This new computer classroom will be used for the grades 1 and 2 children who use computers as learning tools through educational games.  Plus this year, for the first time, we will be giving computer introduction classes to grade 5/6 children thanks to our partner organization Nica-Friends and the award of funds of €3000 received from Een Aarde.

Salomon de la Selva school was also a building site in January, with two student groups from Goulburn Valley Grammar School, traveling with World Challenge who visited and built a library/study room and storeroom.  These young people had done lots of local fundraising in Gourburn Valley, Victoria, Australia, and funds from Anka Verhoeven’s Spaghetti Fest made up the rest of the cost to build this much needed addition.

Meanwhile our longer term volunteers spent the month holding summer school in Nueva Esperanza, where some 250 children attended.  Most of the classes were a review of math and Spanish.  There were fun activities too though, with regular sport and arts and craft.  It was a sweet sad celebration on 31st – the final day of summer school with some of the children in tears as they didn’t want it to ever end.  A lot of our volunteers felt just the same.

Lots of preparation for the new school year due to start on 11th February.  We have been working with the teachers to plan resources needed to achieve the learning goals for the kindergarten classes, and grade one students.  The new tables are made, and we will be painting all the classrooms next week.  Preparing all the high school students too, measuring for uniforms, filling back packs etc.  Thanks so much to everyone who responded to Anka’s pleas for sponsors.  We have an incredible 54 new sponsorships for this year with just 12 students still looking for a sponsor.   Sadly Anka is returning to Belgium, but plans to continue to work with us on-line organizing the high school sponsorship program.

We have some serious shopping to do with our donations store (http://www.la-esperanza-granada.org/our-donation-store/).  Greg Timinsky ‘spent’ $301, Bonnie Ditlevsen $220, Paul Holdsworth $405, and Barbara Reid who chose a house for a family, $3000.  More about that house next month.   Other donations were Chrissi Richter and friends who gave $420 for school supplies, Kyle Virgien sent $800, Peter and Kelly Lake $300, Todd Studer sent $500, Juliette Hoad $50, Margie Pollitzer $200, Benedikt Maerz €50.  Lyndon Watkins sent us a check for $1000, Network for Good sent $270 as a matching donation for John and Jess Comstocks sponsorship payment, Project Pulsera gave $250 from a bracelet sale at Appstate University.  Cristina and Patricia Basarrate celebrated their birthday on 20th January (twins) and asked their friends to donate to help the children here.   Many of these people are former volunteers, or friends and regular supporters of the organization, it is really heartwarming to have so much support from them all.

Lots of things brought into the office too by the Westfield Group, Amber Pylant and Martin Serra, Ed Wall, Bailey Ross, Eduardo, and Mary Roth.

Volunteers in January included Mary Pearce, Anka Verhoeven, Jim and Carol Ludden, Oyin Bankhole, Chrissi Richter, Eva Gerstner, Eva Binder, Benjamin Plett, Margot Vappereau, Chris Sievert, Sascha Zenker, Melody Alvarez Vega, Marta Soldevila Garnica,  Anna Annell, Maja Wegmann,  Denise Hoffman, Anne Deidrich, Sonia Rodriguez, Belen Peran, Christoph Hein, Janna Karel, Sandy Liu, Itziar Hernandez, Kristine Olthuis, Caitlin Dowd, Peter Kitchen, Amber Pylant, Martin Serra, Lawrence Shannahan, Chuck Buhr, Ed Wall, Bailey Ross, Julius Knerr, Alexandra Cullen, John Kilkenny, Kaja Seger, Nick Kinnon, Emily Roseman, Pauline Caclin and Kevin Skolits.

And last, but not least, our photo link for the month: https://plus.google.com/photos/117280080405531703987/albums/5975874127166184113

There are more photos too on our Facebook page, as well as links to short video clips you might like to see – look for our La Esperanza Granada page, and follow us on Facebook if you like.

La Esperanza Granada        [email protected]