Fundación Manos Que Ayudan

About us

"Manos Que Ayudan" (Helping Hands) is an NGO, not allied with any political party, founded as a trust, which works within a radius of nearly 2000 km between the Argentine Provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquén. "Manos Que Ayudan" was founded in 1996 in the town of Cipolletti in the Río Negro province. What began as a dream shared by a few friends expanded more and more and took on an ever larger dimension the more things there were which were unsatisfactory and worrying. We were determined and felt duty-bound to improve the living conditions of needy people.

Our mission:

- The development of disease-prevention and health education programs.
- Programs for the prevention of Aids and drug addiction.
- Encouragement of sport and leisure activities.
- The promotion of job qualifications.
- The promotion of small-scale enterprises.
- The qualification of groups of volunteers
- Work with other public welfare institutions.
- Planning an emergency network.
- Sensitization in regard to the care of, and respect for, the environment.
- Respect for children's rights.
- To bring "street kids" from the street and to eliminate child labour.
- Prevention measures against school absenteeism.

Our aims:

- To contribute to an increased awareness of the situation within society and its various sectors (companies, educational institutions, churches).
- Accentuation and systematization of various working techniques with disadvantaged young people and adults, with the aim of being able to make appropriate use of them later.
- Specification of possible mutual joint action between the "Manos Que Ayudan" foundation and governmental authorities (at state, province and municipal levels) to exchange educational and work experiences. This could occur formally or informally, in relation to social education and/or development (including health care and prophylaxis.)

By arrangement, we can offer other net participants information and help with the finding of contacts in our field of work.