Jenifer Mendieta
Marena Loor and Jose Rodolfo
Justin Holguin
Angie Manzaba
classroom
Monday, April 16, 2012
First Day of School
I know some of you don't have Facebook so here are some photos from today...
Jenifer Mendieta
Marena Loor and Jose Rodolfo
Justin Holguin
Angie Manzaba
classroom
Jenifer Mendieta
Marena Loor and Jose Rodolfo
Justin Holguin
Angie Manzaba
classroom
Friday, April 13, 2012
Project Dreaming For A Change Begins
After a late start to the school year here in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, we are proud to announce that, finally, our project of giving scholarships to more than 25 children in el barrio Laura Flores is off to a great start.
For those who have not checked out the video, my friend Megan and I spent two months creating a short documentary which portrays the lives of 25 kids living in extreme poverty in one of Santo Domingo's most impoverished and at-risk neighborhoods, Laura Flores. Below is the link to our Facebook page, where you will find the short movie and info about the project. Take a look!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dreaming-for-a-Change/262619603816610
Thanks to our wonderful sponsors from Seattle, Florida, New Jersey, and California, yesterday we were able to take 25 children and their families on our first round of "back to school shopping." Sponsors donated their time and resources to provide children access to education, for some it will be the first time they have ever been to school. Donations covered general schooling costs: uniforms (which are required for study in Ecuador), backpacks, shoes, notebooks, pencils, pens, etc. Yesterday's events can be described in two simple words- absolute chaos. Heres how it went down:
The day started off with an early bus ride to the neighborhood Laura Flores. Kids and families were found in the local school, where the majority of sponsored kids will be studying this upcoming year, cleaning up and getting ready for the Monday morning school inauguration. Broken desks and books were scattered around the play yard. Kids kicked soccer balls and played as mothers and fathers re-painted cracked walls, swept out classrooms, and picked up trash. Laura Flores is situated on an old citywide garbage dumpyard so, as you can imagine, trash is endless. The mission of the day was to take the 25 kids and their mothers on an all-day shopping spree in Santo Domingo's mercado. While this may sound like an easy task, it isn't. Weaving 25children through rows and rows of fruit, vegetables, clothing, dead cows and chickens, and robbers awaiting us on every corner, somehow we managed to make it out alive. The most difficult part of it all was the fact that we had to bring along $1500 dollars, in a mercado notriously known for theft. Money was shoved under our shirts and pants, and only removed when purchasing materials.
Negtiating fair prices for 25 kids' uniforms was a chaotic event in itself. The dialogue went something like this:
Give me a size 36!
We don't have 36!
Not white, we need blue!
How many?
25!
How much for each?
$13!
Are you crazy?!...we will pay 10.
No way!
Alex, stop hitting your sister.
Justin, don't steal those pants!
Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, what time are we leaving?!
It took us 9 hours total to purchase backpacks, uniforms, shoes and socks for our 25 kids. This dialogue proceeded in every single shop we went into. Sweating, feet aching, and an even worse headache, we accomplished our mission. Kids went home smiling, each with their new backpack on their back and shoes in hand. Photos to come tomorrow! Check out our Facebook page for photo updates and videos.
Thank you sponsors!
For those who have not checked out the video, my friend Megan and I spent two months creating a short documentary which portrays the lives of 25 kids living in extreme poverty in one of Santo Domingo's most impoverished and at-risk neighborhoods, Laura Flores. Below is the link to our Facebook page, where you will find the short movie and info about the project. Take a look!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dreaming-for-a-Change/262619603816610
Thanks to our wonderful sponsors from Seattle, Florida, New Jersey, and California, yesterday we were able to take 25 children and their families on our first round of "back to school shopping." Sponsors donated their time and resources to provide children access to education, for some it will be the first time they have ever been to school. Donations covered general schooling costs: uniforms (which are required for study in Ecuador), backpacks, shoes, notebooks, pencils, pens, etc. Yesterday's events can be described in two simple words- absolute chaos. Heres how it went down:
The day started off with an early bus ride to the neighborhood Laura Flores. Kids and families were found in the local school, where the majority of sponsored kids will be studying this upcoming year, cleaning up and getting ready for the Monday morning school inauguration. Broken desks and books were scattered around the play yard. Kids kicked soccer balls and played as mothers and fathers re-painted cracked walls, swept out classrooms, and picked up trash. Laura Flores is situated on an old citywide garbage dumpyard so, as you can imagine, trash is endless. The mission of the day was to take the 25 kids and their mothers on an all-day shopping spree in Santo Domingo's mercado. While this may sound like an easy task, it isn't. Weaving 25children through rows and rows of fruit, vegetables, clothing, dead cows and chickens, and robbers awaiting us on every corner, somehow we managed to make it out alive. The most difficult part of it all was the fact that we had to bring along $1500 dollars, in a mercado notriously known for theft. Money was shoved under our shirts and pants, and only removed when purchasing materials.
Negtiating fair prices for 25 kids' uniforms was a chaotic event in itself. The dialogue went something like this:
Give me a size 36!
We don't have 36!
Not white, we need blue!
How many?
25!
How much for each?
$13!
Are you crazy?!...we will pay 10.
No way!
Alex, stop hitting your sister.
Justin, don't steal those pants!
Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, what time are we leaving?!
It took us 9 hours total to purchase backpacks, uniforms, shoes and socks for our 25 kids. This dialogue proceeded in every single shop we went into. Sweating, feet aching, and an even worse headache, we accomplished our mission. Kids went home smiling, each with their new backpack on their back and shoes in hand. Photos to come tomorrow! Check out our Facebook page for photo updates and videos.
Thank you sponsors!
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