The 2nd annual Mexican Schools Project fund raiser held on Wednesday July 22 2009 on the waterfront in sunny Vancouver British Columbia Canada was an overwhelming success.  Through selling 65 tickets and procuring many silent auction items which went close to their asking price, the amount raised was over $15,000.  This money will go towards building a kindergarten school in a very remote fishing village called Corrales, and towards a donation to the Pasitos de Luz special needs school in Puerto Vallarta.    Thank you so much to Bob, Patsy and Sandra for their great organization, passion and energy.  Thank you all who so generously donated to this worthwhile cause.

Sincerely,

Barbara Crompton, a lover of Mexico and it’s people.

Under the direction of teacher Toresa Crawford and her dedicated students from NALA’ATSI SCHOOL in the COMOX VALLEY, B.C. a recycling program was started at the school. They decided that their first proceeds would be donated to the Mexican Schools Project. Their first donation was $9.70, which will provide school supplies for two mexican students next year. They have made a commitment to raise over $400.00 for the Mexican school project through their bottle and can collection.  Richard Price and Brandon Antoine have been the main helpers.  In this picture Richard Hall is presenting Bob with their first  donation. WAY TO GO YOU GUYS … HUY TSEEP Q’U. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Elders lunch in September.

THE MEDICINE HAT HIGH GRAD COMMITTEE  “OUR FUTURE OUR YOUTH”  LOOKS PRETTY GOOD  FROM WHERE I STAND !!!!!

On hearing about all the good work that the Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary Club has been doing in Mexico the Grad Committee decided to donate $5000 towards the building of a new special needs center in the main town of El Tuito in the impoverished area Cabo Corrientes.  The local Mexican government will match funds and the local community will do all the labor.  This is so great as it is half the funds needed to complete this project.  Pretty WONDERFUL to say the least!

It was so nice to visit again and see good friends at this wonderful club.  After doing a presentation to update the club about what has been done over the last year they decided to pass the cup around and wouldn’t you know it they raised $150 ,which will supply 2 schools with all their supplies, sport balls etc. for next year. They also want to know about future projects.  This is an AMAZING GROUP OF FOLKS!!

Dave Cecile Jones – thank you so much for all your hospitality and friendship.  Your donation to Pasitos De Luz could not have come at a better time for them.  Muchas Gracias Muy Amable.

Why did your class raise money for Mexican Schools?

Our school district recently iniated ‘Explorations’ based Renzulli Enrichment Cluster, these entailed various activities aimed at being- student-led/teacher guided orientated.  With that in mind, I introduced a group of students that I work with on a daily basis to a very deserving grass roots organization-The Mexican Schools Project.

(The Project is a teacher-run organization that assists rural Mexican communities in addressing their educational priorities. They cooperate with local people to meet the basic needs of school-age children, remodel existing schoolhouses, provide healthy school bathrooms, clean water supplies, as well as basic academic supplies to promote self determination through sustainable education.)

Since my husband and I are frequent travelers to Mexico, often traveling through rural communities such as those reached by the Project, I was able to bring the two together in an exciting, enlightening, and productive way! However, it was my intrepid traveler husband that found the Project-must thank him for that!

What exactly did your students do (made tiles & …?)?

The students researched the location of the area, explored socio-economic factors before deciding on a course of action. Then, after deciding on a ‘product’ with which to raise money, students brainstormed a name for the function. In an effort to keep the activity ’student-led’, the kids were given ‘full-rein’ in the planning process. Forming various committees, students budgeted for all costs, called various businesses to price out costs of supplies, before presenting to administration and submitting purchase orders. THEN…we began the process of making our ‘product’.

Each student glazed and fired ‘Talavera Tiles’ based on a traditional Mexican Style of pottery. They also made ‘Hope Painting’ which aimed to signify student’s intellectual and physical interpretation of HOPE and what it means to them.

ALSO!! Students hand-cut and put together over 200 PAPEL PICARDO (traditional Mexican tissue decoration. Additional decorations included: brochures, signs, posters illustrating the cause.

What did the Tuesday night event entail (drinks, appetizers, a display. who was invited?)?

Each student had a station to ‘man’ for the evening. Position included: Greeters, Waiters, & Art Guides. Students wore black and white, and acted as ‘professional’ art gallery employees. The evening included mood lighting, traditional Mexican music, refreshments and a looping power point from the Project, showing images of schools/children/goals in Mexico. The evening was called ‘Projecto Arte Mexicano!’…a fundraising evening for the children, by the children.

Parents of the students involved were invited

Were your students motivated?

Incredibly so! They were very motivated from beginning to end. We even had some sleepless nights preceding the event…myself included! I think the fact that it was for children, and that a relatively small amount of money could go A very long way, made the whole thing seem more attainable. The goal was reachable for them. They felt that their funds raised would literally make a difference to children their own age.

How did the parents react?

We definitely had some jaws drop when parents walked into our ‘gallery’! Though parents were supportive (as usual), I don’t think they quite realized the extent of the work their children had gone to! Not only did we sell out within the first half hour, we even had people unrelated to the students wanting to buy the artwork. Fellow faculty members wanted to hang paintings in their rooms-they were very disappointed to hear all had been sold!

Was the fundraiser a success?

The fundraiser was a huge success! We exceeded (above and beyond) our target!

How much money did you raise?

The actual evening raised over $900. However, plans are in motion to photograph the paintings and make them into note cards. These will then be sold at the TEF Barn Dance (May 16th). Proceeds will be split between the Project and TEF.

Where will the money go?

Though all funds go directly to the Mexican schools Project, students will get to decide which project their money will be targeted towards. Bob Johnson, the teacher running the Project, has sent me some choices. I’ll put it to the students themselves, But, options include: helping with construction of new schools or houses for teachers, or assisting Pasitos de Luz which is a special needs center in the poor area of Puerto Vallarta, which has over 100 children.

What did your students learn?

Budgeting, planning, cost-pricing! Life skills to be sure!  As the children explored the socio-economic realties of their Mexican counterparts, they developed an understanding of how fortunate they are. We were really quite humbled at times. It was incredibly endearing to watch them work so hard for children they’d only met in a PowerPoint slide show! They threw themselves into the event with compassion and enthusiasm. I am so very proud of them all!

Would you do this again?

Absolutely! I’d be honored!

Sharon Travers
5th Grade Science