Lifting La Peña

Good Morning Folks!

It's been great to hear back from some of you who have interest in helping the project get off the ground, and I promise I am working right now with Peace Corps Partnership to make the beginning processes of this project TAX DEDUCTABLE. For the time being, though, any and all donations will not be tax deductable, but they will warm my heart, which I am pretty sure you do not have to file on an IRS form and will certainly brighten up my day.

Updates:

>Despite how much love I showed it, Nicaragua ate my phone. My new phone number is Country Code: 503 72779848. Feel free to text or call at any time.

>The project now has a name: Lifting La Peña. How catchy, no?

>Al Morel and I are working diligently on creating a website for the project and will be found at LiftingLaPena.org whenever we get our act together. I promise to keep you informed!

>We are down from 11 students to 10. Unfortunately the girl we lost just did not have the free time to committ to school.

>We have been having study sessions every Tuesday night from 5 PM until 7 PM. These classes have been possibly the most enlivening project I have done since I got here to La Peña! Even kids who are not enrolled in school have shown up to support their compañeros and learn. I once told my Spanish teacher in high school that I hate learning but I love knowing. These kids are the first kids I have ever met who actually love to learn. I mean, honestly, when was the last time you showed up to Microeconomics 104 even though you weren't enrolled in the class?

>Recently my host brother, who graduated from the 9th grade in 2009 and has not attended school since, got a 7 out of 10 on his first Language exam and an 8 out of 10 on his first Math exam. Pretty remarkable considering they missed the first 4 classes of the school year and that Tito thinks Math is his worst subject.

>I just purchased 10 Scientific calculators at $15 dollars each. These things are starting to add up, but by my calculations these kids should be just about as smart as Stephen Hawking by next Thursday.

>Students will receive uniforms and all their text books this weekend. They are going to be sufficiently embarassed when I show them that I have posted their goofy grins all over the internet.

>I will post photos next week.

Here is the PayPal link you can use to send money to help support Lifting La Peña! Although not yet tax deductable, any kind donations would be an enormous help to us!

Please, please, please feel free to spread the word. A few $10 donations adds up to a month's worth of transportation. Please keep us in mind!

Be well!