The rest of the money raised by the Sunrise Rotary Club(an additional $2500.00) will go towards purchasing all the school supplies for some 30 schools next year (guess the tequila sampling bar was a good idea after all )

Here are photos of Randy and Caroline Van Dean, members of the Sunrise Rotary Club, pitching in at the construction site.

WAY TO GO EVERYONE!  The children and teachers of Pedro Moreno Thank Everyone involved.

Here are the amazing students of Medicine Hat:

The Sunrise and Pace Rotary Clubs from Medicine Hat Alberta donated funds so this school could be built with matching funds from the local government.

That is about it until next year..

Bob signing out for 2010

More school supplies were needed this year than ever before as the federal government had cut all funding but we were still able to help over 500 students get their needed materials as well as assist 2 special needs centers.The interesting thing this year was that teachers were asking for more alternative teaching tools,exercise equipment and books and more books..

The local government in Cabo Correntes that is still reeling from federal funding cuts would like to go ahead with us on  three projects this year if at all possible: an additional classroom in Las Juntas Y Veranos where presently 120 students are in 3 classrooms; Villa del Mar primary where 18 students from grade 1 to 3 are being taught outside; and a new school in Pedro Moreno where there presently is no school for 25 students. These are all growing communities and they see the importance of  good education for their children and would like to assist with the building.

There is a huge push in this area for reading as well as learning english and once again to the rescue came Libros For Learning headed by my good friend Gord Barron. This year they were able to set up 8 more libraries in rural schools donating  over 1000 educational books to this great cause. The donated van was again a great help in assisting with this project.

There was also time for play and even thou I can not swim my girlfriend Allison got me hooked on surfing, next year I will probably be the only surfer with a life jacket on.

MUCHAS GRACIAS; MUY AMABLE To all those good friends that helped to make this happen.

Wishing you all a  Magical 2011

Bob

Friends,

I wanted to report back to everyone who has supported Libros for Learning. It has been a wonderful year for the project and for the kids in Cabo Corrientes.

Four of us spent Thanksgiving week in Cabo Corrientes delivering books and meeting teachers. We delivered 8 libraries to primary school classrooms. Each of the libraries had 125 – 150 books that spanned difficulty levels from first grade to sixth grade. The books each had a library card in a pocket glued into the back cover. We also bought bookshelves this year, because most classrooms lack storage space for new books.  At each stop, we explained how to check out the books from the teacher and how to take good care of books. We stayed at each school for a few hours. We sat with the kids and did partner reading and group read aloud. Read aloud provides such positive enthusiasm for reading. It would be great for the  teachers to spend a little time with read-aloud every day.

We checked on some of the libraries we delivered in the past. The results are encouraging. The kids continue to read them at home and return them to the schools. We will look for the biggest results in 2-3 years among the kids who have had books available to them through their entire schooling. We expect that they will be better readers and more likely to continue their education through 12^th grade.

We also decided to spend time with middle and high school teachers (those schools are called “secundario” and “preparatorio”). In particular, we spent time talking about the new English curriculum in Mexico. As of 2008, English language education is part of the curriculum starting in fifth grade. The government has developed an interactive computer-based curriculum that teaches all levels. The biggest challenges for the teachers are first, that they themselves don’t know English, so they cannot serve as experts; the second is that there is no written material to support the computer lessons. They asked for English language books for the students to read n order to practice.  As a result of these conversations, we have decided to expand the work of Libros for Learning to include English language books for the middle and high schools. We will be very selective about what we provide – the books will have to be at a simple level – 2^nd – 4^thgrade is probably ideal. They must also be engaging and visual. If the themes are too young, they kids will not be interested. I have begun scouting out books that may work for these libraries. If you have thoughts about this, please let me know.

We are trying to set up some “Epal” relationships between high school students here and in Mexico. Two principals in schools down there are very interested. They have the internet capability in the schools and are excited to get started. Spanish teachers in my county are going to try to create that.

The year was a financial success. We raised about $7000 and spent it all on the project. As always, we spent no money on salaries or office space. The labor for organizing and labeling the books was all donated, mostly by schoolkids here in North and South Carolina. Special thanks to Mike Leonard of “Reading is Power.” Mike orders the books and does all the spreadsheet work for Libros for Learning along with continuing his own project.

We had support this year from two Rotary Clubs in North Carolina and are working to expand that relationship in 2011. We also got help from many classrooms who adopted Libros for Learning as their class service projects. Some classes raised money, some bought books, and many of them made bookmarks to accompany the books. In visiting with those classes, we were able to teach them about Mexico and about the challenges their friends in Mexican schools face.

Our goal for 2011 is to deliver 20 new libraries to primary schools and to provide English language libraries to two middle and high schools.

