Thanks for another $10 donated today! Thanks for the continued support. Please continue to help however you can! Think $5 is too little? Think again! Every little bit helps get closer to the goal! Check out how you can donate too! Or, check out these upcoming fundraising events if you would like to help out by going to one (or more) of them. As always, please feel free to email me if you would like to help organize a fundraising event, have an idea, or just a question for me.
Reminder that tomorrow, March 1st, is a Bowling fundraiser! If you live in Oregon, check this out: 50/50 Bowling night: Thursday, March 1st. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Four Seasons Bowling Alley, 322 SE Washington St, Hillsboro, Oregon. $16 includes 2 hours of bowling and shoe rental and $8 of that goes to this fundraiser! Also, 15% of any food/beverage sales goes to the fundraiser. So, if you happen to be in the area, go get some strikes for charity!
I was asked by a friend about the kinds of programming and activities the community would like to see in the community center. Briefly, the center will be used to hold monthly town meetings as well as any additional town meetings or special events. There is also a strong desire by community members to have English language instruction for adults and children in the community. One reason for this is to prepare local community members to be able to act as guides and hosts for potential income-generating ecotourism in the area. There is also a desire to have programs for women in the community- from workshops to early childhood programming and exercise classes. A shared community kitchen and playground for children. Because medical services are an hour away, providing simple health services is also important. A library and reading area. An office area for anyone in the community needing a meeting space, to use. A guest room/house to be used for visitors. Educational programming for youth and adults, including environmental topics relevant to river health and quality and other environmental concerns highly relevant to daily living. A computer work area with classes on how to use the machines. Opportunities for cultural exchanges with youth living in the US.
So there is a brief overview of some of the classes/services the community is hoping to have in the community center. Of course, the list is not exhaustive, and some opportunities may develop in the future that will be in line with desires of the community, but haven't yet been discussed.
What other things are you curious about? Let me know!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
End of Day 10: $2005.00
Yay! Thanks to a generous $20 donation, the total amount donated is now over $2000.00. That is awesome! Thanks for your continued support. Please continue to help however you can! Think $5 is too little? Think again! Every little bit helps get closer to the goal! Check out how you can donate too! Or, check out these upcoming fundraising events if you would like to help out by going to one (or more) of them. As always, please feel free to email me if you would like to help organize a fundraising event, have an idea, or just a question for me.
The Applebee's Dining to Donate flyer is now available online please remember to bring a copy of it when you come out to eat on 3/19!
The Zumbathon flyer is also available online and there is now a Facebook Event page so send it to anyone that might be interested!
Remember, 100% of the money being donated is going toward sustainable development in rural Ecuador, with the primary focus being construction of a community center that will also act as a sister neighborhood center to Madison, Wisconsin's Meadowood Neighborhood Center. I imagine that some of you that are stumbling upon this blog and fundraising initiative for the first time are still wondering why you should care, or why it is important to help. So, over the next few days I plan to provide more details on goals for the community center and beyond (including more details about why the connection to the Meadowood Neighborhood Center is important), and hope you will share in my enthusiasm and consider donating. I am also hoping you will feel compelled to ask questions for anything you might want to hear more about. Don't be shy!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been volunteering my time and money to help get this initiative going, as it has been something this community has been trying to do for a long time, but as with many worthwhile projects, financial resources were not readily available. I became intrigued by the enthusiasm the community first shared at a town meeting, but was cautioned by some that the request for assistance not simply be a hand me out, and also to be sure that this really was something community-led. So, I talked with the president and others in the community about how we could help out. I even met with the mayor and he seemed excited about this initiative.
But, the true test came with what happened after I returned to the US. Communication between the US (or the rest of the world) and this community is not easy. It is 45 minutes by truck (of which there are two truck owners in town who charge 50 cents one way to the nearest town) or 35 min walking to the road plus additional 30 minutes to the closest town where you can then pay a dollar an hour for internet (if it's working that day, and it is often spotty). In a region where people are fortunate if they have work, and, if they do, are likely earning about $8 a day for 10+ hours of work, the bus fare plus internet fees are nothing to ignore. So, when the president continued to make efforts to get to the internet to discuss ideas and plans over gmail text chat, or borrow a cell phone from someone, or use a cabina or pay phone to call me so I could call back, I knew that there was something unique here.
