Friday, May 16, 2008

Update on Toilet Project!

We are happy to announce that we will begin construction of 4 flush toilets in the school on Monday May 19th. We will also be repairing 2 existing toilets at the school that for much time have been broken. We have sufficient funds at the moment but are still missing about 300.00 to complete the job. We hope that more generous donations will be made:)!

We have a construction/plumbing team that will working with us (discounted because this is a community project) as well as students and teachers that will be volunteering to help with the construction. Basically we will be digging holes (until it kills us or maybe just me....) This is going to be some REAL volunteer work.

We are very excited to begin this project because it will change the environment greatly at this school. I wrote before that the kids at the moment have 1 toilet for more that 900 students (I was mistaken on the number previously it is more like 1100 students for 1 toilet.) The unsanitary conditions of the toilet were witnessed by our team the day we visited and we have never been able to forget about it. Therefore, we hope to create a more sanitary and respectable environment for the kids who attend.

Thanks to those who have donated and especially to a student named Karine who managed to raise 1200 in her home town of Montreal to donate to our project. She as well will be helping dig holes with our team.

I would also like to especially thank Oliver Hartman who got the ball rolling on this project by making connections with the construction team. He also plans to work 8 hr days helping the construction team on site.... That is devotion! Therefore, it is my pleasure to invite Oliver to be apart of our project. This comes at a convenient time since I will be going home to Canada in less than 3 weeks and Oliver will be here in Granada for a year. Oliver will be able to help Andres and Juan Carlos continue to make positive changes for our original school project in "Jose de la Cruz Mena".

thank you Kathryn.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Helping the streets dogs


I just wanted to post a quick blurb about the organization "Building New Hope" which is helping many streets dogs get off the street and find homes in Granada. I have recently taken on a secondary volunteer job helping with the dogs in the clinic and I am in love with the kindness of these people and what they are doing.

Basically they find dogs that are dying along the side of street (if you have been to a third world country you know what I am talking about) and bring these animals back to life. I got to witness the revival of a baby chihuahua that was left for dead on the side of the street and brought into the clinic. Within two days, she is a puppy, running around and loving on all of us.

Please take the time and check out Donna Tabor's website www.buildingnewhope.org and keep them in mind if you want to help the puppies or adopt a lovely street dog (which surprisingly make amazing pets... they are wise!)

The picture at the top is Porsha who is still looking for a home. She is missing an eye due to a severe infection caused by abuse. She has an amazing personality and is sooooo friendly.

thanks Kathryn.

The Toilets.

Right now our main focus is another school close by to our main project site "Jose de la Cruz Mena". The reason why we are now putting more focus on this other school called Escuela "Mercedes Mondagón" is because of the attocity that we all witnessed when we visted this other school. For a school of 900 children there are 2 toilets. However one toilet is locked and reserved for the teachers. Therefore, in reality there is one toilet for 900 children. I should also add that the toilet does not flush.

The situation is completely unsanitary. Once the toilet is full of human feces, the children begin to go on the floor and then they will venture behind the toilet and go on the dirt ground. Our concern is for the children and also for the woman who cleans up the toilet at the end of the day. Most of us couldn't bare the smell nor the sight. I felt sad that this is a reality for the children and feel that noone should have to go to the bathroom in these horrid conditions. I would also like to point out that the director of the school has written the government countless times and they have done nothing to improve her situation.

Our wish is that we can build either 6 flush toilets or 6 outhouses for this school. This requires about 4,000 dollars that we need to raise.

We do not try to go out of our way to find new projects outside of what we want to do (help and supply the kids in El Pantanal) but this situation is one that we cannot forget nor ignore. Please help us raise more money!!!!

Please send me suggestions as well. Puedenreir@gmail.com

Kathryn, Andres, y Juan Carlos