Enough information. If you want to learn more, go to the website, www.librosforlearning.com

Photos from the recent trip are in a Picasa album http://picasaweb.google.com/gbaron1950/LibrosForLearning201002#

Thanks for everything,

Glenn Baron

First of all a BIG MUCHAS GRACIAS to The Strathcona Sunrise Rotary, The Cumberland Rotary, Comox Valley Dodge and all the wonderful people of the Comox Valley B.C. who made this possible  (you know who you are).  This started with an idea to help support a sewing cooperative (The Bag Ladies) who are in the very poor area near the dump in Pt. Vallarta.  Before this idea was barely conceived a van was donated along with enough sewing machines fabric, etc to fill a small warehouse.  Terry Nielsen from the Strathcona Rotary, who had visited me in Mexico  last year was kind  enough to not only help organize this adventure, but also took take time off work and help drive the van .

Two days later we are in Santa Cruz Ca. with a loaded van.   We were just in time  to attend a fundraiser for my good friend Ken Kimes who had recently lost his hand in a farming accident.  After a great visit  we were out the door to San Diego where we camped before crossing the border at Tijuana .   From there we planned to drive through Baja and take the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan.

To say the least there was some confusion when we got to the border at Tijuana.  We were waved through by a frantic border guard and motioned  not to stop.  We thought that down the road we were going to  be stopped to get our tourist visa and car permit, but no such luck and next the thing  we knew we were stuck in the middle of the desert for the night.  Things did not look good  so we phoned the ferry in La Paz to see what we needed (and hadn’t gotten in Tijuana).   We were soon  told we were going no where until we got our visas and van permits and we better get down to La Paz and get this  straightened out as the ferry left in two days.  Speedy Gonzales could not have done better 1000 kms in 12 hours and all we had to give up was a bolt of blue cloth at an army check point so they could put it on the windows of their hut to try and keep the wind and dust out (I was little leary about taking a photo as they were carrying machine guns).

The next day (ferry leaving day ) we went to immigration where after a FUN half day we were fined $100 each for being in Mexico illegally.  Ferry time was getting close and we still had the permit people and customs people to deal with but lady luck was on our side as a very nice woman who would have liked to come to PV with us gave us our car  permit.  No Problema.  Our last hurdle was Customs where  it was the old press the button and see if it is green (you go ahead) or red (you get searched); about a 1 in 20 chance.  I said to the lady as I walked up to the button “Siempre Rojo para mi” ( It is always red for me), she laughed and sure enough  we were looking at RED.  She could not believe it and gave us a BIG Smile and waved us thru.

It was a great  15 hour trip over on a pretty deluxe ferry and the ocean was flat calm except for the dolphins everywhere spoiling the view   After landing we only had 7 hours of slow windy roads into  Pt. Vallarta.

The project got its start when Comox Valley Dodge donated a mini-van to the Rotary Club of Strathcona-Sunrise.   Mike Finneron Jr. at Speed Pro Signs donated the Rotary logo and Canadian flag decals on each side.  With the help of funds to cover travel costs donated by the Rotary Club of Cumberland Centennial, it will be driven to Cabo Correntes, Mexico, a rural area 4 hours drive south of Puerta Vallarta.

Over 25 sewing machines were collected, one brand new in an unopened box, along with boxes of sewing notions and yards of fabric. In fact, the response was so great that more was collected then the van can hold. Rotary is looking into other options to transport the excess.

The supplies will be enthusiastically welcomed by the ‘Bag Ladies of Banderas Bay’. These enterprising women live near the city dump and utilize the recyclable resources discarded on their doorstep. They started making handbags from newspaper. They now make many styles of bags, from padded laptop computer bags to small pouch-bags with shoulder straps. ‘Bag Ladies’ enables women to earn an income as well as gain business experience and skills they would not normally be able to obtain as stay-at-home moms. By having their own money in their pockets, these women learn to be more independent, to gain the confidence and motivation to fight for a better life.

Taking turns at the wheel enroute to Mexico will be Bob Johnson and local Rotarian Terry Neilson. Bob is a local painter who has been making trips to this region of Mexico for 8 years. He has established many contacts in the area and has been helping to build schools and housing for teachers and to bring school supplies into the impoverished rural area.  The van will be put to use in support of his numerous projects in the area.   Everyone involved was thrilled at the amount of supplies collected. As Bob aptly put it:  “They won’t believe it when they see all that stuff in the van!”

As they say in Mexico, “Millones de gracias Comox Valley”.

This year, Yoga Holidays with Barbara Crompton is raising money for a project to build housing for 4 school teachers that have no permanent place to live in the remote village where they teach. The village, El Refugio, is located south of Puerto Vallarta, the population is around 500 and there are 4 schools.

