Supporting the people of the Tahuayo River Basin.
Saving the Amazon rainforest by helping its people
The mission of the Angels of the Amazon (AoA) foundation is to provide aid to the indigenous people living in the 14 communities of the Tahuayo River basin. The Tahuayo River is a tributary of the upper Amazon River, about 100 nautical miles south of Iquitos, Peru. In this remote region we are dedicated to providing the communities with basic human needs such as health care, education and economic initiatives. The people of the communities are our collaborators in the protection of the half million hectare (1.1 million acres) mega-biodiverse ACRCTT conservation reserve, home to the greatest diversity of species of monkeys found in any protected park or reserve in the world.
Healthcare
Angels of the Amazon fully funded the construction of the Angels of the Amazon Hospital in the community of Esperanza. Together with the Peruvian Ministry of Health, we support the medical needs of the people of the Tahuayo River basin and nearby communities.
Education
Angels of the Amazon and our partners provide educational infrastructure and support for the children of the Tahuayo communities. Additionally, we offer scholarships to students to continue their education at institutes and universities in Iquitos city.
Economics
Angels of the Amazon provides sustainable economic initiatives for communities in the Tahuayo River basin. Programs include Hunter to Trochero program, Manos Amazonicas artisan group, and Proyecto Granja farm co-op.
Health Care
In 2007, Angels of the Amazon began upgrading the simple first aid post in Esperanza Village. Improvements included the construction of an ER equipped to accommodate overnight patients, a delivery room, hiring additional nurses, and the establishment of a fully stocked pharmacy. These additions enabled the post to obtain certification as a clinic.
In 2019, a comprehensive renovation and expansion allowed for further improvements. These upgrades included the addition of a maternity ward, laboratory, and clinics for maternal health, children, and adults. The upgrades to the facility resulted in Peru’s Ministry of Health awarding the designation of “Hospital Level 1” for the services provided.
In addition to the care offered at the hospital, the staff also provides community outreach services. These visits include providing treatment, checkups, and healthcare education. As a result, the hospital now provides essential healthcare services for the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo region.
Education
Angels of the Amazon and our partners provide educational support for children in the communities along the Tahuayo River. Our sponsorship program began in 2000, before the creation of Angels of the Amazon. Since then, we have focused on improving school infrastructure in these communities to provide further support to the students. These projects include building schools, teacher housing, classrooms, bathrooms, and installing plumbing and electricity.
Additionally, we provide essential school supplies, financial aid to qualifying students and families, and scholarships for higher education in Iquitos. Previously, children in these communities had no access to education beyond elementary school. Our support has transformed the lives of many students who would have been trapped in a cycle of poverty without the opportunity to continue their education.
Economics
The Angels of the Amazon economic development programs originated from initiatives launched by Amazonia Expeditions. In 1994, Amazonia Expeditions began offering employment opportunities to local communities during the construction of the Tahuayo Lodge. During the hiring process, the company recognized the potential to enhance the quality of life for local residents while positively impacting the environment. The first economic initiative aimed at promoting environmental responsibility was the Hunter to Trochero project. This program educated former hunters about conservation and provided them with employment as trailmakers (known as “trocheros” in Spanish). The success of this initiative led to a significant reduction in hunting in the area and paved the way for the development of more sustainable economic initiatives.
The first program initiated by Angels of the Amazon is Associación Manos Amazónicas (Manos Amazónicas). This group of artisans creates handicrafts using traditional techniques. Angels of the Amazon helped expand their opportunities to sell their goods, improved their working conditions, and supported the artisans in preserving their cultural heritage. As a result of this initiative, the artisans experienced greater financial independence and the women gained stronger voices within their communities.
Our newest project is Associación Avícola La Granja (Proyecto Granja). This initiative constructs poultry coops and provides start-up costs for raising chickens and eggs. The project’s goals include creating food and financial security through sustainable practices, rather than relying on commercial hunting and fishing.
Angels of the Amazon Founder
Dolly Arevalo Beaver, Executive Director
Born and raised in the city of Iquitos. Dolly grew up in a humble family with 7 other siblings; experiencing the struggles that a child can have when the family doesn’t have the means to pay for education or healthcare. As general manager of the Tahuayo lodges for Amazonia Expeditions, Dolly empathized with the struggles of the native Tahuayo women and their desire for their children to have a better life. Beginning with her personal efforts to help the families of the Tahuayo River basin, Dolly eventually founded Angels of the Amazon to provide for their basic rights to health care and education.
Angels Newsletter #33
Dear Friends of Angels of the Amazon, We open our 33rd newsletter with a call for donations as a result of a very damaging flood season. Because the flood season is very high this year, the locals are losing their agricultural harvest; their production of crops that...
Angels Newsletter #32
Celebrating a Decade of Education on the Tahuayo, El Chino High School & Elementary School, AoA Scholarship Program, New L ibraryWe celebrate 10 years of transforming lives through education on the Tahuayo River. What an incredible journey we have shared with our...
Donate
Angels of the Amazon was founded in 2007 as an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. About 99.5% of your donations go directly to programs (0.5% to biannual newsletter production). All Angels staff and board members are volunteers, unpaid and do not receive any compensation or reimbursement for their efforts. Overhead, office and staff expenses are covered by Amazonia Expeditions travel company.
Feel free to reach out:
[email protected]
Phone: 813-471-8887
Stephanie Beaver
Angels of the Amazon
10305 Riverburn Dr
Tampa, FL 33647
Check-A-Charity
The Angels of the Amazon is proud to say that nearly 100% of all our donations go directly to funding programs to support the people of the Tahuayo River basin. No donations are used for administrative salaries, administrative overhead, office overhead, or advertising costs. We are fortunate that those expenses are 100% paid for by the ecotourism company Amazonia Expeditions.
Check-A-Charity is a great tool provided by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to search for public records on Charity organizations. Using this tool you can search for “Angels of the Amazon” and click “expand all” to view copies of our yearly donations, spending reports, and other information. You will find that approximately 98% of all our donations go directly to funding our charitable programs. The other 2% goes to newsletter printing and mailing twice a year (1%) and accounting audit and state licenses and fees (1%).
Please let us know if you have additional questions and we’ll be happy to go over and explain the documents with you.