Hello again everyone,
Just a quick note on our fundraising situation. Angelica and Orlando are currently trying to set up a bank account at a US bank for Kindred Volunteer. They are working with one of their US-based associates to achieve this goal. There's a lot of red tape to wade through, but if they manage to acquire the US account, it would help their organization receive volunteers and donations. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!
In the meantime, we're still awaiting the results of Erin's school's fundraiser in January. After that, we plan to send all the money we raised to Angelica, who will purchase the library materials for the new school year (in Feb. 2011). We've set a deadline of Jan. 21st for the money transfer, so that Angelica will have enough time to get everything in order.
We're all very excited about this, and we hope you are too!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving!
We'll post an update soon -- Orlando visited the US last week!
-ZZ
-ZZ
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Angelica's Visit to Pacaja
Hi everyone!
Angelica visited the school a few days ago, and said that Pacaja's current library consists of one shelf of books in a classroom. The school apparently also owns a large empty shelf that can house the new materials your donations will purchase. This is great because it means we can devote even more of the money to books (and less to furniture).
We think that it would be nice to eventually move the library out of a classroom, into its own separate space. Maybe that will be a volunteer project when Kindred Volunteer takes off!
Right now we are waiting for the results of the fundraiser Erin wrote about. Hopefully we can set up some sort of penpal exchange in the meantime, so that when the Guatemalan kids return to school next year (they are on their year-end vacation) they can start writing to the American kids!
Once again, thanks for all of your care and support!
Angelica visited the school a few days ago, and said that Pacaja's current library consists of one shelf of books in a classroom. The school apparently also owns a large empty shelf that can house the new materials your donations will purchase. This is great because it means we can devote even more of the money to books (and less to furniture).
We think that it would be nice to eventually move the library out of a classroom, into its own separate space. Maybe that will be a volunteer project when Kindred Volunteer takes off!
Right now we are waiting for the results of the fundraiser Erin wrote about. Hopefully we can set up some sort of penpal exchange in the meantime, so that when the Guatemalan kids return to school next year (they are on their year-end vacation) they can start writing to the American kids!
Once again, thanks for all of your care and support!
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| This is the school's current library, situated inside a classroom. |
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| Another shot of the classroom. |
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| Empty shelf that will house the new materials we will buy! |
Sunday, October 31, 2010
4th Grade Fundraiser
Hi everyone!
Two 4th grade classes at P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, & Technology in Brooklyn, NY decided to raise money for the kids at Escuela Pacaja!
Each year the school participates in a Penny Harvest and each class gets to choose where they would like the funds they raise to go to. After much deliberation and discussion about different organizations, two classes decided that they would like their fundraisers to go to Escuela Pacaja! Many of these student are from Guatemala themselves and still have family there, so it has a very special meaning for them.
Here is a brief description of the Penny Harvest:
During the next four weeks, Penny Harvesters will collect millions of pennies as thousands of them connect with their communities. As they participate in the first of four phases of the Penny Harvest, these students will literally create their own philanthropic bank accounts at each of their schools. One hundred percent of the funds collected will be used to make grants to non-profit organizations of their choice and to fund service-learning projects in their community.
If you would like to learn more about the Penny Harvest you may visit their website:
http://www.commoncents.org/go/news/19th-annual-penny-harvest-kicks-off
We will have an idea as to how much they have raised in January. We'll keep you posted!
Thank you to these wonderful children who will make Escuela Pacaja a richer learning environment!
This is the leaf on the school's Tree Of Caring for Escuela Pacaja....
It is so touching that the children in Brooklyn NY really want to make a difference for kids they have never met!
Two 4th grade classes at P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, & Technology in Brooklyn, NY decided to raise money for the kids at Escuela Pacaja!
Each year the school participates in a Penny Harvest and each class gets to choose where they would like the funds they raise to go to. After much deliberation and discussion about different organizations, two classes decided that they would like their fundraisers to go to Escuela Pacaja! Many of these student are from Guatemala themselves and still have family there, so it has a very special meaning for them.
Here is a brief description of the Penny Harvest:
During the next four weeks, Penny Harvesters will collect millions of pennies as thousands of them connect with their communities. As they participate in the first of four phases of the Penny Harvest, these students will literally create their own philanthropic bank accounts at each of their schools. One hundred percent of the funds collected will be used to make grants to non-profit organizations of their choice and to fund service-learning projects in their community.
If you would like to learn more about the Penny Harvest you may visit their website:
http://www.commoncents.org/go/news/19th-annual-penny-harvest-kicks-off
We will have an idea as to how much they have raised in January. We'll keep you posted!
