Fundraising!

Our MAYDAY! event was a great success!!

Although we didn’t have the attendance we were hoping for – those who came and celebrated with us had a great time!!

With everyone’s generosity we raised almost half of our goal when all was said and done!!

We have and will continue to fundraise, collect gently used clothing and school/art supplies until June 23rd… so it’s not too late to get involved or contribute!

Donate via pay pal using the above link or contact us to arrange a drop off of funds or supplies.  Nothing is too small and if we can’t take it with us we will be sure someone in need here gets to make use of it!


More About the School

km.55 Escuela is located in a small village and is run by CONAFE.

This is a division of the Federal Government that sponsors “poor communities” and enables the children to go to school and increase education levels among Mexican children.

Dedicated teachers always smiling!

Their programs are designed to fit the needs, and practices of students living in rural areas inhabited by migrant, peasant or indigenous populations. These are all marginalized communities living under the poverty line.

Originally set up in the 90’s, by 2005, positive empirical results of this program were visible in 22 of 31 states so CONAFE granted full status to what is now called: Modality of Educational Attention for Indigenous Population

SO…

Why so small a classroom?

Why so few supplies?

The community grew after Hurricane Dean (2007) as so many lost their homes on the beach and moved to km55. The current population is about 600. The growth/needs surpass CONAFE’s budget and perhaps promise.

A typical home in km.55

This is why the school needs our help at present…

There are 33 in Kindergarten with 12 moving on to Grade 1 “next” school year when they turn 5. Kinder children are 3 – 5 years old.  However, currently there are 15 in Grade 1 – 2 in a classroom about 6 x 6!!  So 27 children in August will need another classroom in order to function.

NEED FOR DONATIONS!

The community of Mahahual remains quite poor.  There is tourism but very small-scale and no funds are directed to the village and its schools.

It’s not enough, “no basta”, when it comes to children and education!!

This is our project:

With the help of the owner of Balamku Inn (our honeymoon spot) we aim to fund the purchase of needed supplies to double the size of this school by August when the kids return from summer holidays & provide some clothing & art supplies!

Kindergarten Class Room
Grade One Class Room


What CONAFE will do:

– Supply another teacher

(pay is 1500 pesos per month)

– Supply desks for children

– Provide basic materials

The parents will build the extension on the school as they have done before… gladly.

Our generous donations will buy the building materials and in July, the building of the new edition to the school will begin!

Thank you for support & caring!!

The only way to make a difference… is to make a difference!!



THE ECO-INN ~ HONEYMOON

Instead of a typical honeymoon at a huge commercial resort, we have chosen to continue the the green theme of our wedding and are going to an eco-resort in Mexico – called BALAMKU (means home of the jaguar) – on the Costa Maya, 5.7km south of a little fishing village called Mahahual, which is situated in the southern end of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Since Balamku is so far from Cancun’s airport we will be staying in Tulum for 2 nights when we first arrive and possibly on the way home also – we found a quaint hostel called – Posada Los Mapaches (Racoon Inn)
It looks amazing too!