It became clear to me through these continued discussions that the community wanted this center not only for basic human services, but also as a way to continue with the community's ideas and momentum in order to provide for sustainable development in a grass-roots, community-driven way. Not as something another group or outside agency was telling them was how it should be. And, based on my varied educational background and connections to different individuals and resources, I have been volunteering my time and money to help get this initiative going. This will definitely be a lifetime commitment on my part, but I view myself as largely working in the shadows, gently nudging an already burgeoning community-led initiative for sustainable development.
This initiative can be viewed in part as an asset-based community development. This strategy for community-driven development has been used in both urban and rural communities in North America as a method counter to the typical "needs-based" approaches used by governmental and non-governmental agencies. This approach works by enabling or empowering already existing assets within the community in order to assist communities in driving the sustainable development process themselves. The theory is based on the idea that social assets and social capital can be extremely powerful in enabling community development where financial capital may be limited (for more information, check out Mathie & Cunningham, 2003).
While the community does not have money to put into this initiative, they do have several assets, including donated land. The center will be built on land that a family in the community donated for that purpose. The location of the land is ideal, as it is in the center of the community and not far from the primary school.
Another asset the community has is talented builders who will be able to help with all parts of the construction of the center. Additionally, the president of the community is friends with an architect, so he is assisting with design plans for free. And the list of non-financial assets goes on.
Using a "bottom-up" approach to development is likely to be much more sustainable than alternate approaches of many NGOs (Altieri & Masera, 1993). And, these community-based initiatives can lead to income generation for the community, that is done in a way that is sensitive to the culture and the environment of the area (see Ruiz-Ballesteros, 2011 for example).
More on this in later posts..... Please feel free to ask questions! And, thanks again for your support!!
The Applebee's Dining to Donate flyer is now available online please remember to bring a copy of it when you come out to eat on 3/19!
The Zumbathon flyer is also available online and there is now a Facebook Event page so send it to anyone that might be interested!
Remember, 100% of the money being donated is going toward sustainable development in rural Ecuador, with the primary focus being construction of a community center that will also act as a sister neighborhood center to Madison, Wisconsin's Meadowood Neighborhood Center. I imagine that some of you that are stumbling upon this blog and fundraising initiative for the first time are still wondering why you should care, or why it is important to help. So, over the next few days I plan to provide more details on goals for the community center and beyond (including more details about why the connection to the Meadowood Neighborhood Center is important), and hope you will share in my enthusiasm and consider donating. I am also hoping you will feel compelled to ask questions for anything you might want to hear more about. Don't be shy!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been volunteering my time and money to help get this initiative going, as it has been something this community has been trying to do for a long time, but as with many worthwhile projects, financial resources were not readily available. I became intrigued by the enthusiasm the community first shared at a town meeting, but was cautioned by some that the request for assistance not simply be a hand me out, and also to be sure that this really was something community-led. So, I talked with the president and others in the community about how we could help out. I even met with the mayor and he seemed excited about this initiative.
But, the true test came with what happened after I returned to the US. Communication between the US (or the rest of the world) and this community is not easy. It is 45 minutes by truck (of which there are two truck owners in town who charge 50 cents one way to the nearest town) or 35 min walking to the road plus additional 30 minutes to the closest town where you can then pay a dollar an hour for internet (if it's working that day, and it is often spotty). In a region where people are fortunate if they have work, and, if they do, are likely earning about $8 a day for 10+ hours of work, the bus fare plus internet fees are nothing to ignore. So, when the president continued to make efforts to get to the internet to discuss ideas and plans over gmail text chat, or borrow a cell phone from someone, or use a cabina or pay phone to call me so I could call back, I knew that there was something unique here.
