Easter Friday at the Country Club in Sta.Ponsa

On Easter Friday (10/4/09) Cristina is organizing between 3 and 5 pm a children's work shop in the Country Club to support the Abugida School in Yeka (Addis Ababa). At the same time she is mounting a stall to promote Mediterranea so if you wish to join, help, or come by we would be very happy to see you.

Philosophy behind the Mediterranea Projects

To work effectively on our projects from a distance is far from easy. Therefore we are committed to travel to countries where our projects are based to ensure our work is properly implemented. Without getting to these locations, it would be impossible to effectively supervise the work carried out, or to overcome local bureaucracy.

So as to be able to make the most of the support we receive from our members and donors we work to and stand by a series of values and conditions, which we (and our partners in countries where our projects are based) adhere to. These are:

- We do not tolerate lies.
- We do not tolerate discrimination or favouritism.
- We do not tolerate theft.
- We do not tolerate Mafia behaviour of any kind, whether by attitude or action.
- We will not tolerate emotional blackmail especially using children from our projects as a form of blackmail.
- We do not tolerate the use of Mediterranea or its reputation for personal benefit.

We do, however demand ever-greater clarity and transparency in everything we do, whether logistical or economical.

If a project cannot operate in this way, we prefer to close it down.

We are not an organization which tolerates "any manner of behavior" in order to make a project a success. The end does not justify the means. The wrong kind of means can open the door to first world imposed dependence, corruption, and a ruthless industry based around the commercialization of poverty.

Transparency, progress analysis, demanding standards and constant observation of all aspects of our projects make Mediterranea a very cost effective organization. With few funds we can do a lot and we strive to continue this way.

A Centre for the Destitute

Palma de Mallorca.

Last Saturday we took 30 chairs donated by the Santa Ponsa Country Club dining room to the Centro de Acogida de Indigentes (The Welcome Center for the Destitute) in Palma de Mallorca, with whom we regularly collaborate.

The center, otherwise known as Can Gaza, is managed by its founder and soul of the project, Jaume Santandreu. A remarkable and unique person.

The center operates as a cooperative in every sense of the word, in that everyone contributes to the day-to-day operation. By everyone, we mean those people who have been rejected by society - a kind of Fourth World - who society prefers to ignore, but thanks to organizations such as Can Gaza, are given a home, dignity, and somewhere to spend he last of their days,.

Pictures of Barry's(1st) trip to Ghana 2009

Click HERE to see photos.

Water in the Orphanage.

Barry arrived back from Ghana last week after a very successful mission. Amongst the many things he did was to put running water in to the orphanage in Ho. Before this the children had to go and get water from far away and carry it back in large plastic containers on their heads.

Young Fundraisers: One child’s gift

A few days ago I was telephoned by a mother whose child is a patient at our surgery. She said that her son wanted to come to see me, but not for health reasons. I told them to come at six, which they did. The child, called Anton, presented me with a letter. It read: "Hello Dr.Stoma. This money is for boys and girls you help. I hope they can go to school one day and are able to eat. Instead of giving me gifts for my birthday, I told my friends to give me money so you can build schools for them," signed Antón.


Antón celebrated his seventh birthday a few days ago and asked his friends for money instead of presents, so he could help children less fortunate than himself. Anton was very confident in what he had done, and as he walked out of the room he it left me with a lump in my throat.