THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET

The board of directors from the US and their guests arrive and there is work to be done. I am panicking. This is the first group of guests this seasons for Project Amigo and there is lots going on.  I've never done this before.

After we have checked all the rooms one more time to ensure everything is in excellent shape and placed a welcome package in each room with a set of keys, we drive two vehicles to Colima to pick up 10 guests and their luggage from Hotel Ceballos. Most guests arrived a few days earlier and spent some time in Colima and Manzanillo. During cocktail hour and dinner we get to meet our new friends and try to figure out how we will remember all names. 

Some of the members of the board such as Catherine Monson (on the left) and Joyce Palmer (with the walking sticks) are long time supporters of Project Amigo and  go way back. They have put a lot of effort and money into this project and want to know how much progress has been made.


November  4

We all hop on the Project Amigo bus for a tour of the new school at the Queseria migrant worker camp. We're in for a surprise; After months and months of negotiation and letter writing, the Mexican Government finally supported the building of a few new classroom to house grade 1 to 6 students which was completed earlier this year. Now more children are able to attend school, but most of these kids need sponsors.

Tita, a long time employee of Project Amigo continues to run the Kindergarten class, with the main focus on arithmetic and Spanish. A large portion of the occupants of the camp speak their native tongue, the Spanish language helps them to prepare for further studies.

Another exciting project at Queseria is the completion of the public bathrooms with private stalls. For folks back at home this may sounds strange but for those who live in the camp, having a private space is a luxury. Previous bathroom were shared spaces.Oh how we tend to take things for granted back home.

The kindergarten class expected our visit and all the kids are well groomed. They wear their best (mostly donated) clothes and their hairs are neatly combed. Those children who are not able to go to school, are a sharp contrast, they run around bare feet and look like they have not had a bath for some time. But they are just as delighted to see  their visitors and are not holding backs any smiles.

The living conditions are quite disturbing. No running water, no electricity, or at least not hooked up. Kids play in the dirt, their little shacks are just large enough to sleep in. They cook outside, they eat outside.

We drive back to Colima to visit Casa Amiga, a boarding school for university students sponsored by Project Amigo. With donations from various sources we were able to build this home, which provides a safe home for more than two dozen students. More students are waiting for housing; The plans for a second storey are already drawn, but additional funding is needed to complete this part of the project. Everyone is really exited about the potential of this home.

After lunch, the US Board of Directors meet. It gives me a lot of inside information which will be very helpful to prepare for our application to Revenue Canada to form a charitable organization in Canada. Once Canada is an official Charitable organization we will be able to provide tax receipts to our donors. We will then have three branches: One in the US, One in Canada and one in Mexico. We enjoy cocktails at the new condo, called Arroyo, followed by a wonderful dinner.

November 5
We meet again to discuss additional aspects of Project Amigo. Two of our scholars make a presentation, reminding us all how important our efforts are to this community.

Through funding from a private donor in Alberta, we were able to hire Francis, a graduate for special needs education. This allows us to accept more than one handicapped student at the Queseria school, who Francis will be working with.

Those students who succeed to continue their studies tell us their life story and how their lives have changed since they have been given a scholarship from Project Amigo. We are all  convinced that our efforts are making a big difference.

I am invited to join the US board of Directors and Anilu, our program director informs us that I am also on the Mexican board of directors. I may be much busier than I anticipated.

We have covered a lot of ground and are all excited about the future of Project Amigo.

Our last evening with the members of the board is a lot of fun.

We had the pleasure of meeting Project Amigo (US) President Catherine Munson and Joyce Palmer. It was hard to believe that ladies of their age had still so much passion for this project; and continue to put their heart and soul into it. It is nice to see some newcomers on the board as well. Most visitors will return and take part in one of the workweeks.

All guests, but three will leave again today. The others will stay on for our first workweek of the season; Literacy Week for which we will start making preparations as soon as the members of the Board of Directors leave.

These last few days have been exciting. I have invited the Board to join us for our Mexican Fiesta in Alberta next summer, to celebrate the "birth" of Project Amigo Canada Society.

We're growing bigger and stronger, helping more kids out of poverty; One by one.