Our volunteers Christine and Stephan are doing a fantastic job in the school. In the past two weeks they have been teaching English and computer class, have helped with other activities such as a soccer tournament and the library and baked cookies with the “ahijados” (godchildren) of our Association. It is great to see their engagement for our kids. Keep following them during their last week.
Zürich: Charity Christmas 2016
Our first Charity Christmas event in Zürich was a great success. Thanks to the generosity of our guests, we were able to raise more than a thousand Swiss francs ! This will allow us to finance our education programs in Ecuador and Nepal. Moreover, three new Godfathers joined our movement. There will be new events in 2017 and we already look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Our first volunteers have arrived
We are very proud to have our first volunteers, Christine and Stephan, in Bahia. They will meet their godchild and will work on various projects. Follow their activities over the next two weeks here...
The kids are in good hands
Thank you to all the teachers for their support this week and for the wonderful work they do with the kids throughout the year. I hope we will see each other soon again!
Sad to leave
The field trip is already coming to an end. I am sad to leave the kids, the school, and especially my goddaughter, but also happy as we have accomplished a lot this week. And the good news is that in a month's time the first volunteers of our association will arrive here. We will keep you posted...
How you can help
There are still children who do not have a sponsor - a Padrino or a Madrina - yet. If you want to help us ensure that the kids in the picture can continue to go to school, please contact us. The good news is that for the little boy next to me we have found a sponsor today. A big thank you to Lucerne! We hope that more will follow.
Music with a view
Together with the architect I visited the construction site of the music building that our association is financing. We went through the plans and made some minor adjustments. It is going to be fantastic: On the 1st floor will be a practice room and a storage for the instruments, as well as bathrooms. On the 2nd floor will be the auditorium with the stage and a terrace with a superb view. The idea is also to rent it for events as all other such locations in Bahía were destroyed in the earthquake. This will help generate additional income for the school. Once the music classes can move tho the new building, the library can finally be used again and doesn't have to serve as storage room for the instruments anymore... yet another problem solved 😀
Ecuador: Our donators make a difference
These are all the kids that are sponsored through our association. A huge thank you to each and everyone of you who make it possible that these kids can go to school. Your generosity changes their lives.
Christmas project started
We asked the 8th and 9th graders to create christmas cards. They were really enthusiastic about it! Below you see the work in progress. I will take the finished cards home with me and hope some of you will support the school by buying a card 😀
Field Trip October 2016
After six years, I'm finally back in Bahía de Caráquez visiting "our" kids. I arrived in the afternoon, so the kids were already gone, but I will see them tomorrow at 7am for their class! However, I already had the chance to see how the construction of our music room is advancing.
Nepal: photo exhibition in Les Diablerets, Switzerland
Only a few weeks left to see our photographies from our 2015 field trip in Nepal. All the proceeds from this exhibition will be used for the reconstruction of Junbesi school. Give us a ring or write us a e-mail and we will be happy to meet you when you visit. See you in the mountain !
Nepal: work in progress
Stone by stone, the classrooms are taking shape. The challenge is huge at 3'000m
Remembering the earthquake in Nepal
On April 25 2015, a 7,9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, killing more than 9,000 people, injuring more than 23,000. On May 12, a 7,3 magnitude aftershock occurred. On that date, Junbesi's school was massively damaged, forcing its complete reconstruction.
Building a new classroom
Ventus Spei is financing the construction of a new classroom in Bahía de Caráquez. Many thanks to our donors and friends for their support and generosity !
Victims still living in tents
Five months after the earthquake, thousands of victims are still living in tents in Bahía de Caráquez.
Remembering the earthquake
On 16 April 2016, a 7,8 magnitude earthquake rattled the western coast of Ecuador, killing more than 650 people, injuring more than 16'000 and leaving some 25'000 people homeless.
Welcome to Ventus Spei on facebook
We are happy to be on facebook so that you can follow what we do for our kids in Ecuador and Nepal...
Levé de rideau !
Pour mon dernier jour à Bahía, j'ai eu beaucoup de chance, le ciel était clair ! Le soleil ici se lève très vite, en quelques minutes à peine l'horizon doré blanchit. C'est l'heure pour les pêcheurs de rentrer et pour les habitants de la baie de retrouver un peu de sérénité ! Ils sont passés les uns après les autres devant mon balcon, toujours aussi amusés de me voir croquer leur soleil. Je les ai salués une dernière fois en leur promettant d'un geste discret que je les reverrai très bientôt...
Un grand merci à vous tous de nous avoir accompagnés durant ce voyage. Votre soutien est précieux.
Concert privé
Les enfants m'avaient promis un petit concert pour mon dernier jour à Bahía; promesse tenue! En à peine deux semaines l'orchestre a reprit vie, comme pour conjurer le sort, en guise de pied de nez à l'horreur qui les a frappé le 16 avril dernier. La joie de se retrouver et de jouer ensemble se lit sur tous les visages; mieux, de nouveaux musiciens ont rejoint le groupe en ce début d'année, portés par une irrésistible envie de regarder devant. Et c'est justement ce que raconte la chanson de Chayanne Madre Tierra (Oye) qu'ils interprètent aujourd'hui, " Hay que perdonar par poder seguir" (Il faut savoir pardonner pour aller de l'avant).
Brigada Bahía
L'association Brigada Bahía rassemble des propriétaires de résidences secondaires vivant à Quito et quelques commerçants locaux. Ensemble, ils aident les écoles du coin. Aujourd'hui, ils distribuaient des sacs d'école et des cahiers à tous les enfants de l'école Sathya Sai. Cette visite tombait à pic puisque nous avions offert de notre côté quelque 10kg de crayons de couleurs (lire le blog "Atelier Caran d'Ache" du 22 juin dernier). La citation du Che inscrite sur la vitre arrière du pick-up d'un des membres de l'association résume bien l'état d'esprit du groupe: "! No Creo Ser El Mejor. Soy Diferente Nada Mas !".
Nos bambins sont fin prêts, les cours de dessins peuvent démarrer dès demain !
Cliquez sur la photo pour visionner le diaporama.