It became clear to me through these continued discussions that the community wanted this center not only for basic human services, but also as a way to continue with the community's ideas and momentum in order to provide for sustainable development in a grass-roots, community-driven way. Not as something another group or outside agency was telling them was how it should be. And, based on my varied educational background and connections to different individuals and resources, I have been volunteering my time and money to help get this initiative going. This will definitely be a lifetime commitment on my part, but I view myself as largely working in the shadows, gently nudging an already burgeoning community-led initiative for sustainable development.
This initiative can be viewed in part as an asset-based community development. This strategy for community-driven development has been used in both urban and rural communities in North America as a method counter to the typical "needs-based" approaches used by governmental and non-governmental agencies. This approach works by enabling or empowering already existing assets within the community in order to assist communities in driving the sustainable development process themselves. The theory is based on the idea that social assets and social capital can be extremely powerful in enabling community development where financial capital may be limited (for more information, check out Mathie & Cunningham, 2003).
While the community does not have money to put into this initiative, they do have several assets, including donated land. The center will be built on land that a family in the community donated for that purpose. The location of the land is ideal, as it is in the center of the community and not far from the primary school.
View from slightly above the donated land, looking down toward the primary school
Using a "bottom-up" approach to development is likely to be much more sustainable than alternate approaches of many NGOs (Altieri & Masera, 1993). And, these community-based initiatives can lead to income generation for the community, that is done in a way that is sensitive to the culture and the environment of the area (see Ruiz-Ballesteros, 2011 for example).
More on this in later posts..... Please feel free to ask questions! And, thanks again for your support!!
Monday, February 27, 2012
End of Day 9: $1985.00
Thank you, thank you for your continued generous donations. We are so close to being over $2000.00 in donations. Please help however you can! Think $5 is too little? Think again! Every little bit helps get closer to the goal! Check out how you can donate too! Or, check out these upcoming fundraising events if you would like to help out by going to one (or more) of them. As always, please feel free to email me if you would like to help organize a fundraising event, have an idea, or just a question for me.
Exciting news today! This fundraiser was featured in the Wisconsin State Journal. Check out the article, if you haven't already! And, check out the "Press" tab for more stories or blurbs on this fundraiser.
The response to the article has been wonderful. Not only did several people step up and donate today ($120.00 donated- yay!), but several individuals reached out and offered help with fundraising, or collecting school supplies, or toys for sending down to Ecuador. Thank you all for your interest and enthusiasm! Please continue to pass along information about this fundraiser (and thank you to all of you that did that today, and have been doing that), and please help me reach this fundraising goal. I know that it is really hard right now, but even $5 can (and will) help out!
Look for Facebook event pages for some of the upcoming fundraisers, as well as posters, registration forms (for the Zumbathon), and more in the next couple of days.
Please also feel free to ask questions or post comments here on the blog.
Exciting news today! This fundraiser was featured in the Wisconsin State Journal. Check out the article, if you haven't already! And, check out the "Press" tab for more stories or blurbs on this fundraiser.
The response to the article has been wonderful. Not only did several people step up and donate today ($120.00 donated- yay!), but several individuals reached out and offered help with fundraising, or collecting school supplies, or toys for sending down to Ecuador. Thank you all for your interest and enthusiasm! Please continue to pass along information about this fundraiser (and thank you to all of you that did that today, and have been doing that), and please help me reach this fundraising goal. I know that it is really hard right now, but even $5 can (and will) help out!
Look for Facebook event pages for some of the upcoming fundraisers, as well as posters, registration forms (for the Zumbathon), and more in the next couple of days.
Please also feel free to ask questions or post comments here on the blog.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
End of Day 8: $1865.00
No new donations today, but, seeing as there is no mail on Sunday, and if you were in and around the Madison, WI area, you should have been outside today, and not on the computer, it is understandable. However, with the workweek starting again, now is the time to donate if you haven't! Even if you only have $5 to give, don't be shy, please consider donating! Or, if you are more interested in eating out, dancing, or bowling to help out, then check out these events! Or, want to help plan a fundraising event or presentation in your area? I will gladly help- just email me! Thanks!!
