InsightArgentina is the HelpArgentina volunteer program that facilitates the connection between international volunteers and Argentine non profit organizations.

"Working with HelpArgentina I learned how effective and rewarding volunteering could potentially be. The volunteers are given genuine responsibility and the freedom to implement their own suggestions" - says Heath, a volunteer from a community center.

Article published in the NY Times on July 29, 2009

By Alexei Barrionuevo

After 15 months in a rehabilitation clinic battling his addiction to paco, a highly addictive drug that has laid waste to thousands of lives in this country, Mr. Eche returned to Ciudad Oculta, a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of this city.

Family members, including his mother, Bilma Acuña, an anti-paco community advocate, welcomed him back last October.

But their love was not enough. Within weeks, overcome by depression over his failure to find a job that could support his son and daughter, he once again turned to the drug for solace.

Barefoot and shirtless, his ribs poking out of his thin torso, he shuffled about in red soccer shorts in the diner with a bare concrete floor run by his family.

“This is what keeps me company now,” Mr. Eche, his eyes darting around nervously, said of the drug. Paco “doesn’t demand anything of me.”

Link to full article.

In an emotional ceremony that took place in the Libertador Salon in the Palacio San Martín in Buenos Aires, the 2009 HelpArgentina Social Ambassadors Awards were given to honor individuals that raise money for Argentinean Social Organizations from outside the country. Before more than 250 guests and with Silvina Chediek as master of ceremonies, the awards were given out by Javier Pupi Zanetti, the honorary host of the event, and Gastón Pauls, actor and social activist.

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On November 17th HelpArgentina held a cocktail benefit at the Yale Club in New York City, which was attended by 120 guests.  One of the highlights of the event was an inspiring presentation by Nicolas Ducote, the General Director of CIPPEC, who spoke about the role of the individual in promoting change.  Padre Juampi Contempomi also made a moving presentation about his fight against homeless in the Province of Buenos Aires.

 The evening was also the occasion of launch the first Chapter of HelpArgentina.  HelpArgentina is establishing a network of Chapters in US cities that have concentrations of Argentines to provide a forum to generate awareness and resources for promoting social change in Argentina.  Each chapter's activities will be designed to 

• share information about social issues in Argentina
• help members of the local community indentify and get involved with projects and causes that interest them, and
• keep donors informed about the impact that their support is having.

 The evening was a great success in no small part due to the efforts of the three Ambassadors who are spearheading the New York Chapter - Marina Michelutti, Jeanette van Campenhout and Natalia Hrehoraszczuk.  You can find more information about these three ambassadors and NY Chapter at http://www.helpargentina.org/en/node/3303.

 If you would be interested in helping to establish a HelpArgentina Chapter in your city, or have a contact who would be a great candidate to lead the effort in another city, please let us know at comunidad@helpargentina.org.

HelpArgentina, a pioneer in the use of the internet to build social solidarity, developed an easy, safe and effective way of connecting international donors to social organizations in Argentina. As a result, since 2003, HelpArgentina has delivered more than 3 million dollars in donations to Argentine nonprofits.

 The internet has caused a revolution without precedent in the world of computer science and communication and in only a few years it has developed into the main channel for delivering information worldwide, providing new ways of interaction between people and countries. But its development is just limited to the interchange of data; it has also helped to develop new methods of collaboration, communication and solidarity between those who need help and those who can offer it.

 HelpArgentina (HA) is a perfect example of this virtual solidarity. Founded in 2003 by American Lloyd Nimetz and Argentine Julián Bedel, this non-profit organization has depended on virtual solidarity from the beginning to achieve its success. The idea developed as a response to the impact of Argentina's economical crisis in 2001 and its objective was to find a simple, efficient and safe way for Argentineans who were living overseas to channel funds into social programs in the country. With time, the network of donors began to grow and the organization started to receive donations from all around the world.

 "The simplest way to define HelpArgentina is as a bridge that connects individuals, businesses and foundations to best practice Argentine charities. By working with organizations that are transparent and that use best practices, we strive to develop confidence among the donors and to promote the culture of giving among Argentines," said Florencia Iacopetti who works in the Donor Services area of HA. She adds, "The organizations that are interested in being part of HA must comply with these prerequisites and rules."

 HelpArgentina currently works with more than 60 Argentine non-profits that meet its standards of fiscal accountability and transparency. Since its founding, HA has received and distributed over 3 million dollars in donations which have allowed the realization of all types of initiatives, such as the renovation and repair of schools in Formosa and Salta, the establishment of a literacy program in Misiones, the founding of a Community Center in Villa 21 in Buenos Aires and much more.

 "We still have a lot more to do in Argentina in terms of developing a culture of philanthropy and of strategic social investment," said Iacopetti. She explained that one of the main objectives of HelpArgentina is to develop a culture of giving which empowers individuals and corporations to support the charity sector.  Because social change, as stated in the mission of HelpArgentina, "is only possible through individual engagement."

Thanks to support from Argentina Chicago Foundation (www.argentinachicago.com), one of the classrooms in the local school in Tres Naciones, Chaco was renovated to serve as the region's first kindergarden.  Set to open at the beginning of this school year, it will provide the important first steps of the formal education process to around 30 children from the local communities.  Tres Naciones, located 20 KM from the city of Tres Isletas, in the Province of Chaco, did not have the infrastructure necessary to open a nursery school.

The project was coordinated by the foundation Cruzada Argentina (www.cruzadaargentina.org.ar) and focused on the renovation of a 400 sq foot classroom in the old school.  The project included repairs to the ceiling and walls, new wiring, and repositioning of windows and doors. An adjacent patio was also renovated to serve as a playground.

The construction work is finished, and the school is now in the final steps of receiving its license from the province to operate the kindergarden.  Carlos González, a teacher in the school and manager of the project, said that "this project is a great achievement for the entire community.  The facility was very needed and we are very thankful, not just the teachers but the whole community"

This is the second school infrastructure project that Argentina Chicago Foundation has executed in collaboration with HelpArgentina. The first project involved the construction of two new classrooms in the "San Martín de Porres" school in La Unión, Salta.   As a result of the success of this project, Argentina Chicago asked HA to help identify additional projects that they could  potentially support and also to provide project support services to monitor the implementation of the  project and report on the results.