Financial Report 2007

One Equal Heart Foundation's letter to supporters reporting on donations collected and Foundation expenses for 2007.

Dear Friends:

Outside, the tulips open to the light. The air is fragrant with spring flowers in full bloom. All around us, we see signs of new life bursting forth from the cold earth of winter. At this time when the world is new again, we want to thank you. The seeds of your generosity are growing good things in Chiapas, among the Tseltal People, the poorest of the poor of Mexico.

In 2007, One Equal Heart Foundation sent $106,189—generously donated by all of you—to Chiapas to support community-based programs of the Jesuit Mission and the Center for Indigenous Rights that directly benefit the Tseltal People. We thank you for your generosity, your trust and your commitment! Over sixty people donated to One Equal Heart Foundation during 2007.

Many of you made multiple donations. In early December, we visited Chiapas and were able to see firsthand how your donations are generating hope and optimism for the future among poor Tseltal families. See photographs from our visit in the “photo gallery” on our web page at www.oneequalheart.org. Of the $106,189 donations, $5,700 was designated by donors to support the good work of the Caretakers of the Earth.

These volunteers continue to attend training workshops to increase their knowledge of sustainable and organic techniques for growing crops and raising animals. Their commitment is to share what they learn with other Tseltales in their communities who are struggling to feed and support their families. The work of the Caretakers of the Earth means improved harvests, better nutrition, and a healthier environment. Check out photos of this program on our web site, www.oneequalheart.org under “Christmas in Chiapas.” $1414 of your donations was designated to support Tseltal youth who are pursuing their education at the university level while working to improve the quality of life in their communities.

These dedicated young people juggle their university studies (requiring 4-6 hours of bus travel every two weeks for a long weekend of classes), with full-time internships with various programs of the Jesuit Mission and the Center for Indigenous Rights. They are learning how to integrate their growing knowledge into the life of their communities, how to build a more just and humane Chiapas. The balance of donations supported a variety of programs including those that attend to establishing community health network; empowering women to fully participate in the life of their communities; developing curricula for intercultural education for adults and children; strengthening Tseltal culture and spirituality; and translating materials used in leadership training and liturgical celebrations.

We want to share with you the great news that organic, shade-grown coffee from the Bats’il Maya Coffee Cooperative won a tasting contest in of all places--Japan! In addition, a chain of restaurants in Mexico and a Japanese-owned chain of restaurants in California want to feature Bats’il Maya coffee as their “house” coffee! The cooperative is now working on increasing its production, inviting more farmers to join, in order to meet this demand. CEDIAC has even secured land and funding to build a new coffee school and a larger coffee storage facility in Chilón.

Good news to celebrate! Another piece of good news concerns the team of traditional Tseltal judges and mediators. Because of the hard and careful work of these volunteers, there have been no criminal complaints filed with the local municipal police in over five years! Instead of taking complaints such as theft or assault to the police, communities have engaged trained Tseltal mediators who work with the parties involved to arrive at reparations that are fair and a reconciliation that returns harmony to the community.

The Foundation’s sale of embroidery, coffee, soap and other products from the Chiapas cooperatives raised $3,742. Proceeds from these sales are used to support these cooperatives through further purchases of their goods. The Foundation expenses totaled $1,174, primarily to rent our PO Box, pay our accountant, and cover the fees the bank charges us to wire donations to Chiapas. All our expenses are underwritten by our Board members through their monetary and in-kind donations. This means 100% of your donations go to benefit the Tseltal People of Chiapas.

We thank you for walking with the Tseltal People of Chiapas with “one, equal heart.”

With gratitude,

Dave Averill, Jeannie Berwick, Bonnie & Tom Brunton, Jim Degel & Kelly Mulligan,