(Repeat from yesterday, but worth stating again) Remember, 100% of the money being donated is going toward sustainable development in rural Ecuador, with the primary focus being construction of a community center that will also act as a sister neighborhood center to Madison, Wisconsin's Meadowood Neighborhood Center. The center is being designed by the local community, on land that was already donated by one of the families living there, and will be both a meeting place, location for educational and health services, and a facility to assist in income generation, and cultural exchanges for local community members. Any additional funds raised will be used to help complete a potable water project left incomplete since 2009 when the local government failed to provide the matching funds to the Rotary International project.
I have been asked a number of times about the currency in Ecuador. As of March 13, 2000, the official currency of Ecuador became the U.S. dollar. Prior to that, the national currency was the Sucre. The Sucre was named after Antonio José de Sucre, who was apparently a good friend of Simón Bolívar's (extremely important figure in Latin American history of independence), and, like Simón, a Venezuelan independence leader. Apparently Antonio José de Sucre participated in the battles for South American independence from Spain, and is buried in Quito, Ecuador. The U.S. dollar was adopted as the official currency after the exchange value of the sucre drastically decreased during 1999. Sucre notes were exchangeable for U.S. dollars at the rate of 25,000 sucre to 1 U.S. dollar. Before the sucre (used from 1884 to 2000), the currency of Ecuador was the Ecuadorian peso.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
End of Day 7: $1865.00
Awesome work for the first week! However, now is the time to donate if you haven't! Even if you only have $5 to give, don't be shy, please consider donating! Or, if you are more interested in eating out, dancing, or bowling to help out, then check out these events! Or, want to help plan a fundraising event or presentation in your area? I will gladly help- just email me!
Remember, 100% of the money being donated is going toward sustainable development in rural Ecuador, with the primary focus being construction of a community center that will also act as a sister neighborhood center to Madison, Wisconsin's Meadowood Neighborhood Center. The center is being designed by the local community, on land that was already donated by one of the families living there, and will be both a meeting place, location for educational and health services, and a facility to assist in income generation, and cultural exchanges for local community members. Any additional funds raised will be used to help complete a potable water project left incomplete since 2009 when the local government failed to provide the matching funds to the Rotary International project.
Remember, 100% of the money being donated is going toward sustainable development in rural Ecuador, with the primary focus being construction of a community center that will also act as a sister neighborhood center to Madison, Wisconsin's Meadowood Neighborhood Center. The center is being designed by the local community, on land that was already donated by one of the families living there, and will be both a meeting place, location for educational and health services, and a facility to assist in income generation, and cultural exchanges for local community members. Any additional funds raised will be used to help complete a potable water project left incomplete since 2009 when the local government failed to provide the matching funds to the Rotary International project.
View of the primary school from the hill next to the donated land for the community center
Community members participating in a river clean-up
A lot of garbage was collected in the same river that is used for drinking
The kids in the community participating in a community clean-up
Clinton showing off a bunch of garbage he found
Some of the kids participating in the community clean-up, posing with me
Friday, February 24, 2012
End of Day 6: $1865.00
Thanks again for another generous $30 in donations today! Are you interested in donating too? Check out how! Also, check out information on upcoming fundraising events to see other ways you can help.
There is a lot of bamboo, or caña growing in and around Camarones. One of my friends there makes beautiful lamps, hammocks, beds, and other crafts out of the bamboo. He has even made one lamp that stood 8 feet tall and was one of four he was asked to build that size. He is very talented and extremely detail-oriented- see for yourself!
There is a lot of bamboo, or caña growing in and around Camarones. One of my friends there makes beautiful lamps, hammocks, beds, and other crafts out of the bamboo. He has even made one lamp that stood 8 feet tall and was one of four he was asked to build that size. He is very talented and extremely detail-oriented- see for yourself!
