Project Gabucha is an initiative of Dutch film actress Esmarel Gasman and Marco van Stralen, the founder of Foundation Ombú. They both believe in supporting 100% South American nonprofit organizations to develop their own growth and specialty. Although the criteria are strict, Project Gabucha wants to encourage local organizations in especially Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. Project Gabucha will support local projects which educate kids in the slums and learn them how to survive in the complex social and economical society. Project Gabucha stimulates that local inhabitants participate in the supported projects and that they have a say in the policy of the executive local organizations.

To start with, Project Gabucha will support the Argentinean organization Las Lomas Oral who supports deaf children to increase their communication skills so they will be able to go to regular school. June 7th, Dutch politicians, students and others will perform a 100 km charity bike trip to raise money for this project.

The Project Gabucha has a special comic character called the Gabucha. The cartoon will appear every two weeks on the websites www.gabucha.nl (still under construction), www.stichtingombu.nl and the local news paper www.gooieneembode.nl. The cartoon is designed by the young talented artist Michiel Paets. This Dutch citizen wants to develop the character Gabucha as a brave girl who tries to make her dreams come true with humor and clever ideas.

For more information e-mail to or call +31356830187 (Marco van Stralen).