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Charity builds sustainability continued from p.3 line, the volunteers can take up to two 50-pound (23-kilogram) suitcases for free. Loving Arms operates on two basic principles, explains Coghlin -- the first is to provide basic needs to the villages, including help with education, food, clothing and water-filters for health. Secondly, the organization helps create income-generating opportunities and businesses to help keep the villagers self-sufficient and independent. "That way they can keep their own kids in school, buy their own family food in the future and we can move on and help another village," Coghlin said. Since its inception, Loving Arms has helped the villages of Parramos, Parrojas, Chitaburuy, Paraxaj, Corrales and San Bernabe. While in its first year Loving Arms sent just one team to Guatemala, in 2013, it plans on sending a total of 16 teams (approximately 100 volunteers) throughout this year. Coghlin heads down to the villages as often as she can, but while she is not there, a director in Guatemala runs the organization, delivering food packages every month and acting as a social worker. Through private donations and funding it applies for yearly -- for specific projects -- from three foundations, Loving Arms has instituted several income-generating programs, including: a greenhouse for tomatoes and other local vegetables, sewing/weaving, a women's co-operative for a soap and shampoo-making business, piggery, two mushroom farms and a dairy farm -- it is also currently trying to get funding for a chicken and rooster farm. "We work with the elected leaders or mayor of those villages and we all decide together what's needed," said Coghlin. "We don't go in as Canadians and say, `Here's what we think you need and here's what we're going to give you.'" Once a program has been established, the Loving Arms teams teach the local community members the "tricks of the trade" so that they can eventually take over the businesses themselves. "We have workshops training them on safety and equipment, and we even bring in an agriculturalist and experts to teach them how to plant, when to plant, take them through two to three harvests and also work with them on finances," Coghlin said. In addition to the income-generating programs, Loving Arms has established other initiatives, including: constructing stoves, homes, buildings and flood walls, an adopta-home program to help with furnishings, scholarships for students, seniors' food and child sponsorships, dental and medical clinics, literacy and water-filter programs, and hygiene and nutrition workshops. For more information on or to learn how to help Loving Arms, visit www.lovingarms.ca. 11 | Friday, July 12, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Get everything you want for less. SPECIALIZES IN: 289.772.6808 ·Patios ·Walkways ·Retaining Walls ·Driveways ·Stonework At Revera ­ Churchill Place, we have so many programs and activities to engage your body, mind and soul. It's why our residents tell us they "should have done this years ago." And, for a limited time, you can get it all for less. · Located in the heart of downtown Oakville · Chef-prepared meals with dining & menu options · Signature fitness, recreation & leisure programs · Housekeeping & laundry services · 24 hour care & service staff Call to book a personal tour today. www.colslandscaping.com info@colslandscaping.com Enjoy a limited time summer offer on monthly rates! European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship $2900* * Applies to move-ins prior to August 31st, 2013. Some conditions apply. Suites from Churchill Place 905-338-3311 reveraliving.com Working together to overcome ageism. Visit AgeIsMore.com 12479 06.13 345 Church St Oakville "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 905.849.0266