I'm Going to Peru!!!

 So I've taken one very important step in my lifelong quest to ride a llama and reenact The Emperor's New Groove (and.. you know.. volunteer) and I'M GOING TO PERU!!! In case you're not aware, I'm also going to Israel this summer with BC to work with survivors of trauma and explore just how resilient people can be. So big things are happening, people!

I signed up for Peru yesterday with Cross-Cultural Solutions and it is my goal now to fundraise the whole trip. I'm doing a lot of this with CCS already (because they're fabulous), but I could really use some extra help. I'm not asking you to donate your first born, but any donation you could give would go directly towards educating children in Peru, purchasing workbooks and other school supplies (ie supplies for projects like making one of those baking soda and vinegar volcanoes we all got to make in 4th grade), purchasing craft supplies, and anything else you can suggest!

Now I realize that much of my target audience are starving college students, but I also know that these are starving college students with fabulous fundraising ideas. So, if you can't donate anything I would be equally grateful if you could give me some suggestions of ways to fundraise. I'll be posting all of my teaching endeavors on this blog, so you can even follow the progress of what your donation has helped with.

If you're curious for a little preview of what your donation will go towards, here's a little bit about where I'll be and what I'll be doing straight from the CCS website:

"Many CCS volunteers will work in the Lima, Peru, district known as Villa El Salvador with Peruvians who have been directly impacted by the Shining Path movement. In the 1980s, the political terrorism of the Sendero Luminoso, or “Shining Path” was felt throughout the country. The movement grew into a guerilla army responsible for the destruction of local infrastructure and ruthless in their killings and terrorist attacks. Although the movement saw its end in 1993, millions of Peruvians continue feel the residual effects of those dark days.
While Villa El Salvador was a main target of the Shining Path movement, the community has since evolved into a largely self-organized urban center. Largely in thanks to the efforts of its residents, the neighborhood that was once little more than a shantytown is now supplied with electricity, water, and sewage lines. In 1983, Villa El Salvador was formally recognized as an official district within the Lima province, and in 1987, the community received an award in recognition of its incredible progress and achievements over the years.
When you assist with the growth and development of children in Peru, you’ll support one of a variety of government run organizations and NGOs established to provide basic services to the most underserved sectors of Peruvian society. These organizations serve offer children a safe place to spend time, participate in enriching activities, and get academic support. " -Cross-Cultural Solutions #volunteerabroad

Pretty awesome, huh? So if you feel so inclined, go over to https://my.crossculturalsolutions.org/login.aspx and insert username cwilms into the sponsor section. I really appreciate it and can't wait to start updating you more!