Bamboo
He makes several different sizes of lamps, and also different fabrics for the lampshades
Bed frame made out of bamboo
Workshop and giant lamp
Bamboo hammock
Thursday, February 23, 2012
End of Day 5: $1835.00
Hey everyone! You may have noticed that the total is the same as yesterday. Yes, that's right. No monetary donations came in today, but, a lot of great things still occurred. With the help of friends, I have finalized plans on two additional fundraisers, happening in two different states. Also with the help of friends, people are spreading the word and offering their support and enthusiasm. For that, I am very thankful!
However, to help toward the fundraising goal, please consider donating or passing the information along to others you think may be interested. Thanks so much!
Tomorrow or over the weekend I will make a separate page for the fundraising events that are confirmed, but for now, I'm just going to list them here so you can see other ways to get involved/help out:
1. Bowling Fundraiser: Thursday, March 1st. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 4 Seasons Bowling, at 322 SE Washington Street, Hillsboro, Oregon. $16 includes 2 hours of bowling and shoe rental and $8 of that goes to this fundraiser! Also, 15% of any food/beverage sales goes to the fundraiser. So, if you happen to be in the area, go get some strikes for charity!
2. Pizza Fundraiser: Monday, March 5th through Thursday, March 8th. All day. Pizza Pie Café, 25 E 1400 N Logan, UT. 25% of all food sales will go to the fundraiser! Fliers will be available in the ENVS office, and on this blog for printing as that's how the restaurant knows which purchases go toward the fundraiser. They even have gluten free! So, go enjoy some pizza one, or several nights that week!
3. Dine to Donate Fundraiser: Monday, March 19th. 11 a.m. to midnight. Applebee's, 660 S. Whitney Way, Madison, WI. 15% of all food and beverage sales will go to the fundraiser! Applebee's is putting together fliers, and they will be available on here, as well as various locations in Madison for bringing with you when you go to eat out. This is the last day of the fundraising drive, and what a delectable way for it to close!
I am also still working on details for a Zumbathon here in Madison. Stay tuned for details!
Thanks again for all of your interest and enthusiasm! All of this talk of food fundraisers makes me hungry.... look for some recipes and stories about making a few Ecuadorian foods in future posts. For now, enjoy a few pictures of yummy goodness.
However, to help toward the fundraising goal, please consider donating or passing the information along to others you think may be interested. Thanks so much!
Tomorrow or over the weekend I will make a separate page for the fundraising events that are confirmed, but for now, I'm just going to list them here so you can see other ways to get involved/help out:
1. Bowling Fundraiser: Thursday, March 1st. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 4 Seasons Bowling, at 322 SE Washington Street, Hillsboro, Oregon. $16 includes 2 hours of bowling and shoe rental and $8 of that goes to this fundraiser! Also, 15% of any food/beverage sales goes to the fundraiser. So, if you happen to be in the area, go get some strikes for charity!
2. Pizza Fundraiser: Monday, March 5th through Thursday, March 8th. All day. Pizza Pie Café, 25 E 1400 N Logan, UT. 25% of all food sales will go to the fundraiser! Fliers will be available in the ENVS office, and on this blog for printing as that's how the restaurant knows which purchases go toward the fundraiser. They even have gluten free! So, go enjoy some pizza one, or several nights that week!
3. Dine to Donate Fundraiser: Monday, March 19th. 11 a.m. to midnight. Applebee's, 660 S. Whitney Way, Madison, WI. 15% of all food and beverage sales will go to the fundraiser! Applebee's is putting together fliers, and they will be available on here, as well as various locations in Madison for bringing with you when you go to eat out. This is the last day of the fundraising drive, and what a delectable way for it to close!
I am also still working on details for a Zumbathon here in Madison. Stay tuned for details!
Thanks again for all of your interest and enthusiasm! All of this talk of food fundraisers makes me hungry.... look for some recipes and stories about making a few Ecuadorian foods in future posts. For now, enjoy a few pictures of yummy goodness.
Dulce de papaya
Shrimp ceviche
Tortilla de maiz
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