Archive news 2009
* November 2009
Trip-report September/October 2009.
* September 2009
Saske and Maudie van den Broek in Sosúa.
These two sisters visited the Colegio Asher in
August 2009, and donated the money they had collected to this school and the Sosúa Kids Org.
Their enthusiastic report is below:"19 Augustus 2009, eight o’clock in the morning – the start of an exiting day full of impressions. This was the morning my sister Maudie and I were picked up by Roberto Terrero for a visit to the Colegio Evangelico Asher. On the way we also collected Judith, his wife. They are the founders of this school. Unfortunately we were too late for the start of the school day, which is the hoisting of the flag.
When we arrived, we were immediately told that we could look around as we wished and could go and sit in all the classes. This is what we did. Maudie had arranged for sweets and sheets of stickers in the Netherlands that we could hand out in each class. Before we did this, of course, we had to introduce ourselves in Spanish! All the children responded very nicely and enthusiastically. Roberto had told us a few days previously that what the children mainly needed was a little bit of attention and a cuddle now and again. Naturally, we did this and ensured that we are richer by many small friends!
As well as the sweets and the stickers, we had also brought other things with us, including coloured pencils; however, the most important thing was still the money! The money that my sister and I collected on Whit Sunday at the Boeremert (Farmer's market festival) in Helmond-Brouwhuis. Once again, our grateful thanks to all our donators and sponsors! We have now seen with our own eyes where the money is spent, and that it is a deserving place
This school is not comparable with schools in the Netherlands. The classrooms can’t really be called classrooms. The infant’s class and the first class are separated by a wooden divider that is fixed with iron wires to the ceiling. There are no windows, so it is dark and especially warm. The old-fashioned school tables with fixed chairs are packed closely together. The playground is so small that the children cannot really run around. The children receive a bowl of porridge and they think this is glorious. These conditions will amaze many people in the Netherlands, but the children of the Colegio Evangelico Asher are happy with them. Very happy! They all show that they find it great to learn and be allowed to go to this school. If you look at their lovely faces, you can see the reason why you are doing it.
In December, my sister and I will have the privilege to be able to travel to Sosúa again, and therefore I would like to call on everybody to continue supporting this foundation (stichting)! You can’t image how much difference that little bit of money makes in the lives of these children. I hope the photos on this website speak for themselves.
On behalf of my sister Maudie and myself, thank you for your support and the opportunity we have had to be part of this!Saske van den Broek"
* 5 August 2009
Dominican offers her virginity
A 21-year-old Dominican living in the district of Cristo Rey (Santo Domingo) has made an offer on the Internet, to swap her virginity for study funding. Around 500 people responded, with one American offering 280,000 pesos (US $ 7,800.00). Maria Ramirez (an alias name) is still waiting in case someone else makes a higher bid, but she's hoping that this will be enough money to allow her to complete her dentistry studies.
* April 2009
We are very happy that Saske and Maudie van den Broek from Brabant have offered their help to our foundation (stichting). They will initially focus mainly on promotion and fundraising. They are going on a summer holiday to Sosúa and will visit our projects there.
Before that time, they are planning a campaign in Brabant, which will be announced soon.
* Lions
On 10 March 2009, the Heerhugowaard and Langedijk Lions Clubs held an event called “Film in de Polder” (film in the polder). The income from this event was destined for two charities, and was donated that evening to The Help Sosúa kids go to School Foundation (Stichting Help Sosuakids naar School) and to the Ethiopian Wollega Foundation (Stichting Wollega Ethiopië). Our foundation is therefore very happy and grateful that we could receive additional support, especially in these difficult times.The film was a preview of Gran Torino, with Clint Eastwood in the leading role, shown in the Metro cinema in Heerhugowaard. The cinema was full, and afterwards all the guests were given a warm reception with refreshments and tasty snacks. In short, a tremendous evening, but more particularly another opportunity to continue sustainable help for the underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic during these economically difficult times.
* Trip-report January/February 2009
* Miva
In March 2009, MIVA, a Dutch foundation (Stichting) met the 2008 request from Judith’s Colegio and paid 90% towards a vehicle, The school urgently needs this, and is therefore very happy and extremely grateful for the assistance from MIVA. The vehicle enables pupils to be picked up from neighbouring villages and, for example, groups of pupils can be taken to a museum in Puerto Plata as part of their lessons. The ‘Asher Foundation’, which Judith set up for the Colegio in 2008, has become the owner of the ‘camioneta’, a pick-up truck, which can carry some 20 children at the same time.