You and your friends are invited to help by joining us for another fun filled soiree and silent auction. Bask in the July sun on the False Creek seawall, meet old friends and discover new ones at The Wicklow in Vancouver (610 Stamps Landing, next to Monk McQueens). The cost is $45.00 per person (includes appetizers and one drink). Purchase tickets online, at the door or by mailing a cheque.

Please let us know that you are coming by phone or email to:

Barbara Crompton

Ph. 604-618-4591

Email. bcrompton(at)fitnessgroup.com

If you are unable to attend, we would greatly appreciate any contribution to this very worthwhile cause. You may donate online or mail your cheque to:

Mexican Children’s Relief Fund

c/o 235-1628 West 1st Avenue

Vancouver, BC

V6J 1G1

A tax receipt for the donation will be mailed to you. Please provide your full name and address.

With Gratitude,

Barbara Crompton

What a gathering it was at the local curling rink; lots of Mexican food, salsa dancing, games galore, and a wonderful silent auction that raised a lot of money.  My good friend Caroline Van Dean who has helped with projects in Mexico for the past 4 years was honored with The Paul Harris Fellow Award in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world; and rightly so!  The famous Sunrise Bimbo Team also rose to the occasion and had a way too much fun …

Caroline getting her award

The Sunrise Bimbo Team

All In All a Pretty Special Time.  Muchas Gracias Amigos.  Muy Amable.

Terry checking out the local bus.

First, Terry Nielsen from the Courtenay Rotary club had been in Mexico for nearly 2 weeks and really wanted to see what was happening with the rural Mexican schools we had been helping for the past 7 years.  Terry and I met up as soon as I landed in Puerto Vallarta and early the next morning we set off on a tour of Cabo Corrientes.  We were able to visit many villages and schools in the area and saw many completed projects and other projects that badly needed help.  While we were there we were fortunate enough to stay with my good Mexican friends in the pretty fishing village of Tehuamixtle and Terry got to see the broken down bus that services this area.  After a very productive and fun couple of days I drove Terry back to Boca Tomatlan where we had a great lunch on the beach watching the young kids surfing in the bigger than normal waves; then it was time for him to hop a bus back to Puerto Vallarta and then Canada, while I headed south towards Bara Navidad where Bob and Annette were staying.

fun mural

Bob Mason and kids at the orphanage

Second, Bob Mason and his good wife Annette had asked me to visit and possibly do some painting at a nearby special needs center if I was in Mexico around this time. We had never met but had corresponded over the years and they had been a great help with our fundraisers.  As I have described in an earlier post the Masons had dedicated their lives for many years to running an orphanage in northern Mexico, and they had only recently moved to this area.  I had a fun time painting at the school where one of the children’s fathers had just painted one of the cutest murals I had ever seen.  It was also very nice catching up with the Masons.  I learned a fun game of Dominos called Mexican Train, saw huge crocodiles that lived on the property, and possibly got a great lead on some wheelchairs that were badly needed at the new center in Cabo Corrientes.  As soon as I returned to Puerto Vallarta I got in touch with their Bob and Annette’s friends Nigel and Phillipa Gow.

Wheelchair/Walker for young boy at Sp. Needs center in El Tuito

The Gows were the third good reason for my quick return to Mexico and Lady Luck was surely shining down when I contacted them.  They belong to a great organization called “Amigos de Teacapan” who help with medical, educational and just about any other kind of need in this area.  Their president Rod Buranen gave them the go ahead to help us out and boy did they ever!  They helped us locate a great wheelchair and a sturdy walker for a young boy in El Tuito that was without both.  Then their friends Ken and Janet Jones from Richmond B.C, who were in the area, volunteered to deliver the wheelchair and walker down to Puerto Vallarta where they delivered them right to where I was staying.

New kindergarten school in Corrales

Condemned house for 3 teachers in Corrales

Fourth, my wonderful amiga Barb Crompton who has helped so much the last couple of years wanted to take her good  friend Joel from Napa California on a tour of  Cabo Corrientes to see what was happening out that way.  What a whirlwind fun tour this was and it could not have gone any better.  In one day we were able to: deliver the wheelchair and walker to the new special needs center in El Tuito (where it was greatly appreciated); meet the local government which is really dedicated to helping their people; visit several villages and schools; see the new 4 room teacherage that Barb had helped to build in Villa del mar; and vsit the brand new kindergarten school that had just been completed in the very remote village of Corrales.  BOY DO THEY NEED A NEW HOUSE FOR TEACHERS THERE.

The fifth good reason for my return took place only 2 days before I was due to trade in my beach wear for winter skis one more time.  On this day I headed out by bus to where I met up with the local government in Cabo Corrientes to discuss what projects they needed help with for this year.  It is always a fun time getting together with this group as they so dedicated to helping their people, and work so hard for not a lot of money.  No corruption out this way, just lots of pride, happy people and beautiful new buildings!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4634419850_f701a4ab92_t.jpg

Terry checking out the local bus.