To promote, encourage and improve the quality of life for children and families in need in the United States and the Americas through improved healthcare, education, and enrichment activities. As an operating foundation, our employees, volunteers and vendors will implement our activities; while we make grants to other charitable organizations, that is not our focus. We actively seek governmental and non-governmental organizations with which we can partner where there is mutual benefit.  

WHO WE ARE 

The Children’s Wellness Fund is a private operating foundation located in Miami, Florida. We are self-funded by a local family and do not seek nor accept donations. We have a voluntary staff in Miami and an office in Granada, Nicaragua.
 
INITIAL TARGET COMMUNITY 

Zapatera, Nicaragua is a 20 sq. mile island located on Lake Nicaragua that has a community of approximately 600. Mothers generally stay home and tend to the children while fathers seasonally fish to support their families. There is minimal education and very limited health or medical services provided by the government. The island’s infrastructure is virtually non-existent, with no electricity or indoor plumbing (although there are freshwater wells and outhouses). The island is a protected reserve and no commercial farming is permitted, although families may tend to gardens used for personal consumption. 

OUR GOALS 

Our Goals: This grassroots organization will analyze and assess community needs, then implement programs to improve the quality of life both in the present and for the future. Primary goals include the providing of basic medical care and improving health and hygiene on the island; providing education for primary school-age children on the island; providing secondary and tertiary education opportunities for older children in the major cities; and economic assistance for infrastructure development, including the installation of photovoltaic solar energy systems. In all of our efforts we will try to achieve sustainable outcomes by working hand-in-hand with the community and by focusing our efforts on those problems of maximal concern to the community. Children’s Wellness Fund will work in partnership with other NGO’s and governmental organizations to bring these services to the community in the most efficient means possible. 

Zapatera in 2005  Children’s Wellness Fund is committed to provide sufficient funding to expand the following services to the people of Zapatera.

Education
· Provide programs to recruit and retain qualified teachers (in collaboration with the Ministry of Education).
    This includes improving living conditions for teachers as well as compensation.
· Establish a curriculum and provide basic school supplies and books.
· Supply recreation equipment, educational toys and games.

Medical
· Provide for physician visits and training of community health workers.
· Establish and support an island-run clinic that is stocked with basic medical supplies.
· Promote personal hygiene practices to the community.
· Analyze water quality and repair or dig wells where necessary to ensure clean, safe drinking water for all.
· Improve children’s daily nutrition.

Infrastructure/Economy and Capital Investments
· Introduce limited solar power to the community.
· Promote economic self-sufficiency through micro-lending and trades education.
· Provide over time for capital investments to meet the needs of the community (schools, housing, etc.)

E-mail Contact: info@cwf.org

NOVEMBER 2004 NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER

ARTICLE - EL NUEVO DIARIO - OCTOBER 2005

ARTICLE - LA PRENSA - OCTOBER 2005

SEPTEMBER 2005 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

JANUARY 2006 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

FEBRUARY 2006 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

MARCH 2006 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

APRIL 2006 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

JUNE 2006 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OCTOBER 2006 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

JANUARY 2007 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

APRIL 2007 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SEPTEMBER 2007 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

FEBRUARY 2008 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

APRIL 2008 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

MAY 2008 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

JUNE 2008 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY