1/14/07 Well, our long anticipated Scholarship program is off the ground! This week on January 8th, school officially began, but the formal classes don't begin until tomorrow, January 15th. It has been a very busy couple of weeks since I arrived with volunteer, Vivian Pritchard. Not much was happening until after New Year's Day. Some of you will remember that Ayudamos is opening its first in-country office in the Escuela Santiaguito and so Vivian and I spent one day buying furniture and having it driven from Los Encuentros to Santiago. Vivian's time here was just 10 days and so last Sunday, I said goodbye to her. She was a terrific help to me in that first week.
The days prior to the start of school, we visited the families whose children would be receiving scholarships. We were very disappointed to learn that 3 of our 8 children decided they didn't want to go to school. They were three of our older students, Carlos, Pedro and Dolores. They decided they were earning money and so didn't want to go. That is the sad reality here and not much can disuade families from the prospect of having money in their hands today.
The good news is that the young sister of Carlos and Pedro was very excited to go and is in fact in 3rd grade. Her mother asked if we would sponsor her instead, which we did. Word spread and we had another family apply for a scholarship for their granddaughter. After a home visit and interview, we added Deny to our group. Tomorrow I will be interviewing another family in their home and we will likely be up to our 8 students again.
Bishop Pinkham Jr. High School in Calgary is doing a fundraiser for Ayudamos and one of their projects was to provide knapsacks and school supplies for our scholarship students. On Friday, 7 of our 8 children received their packs and supplies. The kids were very excited and their parents even showed up for them to receive their knapsacks.
Also, Bishop Pinkham students, remember all the great pictures you drew and sent along with me? I showed them to the Director, Gaspar Reanda and his idea is to create an Art Gallery outside of my office in the large salon, so that the entire school can come and look at the pictures of life in Calgary and Canada. I am really proud to show these beautiful pictures off. I will never forget your enthusiasm for this project and these children who are beginning school. You all are true global citizens!
Keeping checking this blog spot, Bishop Pinkham, as I will be posting the pictures of the Art Gallery when we have it all in place.
