¡Gracías!

The Middle School's "Hat Day" raised $150 to help purchase supplies for the school in Honduras.  Thanks to all students who donated!  And a special thank you to my students who organized the fund-raiser.  Many students wore their hats to the dance on Friday night, and I took some great pictures to share with the students I will be working with to show them who helped raise money for the supplies.

¡Gracías a mis alumnos!

Supplies update

After receiving some more information from the volunteer organization I am working with, I am going to try to purchase as many supplies as I can when I get down to Honduras.  Not only will this help to avoid baggage fees or shipping costs, but it will also help to contribute to the local economy while at the same time providing supplies for the kids at the school.  I have had to book 2 separate airline tickets in order to get La Ceiba, so I would need to pay double the baggage fees for the extra supplies.  Not to mention the fact that theft is often an issue in Honduras, and I would hate to ship the supplies and then never see them again.  I will still collect supplies and try to get as much as I can into my suitcase.  However, I hope to get a majority of the supplies down in Honduras.  The only supplies that would be easier to bring with me rather than purchase down there would be books, word searches, activity books, and games for kids.  If anyone has already purchased supplies to donate or has something extra lying around at home, please feel free to still send them in. 

Much to my surprise, a few students of mine have organized a fund-raiser to help collect money for supplies for the kids in Honduras.  They have contacted our school's student council and have planned a "Hat Day" for this coming Friday.  Students can contribute $1 and wear a hat for the day.  I am proud of the girls for taking a leadership role and helping in this cause.

On a side note, since my last post, my new passport came in, my travel plans are set, and I am all paid up for the program.  I also have my medications and some new clothes for the trip!  Only 45 days left until I leave...

Donating Supplies and Fundraising Update

Here is a list of supplies I will be collecting to bring to the school in La Ceiba:

- pencils, pens, erasers, and hand-held sharpeners
- index cards
- coloring books, activity books, word searches, and basic reading books (lightweight)
- children's scissors
- markers and colored pencils (crayons tend to melt in the heat)
- colored paper
- posters / maps
- sidewalk chalk
- group games (BINGO, scrabble, chutes and ladders)
- stickers or stamps

Donations can be brought to my classroom at the Middle School.

Also, there is only one week left for my fundraising campaign.  If you are still interested in making a donation, please visit https://www.wepay.com/donations/teaching-english-in-honduras one day this week.

So far, I have exceeded my original goal and raised $1,325!  This is almost enough to cover the cost of the volunteer program.  Any money that I receive beyond the program cost will either help to purchase supplies, ship those supplies, or go directly to the school.  A huge thank you to the following sponsors for helping me to reach my goal:

• Segar family
• Borrosch family
• Ford family
• Klein family
• Kaufman family
• Agar family
• Pamela King
• Calhoun family
• Andrew Corey
• McIntee family
• William Walter
• Eric Greenwood
• Robb family
• West family
• Kelly family
• Bonnie Crittenden
• Kay Panek
• Sue and Ted Sanford
• Paganelli family
• Thompson family
• Puchebner family
• Marge Harter
• Ekholm family
• Fraser family
• Millard family
• Roy family
• Cheryl Lavery
• Villanti family
• D'Agostino family
• 6th grade Gold Team teachers

Education system in Honduras

After doing some reading about Honduras' education system, I realized how important it is for kids there to be exposed to the English language in order to compete with surrounding countries.  Here are some unfortunate statistics regarding education in Honduras:

• 13.5% of children do not have access to an education
• More than half a million people in Honduras are illiterate (equivalent to the entire population between the ages of 15 and 40)
• More than 90% of students need to repeat grades
• Over 50% of students never finish primary school
• Only 8% of students attend a university
• Schools are so understaffed that some teachers have up to 80 kids in one classroom

(Information from http://www.globalexchange.org/country/honduras/education and http://countrystudies.us/honduras/58.htm)

Students who learn to speak English have a better chance of getting a job when they finish school.  Unfortunately, there are very few English-speaking teachers or volunteers available to work with the kids.  Hopefully, my three-week volunteer program will make a difference in the lives of the students I work with.

Donation update

Thanks to 3 generous sponsors this week, I am now over halfway to my goal!  I will be putting together a list of supplies soon for anyone who is interested in contributing.  I am also looking for ideas of things to bring that will represent the Honeoye Falls / Rochester area. 

For monetary contributions, go to my fundraising page at https://www.wepay.com/donations/teaching-english-in-honduras.

Why I volunteer

Volunteering has been an important aspect of my life for a long time.  In high school, I joined organizations such as Students Against Drunk Driving and Big Brothers / Big Sisters.  When I got to college, I spent many hours involved with the Big Brothers / Big Sisters program (from being a mentor to coordinating the program).  I also participated in several volunteer and community service projects from the United Way's Day of Caring to helping out at the local nursery school.  Once I began teaching, it became more difficult to find time for volunteering, but I still took every chance I could get.  Staying involved with my church, scout groups, and local recreation program has helped me to give back to the community I grew up in.  As a teacher, I have always tried to stress the importance of volunteering and giving back to my students.

While at a service-learning conference I attended as a college student in Rhode Island, I learned a lot about myself and why I choose to volunteer.

I volunteer for two reasons.  One, service to others makes a difference.  Without volunteer ambulances and fire departments, small towns would struggle to provide these services to their citizens.  Without mentors, children at risk would have a difficult time making the right choices.  Without organizations like the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society to which people can donate time, money, and other forms of support, our medical fields would not be able to make the advancements they do.  If volunteering my time will make a difference in someone's life, even in some small way, then I can be a part of (excuse the cliche) "making the world a better place." 

The second reason I volunteer is because it is a valuable exchange.  When I spend time in service to others, I often gain just as much as I give.  Volunteering at a local soup kitchen opened my eyes to what life can be like for those who are less fortunate than me.  It made me appreciate the clothes on my back, the roof over my head, and the meal I eat every night.  Serving as a mentor to young kids has brought me joy, laughter, and an appreciation to the mentors I have had in my own life.  It helps me put things into perspective and strive to be a better teacher.

I chose "A Broader View" (the volunteer organization that I am working with to plan my project in Honduras) for the very reasons I volunteer.  The organization strives to make a difference in the lives of people around the world, and it provides a valuable cultural exchange.  It is my hope that I will return from my trip with a feeling that I have made a positive impact on the lives of children in Honduras, with a greater understanding of the Spanish culture, and with a broader view of the world.

If you are interested in helping me with this project, please consider making a donation on my project page.  To write a check or for information on tax-deductible donations, please send me an e-mail (robsanford89@yahoo.com).

Immunized!

I had an appointment yesterday with Passport Health up at Strong. They were great! Had a personalized packet ready for me with information about health risks and safety precautions for traveling to Honduras. For anyone planning to go abroad, I highly recommend setting up an appointment with them. I got my immunizations and prescriptions right there, and the nurse was very informative and helpful. Thanks to Cheryl for recommending them!