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A request
Topic Started: Nov 15 2010, 06:13 AM (392 Views)
Optimistic
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HOLY CARP!!!
This is a bit of a bold plea for charity, but well, so it goes.

The school I´m working with in eastern Paraguay (about 40 km directly west of Ciudad del Este, for those who like maps), like most schools in Paraguay, does not have a library. The community does not have one, of course, and the nearest town has a semblance of one, but does not lend the books out (and is a bit too far of a walk for kids to use regularly anyway). I have a small library of kids´ books in Spanish, which I make available to the kids on Saturday mornings and use sometimes to read in classes. As you can imagine, the kids LOVE the books. Books were such a huge part of my childhood, and I wish the kids here could have that opportunity as well.

One of the things I´d like to focus on here is getting children´s books to the school. First step, get the kids interested in reading (not hard at all, all that had to be done was introduce them to children´s books; mostly all they´ve seen before were textbooks). Second step, show the teachers some different ways of using the books in their lessons and in their classrooms, and getting them interested enough so that they will actually use the books once they are acquired. Third step, acquire the books.

Acquiring books is kind of a pain. Back home children´s Spanish books are pretty cheap, any of my friends or family would be willing to donate at least one or two, and there are any number of organizations that would be willing to make donations. But of course, there´s the problem of shipping fees. It drives me crazy to think of how easy I could get these things if I were in the States, and here it´s a huge investment if I decide to buy just one small paperback.

One of the organizations that has an agreement with Peace Corps for donating books (we´re not allowed to accept most donations, as we are supposed to be aiming for sustainability, not handouts) is International Book Project. I sent my application in, and have received the following response:

Quote:
 

Hi Kristin!

On your application you indicated that you did not have any potential sources for funding a shipment of books. I just wanted to let you know that if you provide me with some email/postal addresses of friends/family that might be able to help fund your shipment, I can send them a personalized letter explaining your project, the role of our organization, and how they can help.

All self-funded shipments receive priority. If you have any potential sources of funding in mind, please let me know. Many of the requests we receive here at the International Book Project come from foreign nationals who have no U.S. contacts. They depend highly on our ability to provide grants to fund their shipment. Since you are a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, and are more likely to have connections in the U.S., I am requesting that you ask for assistance from anyone who might be willing to help fund your shipment of books. Please let me know if you have any questions.


Thanks,


Billy Colemire

International Book Project
1440 Delaware Avenue
Lexington, KY 40505
p: 859-254-6771 f: 859-253-2293
admin@intlbookproject.org


The website says shipping charges are usually between $100-200. I can fundraise in the community to cover part of the costs, but am predicting that $50 would probably be the most I could get at this time. So, if there is anybody here who would be willing to make a small donation towards the shipping charges and email me their contact information, we would be very grateful! :)

Opti
PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
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PattyP
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Senior Carp
Opti, I'd be happy to make a donation. Count me in.

A tired dog is a good dog.

"Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really."
A.S. Turnbull
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
What do you need? A check sent to the address above?
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Optimistic
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HOLY CARP!!!
Thanks, Patty and R2. . . I received a quick and generous response to the thread and the shipment is being taken care of already. :)

PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
If there's anything else the rest of us can do, please let us know.
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Optimistic
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HOLY CARP!!!
Oh, there will definitely be other opportunities in the future for those interested. :)
PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
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Optimistic
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HOLY CARP!!!
A very, very big thank you to the two donors who contacted the organization. As it turns out, we will be sent TWO shipments of books now! :) :hug:
PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
That's awesome. :thumb:
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brenda
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..............
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Well done, donors!
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
This place is truly great. :smile:
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
Aqua Letifer
Nov 15 2010, 12:37 PM
This place is truly great. :smile:
No kidding. It looks like it took less than an hour for people to step forward and help. Very cool.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
It is. Let us know if we can help, and bless you for doing it.

Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Piano*Dad
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Bull-Carp
This is what I get for seeing this thread late. It's already a done deal!

You know, sometimes this place is really great.

Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Yeah. SOME people just GIVE AWAY books... :devilgrin:








I can't afford the book because I gotta pay for college.

Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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dolmansaxlil
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HOLY CARP!!!
This place IS awesome. Y'all are a bunch of good eggs, as much as you pretend not to be sometimes. ;)
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

My Flickr Photostream


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George K
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Finally
Piano*Dad
Nov 15 2010, 03:38 PM
This is what I get for seeing this thread late. It's already a done deal!
I feel guilty.

Next time, you know I'm good for some cash.
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
Seriously. What a great group of people we have here.
___.___
(_]===*
o 0
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
TNCR. When you need connections to get it done.

"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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