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The Journey Continues.......

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www.guateam.wordpress.com

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Nicaragua / Ottawa Update

On March 8, 2011 it was a normal school day for the children at Mountshannon School Age Program. Children arrived at the childcare centre between 7 am and 9 am, ate snack, mingled with their pals, and worked on their organized activities before getting ready to go to school. But it quickly became a very interesting day when an 8 year old girl came in and began explaining what her Mom ‘does’ at her work. The children sat for group time and Samantha Monforton began explaining that her mom works to help peoples living conditions here in Ontario and all around the world! She went on to explain about the severe  living conditions of various communities abroad and she was passionate about the possibility of helping to change someone’s life! Sam wanted to do some fundraising to build one family a home and purchase a wheelchair for a needy child.

 All the children in the program became very enthusiastic with the idea and began writing up their ideas of how they would like to fundraise for this event! The fundraised goal was $850.00.  The supervisor of the program, Tina McLean, helped to guide them and organize the most appropriate events. The projects began with a 50/50 draw which raised $50.00  in March, 2011. The children were responsible for giving out the tickets, writing the names and collecting the money. On April 21^st, event # 2 was an Easter Egg hunt to find one egg that contained a red jelly bean which represented $20.00! The cost was $2.00 to play. This raised $50.00. As each event took place the children coloured in a 7ft house that was marked with $0 to $850.00. During the March Break the children competed in a Drawing contest in age categories. They chose their best art work and sent it off to one of our sister centres, Elmridge School Age Program in Orleans. The children then chose their favorite piece, wrote out what they liked about it and sent them back to Mountshannon. Although these activities seemed to generate only small amounts the fun was just beginning! On May 17, and 18 we organized a bake sale in the child care centre and in the St.Luke staff room. The parents contribution was overwhelming! The total raised was $424.75! Finally on June 3^rd, we had a PD Fitness Fun Day! The children were given pledge forms, and pledged to do fitness activities all day! Activities included, obstacle courses, basketball competition, skipping challenge, soccer,  relay races, Pilates and Good Life Fitness Personal trainers came in to end our day with some fun body exercises! With this great end to our fundraising we are so proud to announce that we raised $1700.00! This experience has allowed for our children to feel empowered to know that they can change someones life even across the globe.

It Only Takes A Spark!

You know how that song goes…..

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing……”

Well, let me introduce you to a ‘spark’……

Samantha (on Left)

This is Samantha.  Samantha goes to the Mountshannon School Age Program, a daycare in the Ottawa area.  Samantha has become a spark in her school.  Through her mom she has got to know the great things that CHGlobal is doing in Central America and she has become passionate about reaching out to those in need in Nicaragua.  Specifically to build a home for someone with special needs and to provide a wheelchair.

Samantha has rallied all her school mates (and their families) together to join the cause. Everyone has got on board and sees the great opportunity they have to touch lives in communities much less fortunate than theirs.  To date they have raise about 200 dollars of their $950 goal ($700 for material to build a home for someone in need and 150 for a wheelchair).

Samantha's Daycare

Last weekend they held a fundraising Easter egg hunts, May is a bake sale and in June it’s a FUN STATION DAY!

Samantha – Thanks for being the SPARK that lights the fire so others can warm up  by the fire!

A typical home in the community we work in in Nicarugua

Building a house through profit Diversion!

Profit Diversion?  Great term... What is it.....

Taking what I would have paid some business for work and instead divert that to another cause...
That's what we did this weekend with a Bathroom Demolition.

Many THANKS to the ARMY of VOLUNTEERS that dedicated their SATURDAY to help out.  We not only demolished a bedroom and bathroom, we also built a house in GUATEMALA with the funds (the house will be built in Nov 2011 when the next team goes down from Ont)

Enjoy some pics

Why the bathroom needed to be renovated - damage from a roof leak a few years back

What kind of crazy plumbing is this?

Hauling it away one trailer at a time.

Before the reno started Sandi let the daycare kids have some fun on the walls.

Everyone was working hard

Camera Shy!

Express yourself!!!!

Planning to support our Guatemalan partners in 2011 is underway.


We have developed an opportunity to collect up information from people who would like to join the journey.


Available is an "expression of interest" form.  If interested, please contact us and get a from, it will help us match up interest, skills and passion with the CH Global projects and opportunities that are being planned.


please contact:  David Petkau : dpetkau@christian-horizons.org


Thanks


Dave