Thank you to these wonderful children who will make Escuela Pacaja a richer learning environment!
This is the leaf on the school's Tree Of Caring for Escuela Pacaja....
It is so touching that the children in Brooklyn NY really want to make a difference for kids they have never met!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Completing donations phase!
Hi everyone!
We've raised $956 so far, which is more than enough for the new library materials we had originally intended to purchase. The extra money will go toward new shelves to house all the new books! This is so great, and we really couldn't have done it without you!
Just think, every time a little kid at Pacaja picks up one of the new books and discovers the joys of reading, it will all be due to YOU.
At this point we're going to stop asking for donations, although Erin will still continue with the 4th grade fundraiser (mentioned in a previous post). Stephane's sons Alex and Matthieu are interested in organizing exchanges within their middle school as well. We're also hoping to set up some sort of pen pal program between all of these children and the children at Pacaja, so that each side can learn about life in another country. We know the kids (in the US and Guatemala) would all benefit from an experience like that!
Once we wrap up the school-based fundraisers, we will work with Angelica to purchase all the awesome new library supplies for the awesome kids! And of course, we'll keep you updated every step of the way.
Thanks again!!!!
We've raised $956 so far, which is more than enough for the new library materials we had originally intended to purchase. The extra money will go toward new shelves to house all the new books! This is so great, and we really couldn't have done it without you!
Just think, every time a little kid at Pacaja picks up one of the new books and discovers the joys of reading, it will all be due to YOU.
At this point we're going to stop asking for donations, although Erin will still continue with the 4th grade fundraiser (mentioned in a previous post). Stephane's sons Alex and Matthieu are interested in organizing exchanges within their middle school as well. We're also hoping to set up some sort of pen pal program between all of these children and the children at Pacaja, so that each side can learn about life in another country. We know the kids (in the US and Guatemala) would all benefit from an experience like that!
Once we wrap up the school-based fundraisers, we will work with Angelica to purchase all the awesome new library supplies for the awesome kids! And of course, we'll keep you updated every step of the way.
Thanks again!!!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Story time!
Hello everyone!
I thought I'd share a funny anecdote about my time in Guatemala, so let's all gather 'round for story time!
I flew into Guatemala with a Spanish vocabulary of about 10 words, and four of those words had to do with locating a restroom. Needless to say, I knew that I wouldn't be able to hold insightful conversations on Guatemalan literature. However, I still felt fairly confident in my Spanish skills, because I had purchased a Spanish-English phrasebook prior to my departure. After all, how hard could it be to flip through a book and locate what I wanted to say/what others were saying to me?
The night before my introduction to Pacaja, I quickly memorized some phrases that I thought would be helpful for interacting with children. "Let's draw a bear!" was one of those phrases ... for some reason I was certain that I could use that one in the schoolyard.
When we volunteers arrived for our first day at Pacaja, we were approached by a cheerful 11-yr old boy while we painted desks. I clumsily said to him "Hola! Como te llamas," and I was so happy when he actually understood and responded! In fact, it was very easy to hold a conversation with him, and I felt on top of the world! Then I realized that we were actually speaking English -- I was awkwardly dispersing my limited Spanish vocab into English sentences, and he was responding to me in very good English. I felt a little embarrassed that an 11-yr old could show me up with his bilingual skills, but it was great talking to Michael anyway.
A few hours later it was recess time for the students at Pacaja, and scores of children ran out into the schoolyard. "Dibujar un Oso, dibujar un Oso" I repeated to myself, and then I was surrounded by a group of curious 6th-grade girls. One of them spoke to me in rapid-fire Spanish, and in my mind I hastily translated her questions as "Where are you from? How old are you?" Aha! Those were easy questions that even I could answer! With overwhelming confidence, I replied with what I thought was "I'm from the United States and I'm 24 years old."
Unfortunately, one of my fellow volunteers started giggling as soon as the words left my mouth. The little girl hadn't asked my age at all, and instead was wondering how long I would be in Guatemala. And, to compound my embarrassment, not only had I NOT answered her inquiry correctly, I had also messed up my Spanish numbers! What I accidentally said in Spanish was "I'm from the United States and I'm 45 years old."
Fortunately, at that time the group of girls noticed one of Stephane's boys, and they made a beeline for the 13-year old hunk =) I've save that story for Stephane to tell.
Anyway, I'll end this story on a semi-corny but completely true note. The Spanish-English language barrier really didn't separate me from the children at Pacaja. They were so patient and eager to teach, and we all had lots of fun laughing at my mistakes. We also had great times playing games that didn't require any speaking -- after all, Ring around the Rosie is a universal language. After just one day at the school, I knew that the happy, innocent, friendly children at Pacaja would always claim a piece of my heart. I was so sad to leave the kids on my last day, and that's why I teamed up with Stephane, Liz, Erin, Angelica, and Orlando --so that I can give something back.
