital income from tourism and volunteers are missing.
Therefore, the refuge launched a new campaign called “Wild Calling” to collect donations in order to provide food and medical supplies for their inhabitants. You can support them directly or through the Emergency fund of Animalma.
Once again I dedicated my birthday to help my wild family at Senda Verde in Bolivia. For the first time I organised a party for all the people who have inspired and supported me along the way.
As I hoped it turned into a colorful happening with a lot of hands helping out with the preparations. There was a buffet with yummie food from around the world, a bar with drinks, a sales booth with our sock monkeys, paintings and beautiful bracelets and of course I presented the work of Animalma and Senda Verde.
It was pure joy to celebrate my birthday and my passion for animal welfare at the same time. Plus it lead to the most beautiful gift ever: CHF 1’800.- in donations just on that evening plus several online donations leading to the amazing total of CHF 5’110.-.
We are able to feed all the 850 wild animals living at Senda Verde for a whole week!
THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!
The Emergency fund is still open for belated bday-donations and I will keep this campaign open as my wild family in Bolivia got hit very hard by the current Covid pandemic…
Stay healthy, stay at home and just keep being as awesome and big-hearted as you all were on my special day!
xxx Sarah
By the way: You can check out my bday-presentation anytime on Facebook or Youtube.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. Animalma was founded on the 22nd of October 2014 – so high time to finally celebrate...
Making a big difference in small steps – this is Animalma. Dear Animalma-Family I am so happy to finally write this newsletter for you. It is full of pictures of...
All pictures in this Newsletter have been taken by Noelia Chalfoun – She’s been working for Senda Verde for a few months and takes the most amazing portraits. Thank you...
Dear Animalma family “So how was it in Bolivia?” I’ve got asked many times over the past weeks. I’d love to answer with a simple “Awesome!”, but the honest answer...
Small things are responsible for big changes. – Paulo Coelho So many gifts in the form of a donation were received for Sarah’s birthday in March 2024, so that we...
We help the rangers of Madidi National Park for the second time with an accident and whole life insurance. The Madidi National Park in the Bolivian Amazon is the most...
After “to love”, “to help” is the most beautiful verb in the world. Like every year… Sarah is sponsoring her birthday to do something good – in Bolivia of course...
Even freezing winter temperatures of 0 degrees did not stop the little acitivists with their sales booth “I learned that you are never too small to make a difference.” Greta...
We help the green heroes, the rangers of protected areas in Bolivia – for example with an accident and whole life insurance. The Madidi National Park in the Bolivian Amazon...
We help the green heroes, the rangers of the protected areas, in Bolivia – for example with batteries for the solar system of a checkpoint. The checkpoint “El Bala” is...
We help the green heroes, the rangers of the protected areas, in Bolivia – for example with fire fighting materials. What started with a spontaneous call for donations for firefighting...
CHF 3’370.- is the fantastic total of our fundraising campaign, CHF 3’305.44 after the deduction of all transaction fees
Thanks to two major donations and many small ones – being just as essential – our Emergency fund has risen to this beautiful amount.
Thank you ALL so much for supporting our campaign!
Feeding the 835 animals living at Senda Verde costs CHF 800.- per day. About a quarter is covered by direct donations of edibles from the Bolivian community. CHF 500.- have to be covered by the refuge.
Let’s push our campaign again so we can reach a total of CHF 3’500.- to feed all the animals at the shelter for a whole week!
Become part of the miracle by sharing this post or donating here:
Instead of paying part of a dinner, we can use CHF 40.- to cover the bank transaction fees to Bolivia (one transaction costs CHF 20.-). Thank you Andi!
Instead of paying the full singing lesson, CHF 50.- of it were donated into our emergency fund. Gracias Laura!
