Councelling and therapy for children born with schisis, Guatamala
Tess Unlimited Foundation is a Dutch foundation established in Guatemala founded in 2008 by Tessa de Goede de Ordoñez. Tess Unlimited is committed to people born with schisis, a congenital abnormality known as a 'cleftlip' or ‘cleftpalate’. In Guatemala, medical specialists who can handle this type of patients are virtually non-existent. That is why Tess Unlimited recruits doctors from abroad who offer their services on a voluntary basis free of charge.
Our project finder Christel Tinselboer lived in Guatamala for 10 years. She volunteered for Tess Unlimited and became friends with Tessa the founder of this foundation. Tessa still lives permanently in Guatemala and is working full time for her foundation. Christel moved back to the Netherlands and still works for the foundation as board member and fundraiser. There is weekly contact between Tessa and Christel on the daily business of the foundation.
'Campamento Sonrisas' - The camp with a smile
In addition to surgical care and medical aftercare, Tess Unlimited also organizes camps every year to support the children for the long term. In the camps children born with a cleftlip receive special councelling and therapy and they can exchange experiences with fellow sufferers through creative and musical activities and outings. Teens and young adults aged 14 to 20 from different regions from Guatemala come here. They all have in common that they had surgery for their cleftlip as a baby via the Tess Unlimited foundation. For some, there is still an operation to come, namely that of their nose. These surgeries are usually planned at the end of camp week. During camp these teenagers and young adults are supported by therapists and if needed mentally prepared for their upcoming surgery. Usually to remove the fears that they have developed.
In addition, the children receive speech therapy and psychological help by means of group- and individual therapy sessions. They also do a lot of fun activities with each other in the afternoon to take their minds off their problems.
Psychologists and volunteers from the Netherlands and Guatemala help prepare and run this week. The teenagers and young adults 'grow' in their self-confidence, dare to speak, learn to stand up for themselves and even sometimes become an example to others. For example, a number of these young people are currently working for Tess Unlimited
The plan is to organize two camps this year (2019). In addition to the big camp in October, a ‘Campamento’ is planned in November in Patzun, Chimaltenago. This is a 3-day camp for a small group of 10 young people who really need more help. It will be an intensive camp where the emphasis is mainly on individual and group therapy with specially selected young people with a very low self-esteem and many problems at home.
The costs for this smaller camp are:
1 local psychologist for 3 whole days Q 2,250
Hotel for 10 young people for 4 nights Q 3.000
Food for 3 days Q 2,200
Coaching material Q 2.000
1 local speech therapist Q 750
Transport Q 2,500
Total costs for this smaller camp are Q 12,700 = € 1424.84
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Tess Unlimited Foundation is a Dutch foundation established in Guatemala founded in 2008 by Tessa de Goede de Ordoñez. Tess Unlimited is committed to people born with schisis, a congenital abnormality known as a 'cleftlip' or ‘cleftpalate’. In Guatemala, medical specialists who can handle this type of patients are virtually non-existent. That is why Tess Unlimited recruits doctors from abroad who offer their services on a voluntary basis free of charge.
Our project finder Christel Tinselboer lived in Guatamala for 10 years. She volunteered for Tess Unlimited and became friends with Tessa the founder of this foundation. Tessa still lives permanently in Guatemala and is working full time for her foundation. Christel moved back to the Netherlands and still works for the foundation as board member and fundraiser. There is weekly contact between Tessa and Christel on the daily business of the foundation.
'Campamento Sonrisas' - The camp with a smile
In addition to surgical care and medical aftercare, Tess Unlimited also organizes camps every year to support the children for the long term. In the camps children born with a cleftlip receive special councelling and therapy and they can exchange experiences with fellow sufferers through creative and musical activities and outings. Teens and young adults aged 14 to 20 from different regions from Guatemala come here. They all have in common that they had surgery for their cleftlip as a baby via the Tess Unlimited foundation. For some, there is still an operation to come, namely that of their nose. These surgeries are usually planned at the end of camp week. During camp these teenagers and young adults are supported by therapists and if needed mentally prepared for their upcoming surgery. Usually to remove the fears that they have developed.
In addition, the children receive speech therapy and psychological help by means of group- and individual therapy sessions. They also do a lot of fun activities with each other in the afternoon to take their minds off their problems.
Psychologists and volunteers from the Netherlands and Guatemala help prepare and run this week. The teenagers and young adults 'grow' in their self-confidence, dare to speak, learn to stand up for themselves and even sometimes become an example to others. For example, a number of these young people are currently working for Tess Unlimited
The plan is to organize two camps this year (2019). In addition to the big camp in October, a ‘Campamento’ is planned in November in Patzun, Chimaltenago. This is a 3-day camp for a small group of 10 young people who really need more help. It will be an intensive camp where the emphasis is mainly on individual and group therapy with specially selected young people with a very low self-esteem and many problems at home.
The costs for this smaller camp are:
1 local psychologist for 3 whole days Q 2,250
Hotel for 10 young people for 4 nights Q 3.000
Food for 3 days Q 2,200
Coaching material Q 2.000
1 local speech therapist Q 750
Transport Q 2,500
Total costs for this smaller camp are Q 12,700 = € 1424.84
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+31 70 3241997 - IBAN: NL72 TRIO 0784 9315 69
+31 70 3241997 - IBAN: NL72 TRIO 0784 9315 69