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How The Caring Family Foundation is helping restore the Amazon rainforest
By Shivani Dubey | 20 September 2024 | Lifestyle, Philanthropy
The Caring Family Foundation has been working since 2019 to help restore the Amazon rainforest by nurturing the very people who have safeguarded it for generations
The Nukini Community in the Cacoal region of the Brazilian rainforest, who TCFF has been supporting over the past years
When Richard and Patricia Caring decided to found the Caring Family Foundation (TCFF) in 2019, they had been looking for a way to support communities directly. They had been part of many charities and philanthropic efforts over the years, but had always toyed with the idea of starting an organisation of their own. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, they knew they had found their calling.
“The Caring Family Foundation was born during this time as a response to the heartbreak that was unfolding across the world. It impacted all our lives and highlighted deprivation and child poverty across the world,” says Patricia. “We couldn’t sit back, we had to do something, so Richard and I set up our foundation to support women and children across the UK and Brazil where we knew we could directly make a difference.”
At the heart of it, the TCFF is dedicated to improving the lives of women and children. The foundation focuses on three main areas in the UK and Brazil: to tackle child poverty, domestic abuse and deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
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Head of Nukini Community Val with Mrs. Patricia Caring on a recent TCFF trip as part of their ongoing work with the Indigenous Nukini community
“Our mission is to work towards a world that ensures every child has access to a nutritious meal, every woman is free to make her own choices without violence and rainforest communities can flourish through our reforestation projects,” says Patricia.
Over the last five years, The Caring Family Foundation has planted 2 million trees in the Amazon, distributed more than 2 million meals to families in need and provided 20,000 domestic abuse services in the UK and Brazil to women and children. On 5 September, they launched a month-long Amazon restoration campaign in partnership with Annabel’s.
However, the TCFF isn’t simply engaging in reforestation projects and planting trees in the Amazon, their vision is to restore the forest by nurturing the very people who have safeguarded it for generations.
The foundation understands that the people who live in the forest must be supported to preserve it in order to live in harmony on their land. By investing in education and providing resources, they help uphold the culture and traditions of the Amazon’s indigenous communities.
“This year, we’re deepening our commitment to the Indigenous communities who have protected this land for generations. Their knowledge and stewardship are vital to preserving the Amazon’s rich biodiversity and the life it sustains,” says Patricia.
“By working with the indigenous communities of the rainforest, we are investing in all our futures—if we fail them and these communities disappear, the rainforest will go with them,” she adds.
One of the foundation’s most impactful initiatives has been the introduction of the Forest Doctors. These medical professionals travel deep into the forest to provide essential healthcare, such as cataract surgeries, which have profound effects on the lives of the elderly. Next, they plan to work with over 400 Brazilian families to plant trees, ensuring food security and income whilst restoring the Amazon.
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Leader of the Nukini community Paulo in the Cacoal region of the Brazilian rainforest, who is fighting to protect the indigenous community and environment with the support of TCFF
Richard and Patricia Caring understand that philanthropy isn’t simply about giving money, investing time and energy is equally important. And they encourage anyone who wants to help to not just invest their money, but their time as well.
“The Caring Family Foundation are not conservationists or environmentalists, but we know we have to do something. Through all the work we have done, I have seen that helping even just one person makes a big difference to someone’s life,” she adds.
Looking ahead, the TCFF is focused on expanding its educational initiatives and furthering its support for female empowerment. The foundation is looking to expand their reach across the UK and Brazil to support more communities in more ways.
“Our aim is to help as many people as we possibly can and it’s a dream of mine to one day unite the hospitality industry in a collective philanthropic effort to help as many women and children as possible as well as restore more of the Amazon rainforest for our future generations,” says Patricia.