Project Nigua has many expenses before we can begin to launch our proper fundraising campaign! Since 2001 all expenses had been carried by our participants in the project. The total amounts go far beyond the $ 50,000 mark! Needless to say, we do not have an endless supply of cash.

    We have registered Project Nigua International with the Canadian government as a Non-Profit Organization. Besides the legal fees, we have daily expenses, phone-bills, Internet charges, Domain & Server costs, stationary, travel & meeting expenses and much more. Additionally, we are sending monthly some money to the affected families and children in order to "just keep them going". Any contribution from your part will be appreciated!
Please make your donation payable to Projet Nigua International  - NOTE the FRENCH spelling - by mailing it to:

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• 2009 Jan - March: We have ample reason to become confident that this year will bring the desired realization of the project. A new Online Donation program has been implemented. We are now able to have donors subscribe to a weekly, monthly, yearly or a simple one-time donation.
  

• November 2008: At the present we are re-organizing our fundraising methods. The book "Little Heroes" will soon be in its 2nd edition and available for the mass market. Additionally the Tiny Eden Books & Prints have begun to support us strongly.

• April 29th 2008: A presentation of the project was given to the class of Jennifer Beaudoin at the La Salle Highschool. This presentation was well received and will for sure result in future help for the project. Our fund-raising activities begin to expand.

• April 8th & 22nd 2008: Our 1st & 2nd Benefit Dinners have been a great success! The next one will be held on May 13th 2008. Check out our Face-Book group or go direct to the Event-Listing!

• March & April 2008: The charitable organization application is in process. A core of dedicated sales-persons have joined us. Finally in April a Bi-Weekly Benefit-Dinner will be hosted every 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month at the Alpenhaus from 19:00 - 21:00. - The plate will be $20/personand inclusive taxes. Drinks are extra.

• November 2007: Finally the Organization is registered! We are now a legal and non for profit organization permitted to request donations and contributions. We are presently NOT yet able to issue tax-receipts

• October 2007: The project is progressing in an interesting way. After a complete "re-looking" of the Website on the esthetic's/information/translation levels, now there is also a new tool of fund raising ready: the book "Little Heroes" telling the story of the project! Freshly printed, it is now ready to be sold! A very good news for the project.
  

• August & September 2007: Mélanie Rheault has joined our team. We also have implemented all the steps in getting all our legal papers processed. We are NOW beginning a serious fund-raising campaign. We have set our goals and hope to be progressing well. We have begun to initiate a sponsorship program based on advertisement of small businesses on our Home-page.

• Summer 2007: We have received valuable help from Brigitte Depocas. Things are going well. The project is finally progressing!

• 2007: Doing the "Nuts & Bolts" things: We never registered Project Nigua as a legal entity since in all previous attempts the "Legal definition" of the organization or business would be decided once the investors would be clear about the  structure of the business. In February 2007, Serge Bellemare joined our team. With his know-how we are right now in the process to register Project Nigua in Canada as a non profit organization. This step should be completed by the end of March but latest by the end of April. - (Non Profit Organizations need a clear definition of membership & board of directors.)

• 2006: Approaching the Green Party of Canada: Joining the Green's was a logical choice! No other party or association of like minds is so much in tune with our ideas. The biggest problem concerning the project was a simple one: We are a team of experts in our respective fields but absolute "virgins" when it came to deal with Governments, Banks and other vital entities. "Good Ideas" do not go very far if one lacks the skills to negotiate the "paper-work". Our seeking the help from people who have the know-how to negotiate the minefield of government bureaucracy and similar turned the project back onto a winning course.

• 2004-2005: Two more useless and "greed based" attempts sponsored by "for profits only" companies. On the bright side: The abusive president and his administration lost the elections! However the damage is done and will take years to repair. A general awareness of energy shortage and environmental concerns begin to take holds with the Dominican "Green Team". They are lacking however any structure and "teeth".
  

• Nov./Dec. 2003: "D.P.R.C." Project. Another try by industrialists to get the maximum $ sucked out from a country now in an ever increasing economic down-spiral. "Good idea" - concerning the plastic. NO-Money for the kids! By this time the country had been close to destruction. The Peso devaluated in one day from 30 Pesos/$ to 45 Pesos/$! Electricity supplies to households was a mere 2 hours/day - IF - lucky! The positive part was a private donation of $2,000 from a supporter that enabled us to stabilize the mere existence of 3 destitute families.

• Post 9-11 / summer 2002: The Dominican Republic under the rule of it's worst president since the Dictatorship: Another scouting mission for an allegedly 35.000.000 $ charitable project. Needless to say, it was a flop! However 2 month in Nigua opened our eyes to the true reality of the situation. This was the 1st time we did not reside in hotels but right in the middle of the Barrio amongst the people we tried to reach. +35C, no air-conditioning & tropical storms from May - July gave us a taste of what life is like for them on a daily basis. Oh yes! Due to the ever increasing corruption, electricity supplies were a few hours/day.

• 9-11-2001: Talk about how "real politics" can screw up your day! The "Villa Verde" project dissolved. Investors had no more interests in any "outside" deals. The team of Project Nigua had in the meanwhile began to define it's goals and strategy.   
  

• 2001: "Villa Verde" scouting mission: A Canadian company to be formed to undertake recycling in the Dominican Republic. At that time we simply tried to transplant Canadian know-how & technology to the Dominican Republic. it was there and then when the children of Nigua made us aware of their plight as well the unique handicaps the project presented. The idea to copy the Curitiba system from Brazil made a lot more sense.

• 1999-2001: Original general business scouting mission to the Dominican Republic concerning various Canadian Companies. We became aware of the abundance of discarded plastics.