Offering More Than Material Goods to World's Most Needy in Season of Giving
While many charities provide basic necessities to communities in disaster regions, most forget about the incredible benefit of simple joy obtained through entertainment when and where needed most. During this season of giving, one organization's work of providing what money can't buy is even more important. Magicians Without Borders, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is fulfilling a great need for laughter, love and actual magic for refugee and orphan children living in many of the most war-torn, least accessible places in the world.
Bristol, VT (PRWEB) December 15, 2006
While many charities provide basic necessities to communities in disaster regions, most forget about the incredible benefit of simple joy obtained through entertainment when and where needed most. During this season of giving, one organization's work of providing what money can't buy is even more important. Magicians Without Borders (http://www. magicainswithoutborders. org (http://www. magicainswithoutborders. org)) , a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is fulfilling a great need for laughter, love and actual magic for refugee and orphan children living in many of the most war-torn, least accessible places in the world. The magic helps restore the lost sense of wonder to these isolated children, and is often their only reason to smile. This prevents them from giving up hope and feeling forgotten by the world, after years of waiting in a refugee camp or orphanage.
Most commonly Magicians Without Borders is the only entertainment that has ever visited these impoverished people. They are thrilled and delighted beyond measure, while still living in deplorable conditions. These performances of magic, comedy, audience participation, etc. help restore a lost sense of wonder & joy in the middle of their chaotic situation. The visit means that the world knows where they are and have not forgotten them. This results in not only laughter and magic, but also a sense of hope that their suffering will end and their dreams of going home will one day magically appear.
Traveling To the Greatest Need, Regardless of Difficulty
Traveling to places that generally only receive the world's attention during the immediate crisis, Magicians Without Borders, has visited Burma and Thailand (after the Tsunami), Bangladesh, India, Haiti, Sudan, Somalia; Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia; Louisiana, and in the U. S., Mississippi, and Alabama after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Volunteers from the organization visit El Salvador every three months and perform in the isolated, poverty stricken villages. They are also teaching a group of teenagers in Santa Ana magic and theater skills. Until recently, these children were actually living in a large garbage dump outside the city of Santa Ana. They have been rescued by a Salvadoran doctor who created a program for them, The Barefoot Angels.
They are now in school and living relatively healthy and safe lives. The children are becoming good little magicians and have begun to perform around El Salvador in orphanages, hospitals and the sites of natural disasters, such as a recent volcano eruption that destroyed the homes of 1500 families - two of these children, Pedro and Alajandra, traveled for two days entertaining the homeless children living in makeshift huts. Those who receive this simple gift of joy often return it to others in their moments of need, and so the cycle continues…
Teaching Magic to Barefoot Angels in Santa Ana, El Salvador
In just the last four years, Magicians Without Borders has visited and performed for 150,000 children. Non-governmental organizations (NGO's), such as the UN, World Vision, International Rescue Committee, International Red Cross and Crescent often provide oversight & coordination. These organizations often ask the charity to bring some laughter and magic to children they are working with, knowing it's a type of medicine they need and can't receive any other way. The NGO's do not pay for the trips but sometimes provide needed transportation, once in a served country, and help organize the trips.
The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) gives security clearance for access to certain refugee camps and transportation to these often far away, isolated settlements. Once the magician volunteers drove ten hours along a rutted road to get to the Demme Refugee camp on the Ethiopian-Sudan border. The UN has written several articles on Magicians Without Borders, some of which are posted on the organization's web site.
The non-profit organization is solely supported by individual donations, and does not yet receive Foundation support. All money raised goes completely to support the work. Presently, all personnel receive do not receive salaries, and must raise funds or pay their own way for these trips of compassion. Magicians Without Borders volunteers take about six trips a year, each trip averaging three weeks. They find that the sense of fulfillment they receive is worth more than every penny and every minute they give.
Funds are desperately needed to buy plane tickets, visas, inoculations, accommodations and food. This is a very efficient organization, operating with little overhead, unlike many large, even worthwhile charities. Therefore all donations directly bring love, laughter and magic to many of the most forgotten refugee and orphan children in the world. Please visit http://www. magicainswithoutborders. org (http://www. magicainswithoutborders. org) for further information and to help provide a little magic to those who really need it NOW!
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