-Zhitong
I thought I'd share a funny anecdote about my time in Guatemala, so let's all gather 'round for story time!
I flew into Guatemala with a Spanish vocabulary of about 10 words, and four of those words had to do with locating a restroom. Needless to say, I knew that I wouldn't be able to hold insightful conversations on Guatemalan literature. However, I still felt fairly confident in my Spanish skills, because I had purchased a Spanish-English phrasebook prior to my departure. After all, how hard could it be to flip through a book and locate what I wanted to say/what others were saying to me?
The night before my introduction to Pacaja, I quickly memorized some phrases that I thought would be helpful for interacting with children. "Let's draw a bear!" was one of those phrases ... for some reason I was certain that I could use that one in the schoolyard.
When we volunteers arrived for our first day at Pacaja, we were approached by a cheerful 11-yr old boy while we painted desks. I clumsily said to him "Hola! Como te llamas," and I was so happy when he actually understood and responded! In fact, it was very easy to hold a conversation with him, and I felt on top of the world! Then I realized that we were actually speaking English -- I was awkwardly dispersing my limited Spanish vocab into English sentences, and he was responding to me in very good English. I felt a little embarrassed that an 11-yr old could show me up with his bilingual skills, but it was great talking to Michael anyway.
A few hours later it was recess time for the students at Pacaja, and scores of children ran out into the schoolyard. "Dibujar un Oso, dibujar un Oso" I repeated to myself, and then I was surrounded by a group of curious 6th-grade girls. One of them spoke to me in rapid-fire Spanish, and in my mind I hastily translated her questions as "Where are you from? How old are you?" Aha! Those were easy questions that even I could answer! With overwhelming confidence, I replied with what I thought was "I'm from the United States and I'm 24 years old."
Unfortunately, one of my fellow volunteers started giggling as soon as the words left my mouth. The little girl hadn't asked my age at all, and instead was wondering how long I would be in Guatemala. And, to compound my embarrassment, not only had I NOT answered her inquiry correctly, I had also messed up my Spanish numbers! What I accidentally said in Spanish was "I'm from the United States and I'm 45 years old."
Fortunately, at that time the group of girls noticed one of Stephane's boys, and they made a beeline for the 13-year old hunk =) I've save that story for Stephane to tell.
Anyway, I'll end this story on a semi-corny but completely true note. The Spanish-English language barrier really didn't separate me from the children at Pacaja. They were so patient and eager to teach, and we all had lots of fun laughing at my mistakes. We also had great times playing games that didn't require any speaking -- after all, Ring around the Rosie is a universal language. After just one day at the school, I knew that the happy, innocent, friendly children at Pacaja would always claim a piece of my heart. I was so sad to leave the kids on my last day, and that's why I teamed up with Stephane, Liz, Erin, Angelica, and Orlando --so that I can give something back.
-Zhitong
Sunday, October 17, 2010
We've surpassed our goal!
Hi everyone!!!!
We're so so so SO SO excited to say that we've surpassed our goal of getting $800 by November!!! The kids at Pacaja are definitely getting their awesome new library materials for the next school year, let's keep up the momentum and try to get them that new computer lab as well! We went ahead and changed the y-limit on our fundraising graph so that readers can keep track of our progress -- during our next conference call with Angelica we're going to chat about costs for computers and hopefully get a more accurate estimate.
So once again, our heartfelt thanks go out to those who have contributed! We've seen generosity from so many places, including the personal piggy bank of Liz's 8-yr-old daughter.
Erin is currently coordinating a fundraiser with some 4th graders from NY, so be prepared for some very cute updates about that!
And remember, you can also help out by promoting our blog within your own social media networks!
Thanks again!
We're so so so SO SO excited to say that we've surpassed our goal of getting $800 by November!!! The kids at Pacaja are definitely getting their awesome new library materials for the next school year, let's keep up the momentum and try to get them that new computer lab as well! We went ahead and changed the y-limit on our fundraising graph so that readers can keep track of our progress -- during our next conference call with Angelica we're going to chat about costs for computers and hopefully get a more accurate estimate.
So once again, our heartfelt thanks go out to those who have contributed! We've seen generosity from so many places, including the personal piggy bank of Liz's 8-yr-old daughter.
Erin is currently coordinating a fundraiser with some 4th graders from NY, so be prepared for some very cute updates about that!
And remember, you can also help out by promoting our blog within your own social media networks!
Thanks again!
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