Good morning and best wishes for 2025 from ATF!

We are delighted to start the new year with a heartfelt thank you: so many of you trusted us in 2024, allowing us to achieve so much—thank you!!! (But please keep supporting us, okay? We always need your help 😉 ).

Now, a full overview of the situation in India and Cuba (this message will be a bit long, sorry).

• THANDARAI, INDIA: December update

• After-school program: All the students passed their midterm exams; the two students preparing for their final 12th-grade exams are also showing improvement. In addition to the usual support (financial aid for some students, snacks, etc.), ATF provided various materials: notebooks, floor mats, and mosquito repellents, which are much appreciated during this rainy season.

• Aid for the elderly and needy: We distributed 17 kg of rice and other supplies, and provided monthly support for medical visits for a person with a disability.

An overview of the year for Thandarai:
In terms of numbers and tangible contributions: approximately 350 kg of rice and other food items were donated on average to about ten people/families per month. We initiated monthly support for medical needs and supplied various materials, two computers, daily snacks, and weekly financial aid for some students in the after-school program.

Beyond specific assistance, one extremely important achievement in 2024 is that ATF has provided presence, security, and continuity to the development and assistance programs in Thandarai. That’s exactly what we aim for….. not bad, isn’t it?

BAIRE, CUBA

In December, despite the challenging economic and social conditions that make sending and implementing aid in Cuba very difficult, the activities of the single mothers’ group supported by ATF continued. Three new girls joined the group, and the sewing course sessions are ongoing with many participants, usually around 27–28. During these sessions, the mothers receive a small financial contribution, and their children are provided with snacks. ATF continues to pay the salaries of the sewing course teachers and provides individual support to three girls, as well as occasional “extraordinary” assistance. Recently, for example, we purchased a gas stove for a girl whose child is allergic to smoke from coal or wood. Unfortunately, we don’t have a photo of the stove because… they didn’t take one. To give us an idea, they sent a photo of an identical stove.

The Christmas and New Year holidays were moments of joy for the children of the single mothers’ group. The mothers, skilled seamstresses, personally prepared gifts for the children and helped make the costumes for the children’s Christmas performance.

The after-school program is currently on hold (so ATF is not paying the teachers) because students now have afternoon classes to make up for time lost earlier in the school year when classes had not yet started.

ATF is committed to do everything possible. An example?
A local woman who works with children with disabilities asked for help organizing an Epiphany party for them. Sending aid to Cuba from Italy is nearly impossible unless delivered in person, but we were determined to contribute somehow. We came up with the idea of finding and sending links to online games suitable for children with disabilities. This small, creative gesture allowed the children to have fun. It’s a minor effort, hardly worth calling “aid,” but it’s a sign that even in Cuba, ATF wants to do what it can and show our friends in Baire that ATF is there for them.

An overview of 2024 for Baire:
Since June, we’ve accomplished the activities mentioned above, in line with the resources available in Cuba and our ability to send aid.

What’s next for Baire and Thandarai?

We aim to continue and expand our current projects, doing our best every day with constant presence and reliability.

And beyond Baire and Thandarai?
Other projects are in the works in different parts of the world! We’ll share more details as soon as possible—we’re working on them with great enthusiasm.

Thank you for your support!