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San Pancho – September 2007
By: Elvia & Geno Lamphiear – September 2007
Elvia & I wanted to bring you an update of the outstanding work of “entreamigos” with the youth here in San Pancho led by Nicole Swedlow. What better way to do so than to share with you their first-ever newsletter:
Entreamigos Newsletter – August 2008
San Francisco (San Pancho), Nayarit
By Nicole Swedlow
Entreamigos was selected as one of five organizations highlighted for their work with youth in the Bay of Banderas. See the article in the August/September issue of Vallarta Lifestyles Magazine.
• Another amazing summer!
Wow! 140 kids in classes. 17 different classes. 40 volunteer/teachers. Five weeks of non-stop action for the children in San Pancho!
The Talleres de Verano 2007, Summer Workshops came to a close last weekend. San Pancho children ranging in age from 3 to 15, participated in classes such as English, computers, journalism, cooking, bicycling, bugs (a favorite), dance, x-treme sports, swimming, life guarding and a myriad of art classes.
• Our volunteers – are the difference!
This year we had 40 different teachers and volunteers make up our summer staff, but this isn’t just any program with just any volunteers. Our summer classes are becoming known for the quality of instruction. Professional teachers, Licensed Biologists, Certified professionals, talented artists and active amazing parents from the community came together to share their skills for the benefit of San Pancho. We owe all of the success of the summer workshops to these amazing and generous people. Thank you!
• Did you know?
Alfredo, our swim instructor spent a lifetime as cliff diver and stunt man, doing acts of escape like the Mexican Houdini, meanwhile making a living as swim instructor and master lifeguard. Now, settled in San Pancho he can be found doing beautiful ironwork from his workshop located to the left of the first bridge coming into town.
• Community Action Saturdays
Every Saturday children and families were invited to participate in events organized to improve the community.
• Planta San Pancho 2007
Once again a huge success and great fun. 200 people joined us to plant 800 new trees and plants in San Pancho. Much of the work was done along the river, a long term effort to help the water problem.
• Beach and Estuary Cleanup
We cleaned up the Tracadero… a trash disaster but also a favorite safe swim spot for San Pancho families and we made a strong start to clean out the plants and trash that are suffocating the fish in the estuary.
• Mosaic Sign Boards for San Pancho
Mosaics seemed to be a theme for the summer and one Saturday we created TEN information boards from mosaic tiles. These boards will be placed around town and used to place information about cultural events, restaurant happenings etc, etc.
• New Mosaic Mural for the Plaza
Local Artist Ariel Sainz designed a beautiful mosaic mural for the plaza and has been working hard with the children to finish it. It will be an on-going project for the next several months that we hope to inaugurate at the Colectivo event in December.
• New Bathrooms at the Elementary School!!
A few weeks before summer, local home owners Terrence and Sandee Willis came to me asking for help to facilitate fixing the bathrooms at the elementary school. They had heard that the bathrooms were unsanitary and dangerous and they wanted to donate funds for the long term benefit of the health of the children.
Thanks to the Willis family donation of nearly $10,000 usd, along with the hard (and quick) work of local contractors - Today the 175 children attending the elementary school have beautiful, clean and sanitary new bathrooms! A huge thank you to the Willis’s for taking the initiative to make a real difference.
Entreamigos purpose is to help people help this community and we feel very honored to have participated in this project. The kids and several parents from the community are helping us place the finishing touches, including a new mural just outside the bathrooms!
• Upcoming Events
Well…
We are taking a vacation!! But before we go we are working hard to get kids in school. Please look for our upcoming email about scholarships.
In October we will return with new energy and a list of projects that reaches from the sea to the sky…
• Good bye, Lauren!
This summer, Seattle University student Lauren Roth joined us as a volunteer teaching English and a bit of everything. She quickly became one of us and a part of the community. We thank her for all of her amazing help and wish her the best of luck with her studies. We love you, Lauren!
• California Donations Pick up!
In the month of September I will be in California gathering materials and supplies for the coming year. I plan to drive a truck back to San Pancho and will happily pick up any donations that have been sent to the California area. If you are outside California and would still like to send some stuff our way, please use regular postal shipping and send things to: entreamigos, c/o John Arner, P.O. Box 1373, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352.
• Wish List
We have a new wish list for people coming back to town! We are looking for collections of old working digital cameras and digital recorders, school supplies, backpacks, a video projector, books and educational materials in Spanish and of course, art supplies of every sort. For a complete list please see the how to help page of our website.
• Thank You!
Another giant thank you to the local and foreign community that has supported entreamigos in the work that we do. This amazing summer and all of our successes would never be possible if it wasn’t for you!
Thank you to all of these amazing people that helped make this summer a success!
Guadalupe Fonseca, Lauren Roth, Regina Portillo, Ana Ramos, Eduardo O’rourke, Estella, Marissa Kanter, Alan Heinze, Alfredo, Walter Ferhmann, Ursula, Patricia Riebeling, Luis Morales, Wendolin Pasco, Ana Paula, Douglas Snyder, Mirilla, Juanello, Indira Santos, Plantate Baronio, Tamara Bode, Derk, Jessica, Iris Rodriquez, Isabel Rodriquez, Ariel Sainz, Chris Cox, Pam Cox, Sara, Gene, Rosa, Dana, Edide, Mama de Isis, Mama de Daniella, Mama de Luisa, Amada, Veronica Florez, Glades Huizar, Ocatavia, Rosario Ramirez Silva, Dolores Silva Castellanos, Erik Saracho, Wendy, Mary Schwarz, Susan Mark, And once again… Skip and Nancy for the use of their pool
And the following local businesses:
Calandria Realty, Materiales San Francisco, Emerald Coast Investments, Costa Azul Hotel, El Estar, San Pancho Surf Shop
Nicole Swedlow Contact Info:
entreamigos
Ave. Tercer Mundo
San Francisco (San Pancho),
Nayarit, Mexico 63732
Phone: (311) 258-4377
E- mail: nrswedlow@gmail.com
Website: www.centrosanpancho.com
Take care,
Nicole
Nicole – THANK YOU For All That You Do For San Pancho!!
Until next time.
Geno & Elvia
E-mail: genolamphiear@hotmail.com
* This information is provided by María Elvia Garcia Palomera & Geno Lamphiear, owners of Calandria Realty in San Francisco (San Pancho), Nayarit, Mexico
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