With a Little Help From My Friends..

So I'm just over half-way through my trip. I cannot believe I've already been here for over a month. It has flown by and I've already seen many friends come-and-go. So I've started to think about what else I can do for my children, and the kids and teachers of the preschool and primary school. They are definitely in need of supplies. From the most basic of things like toilet paper, hand soap, and scissors up to the much bigger stuff like decently up-to-date software (just like Microsoft Office from sometime in the last decade and a half) and heaters or fans for the schools.

I am hoping to be able to pick out some meaningful and useful supplies for them but  my funds are a little tapped out because of this trip. So I'm going to send out a heartfelt request from friends, family, friends of friends, acquaintances, anyone interested to collect donations. If we can pool together, I think we could really change the classroom and school experience for these kids. I really want to buy them books/games/toys to help them learn to read and learn the alphabet and stuff like that. Thinking like leapfrog or the books that read with you, because they don't get to hear English spoken very often and it is not always correct English that they do hear (even by the teachers). Learning English is an ESSENTIAL skill for them to be able to create a future for themselves, finish school, go to college, get a job.

I know many people will just shrug this off or think they don't have much themselves. But seriously, even $10 can go pretty far here. Think about and anyone willing, I SO appreciate it and you know the kids do too! Please do if you can. I'll have pictures to show you what we did!!!!

If you can send a check to my parents they will help me with the collection so I know how much I'm working with. If you are a friend with Chase you can send it to me through the Pay-a-Friend service. The email associated is kel.e.mason@gmai.com. If you can send something to mis padres, it is:

Curt and Nancy Mason
1055 Siesta Way
Sonoma, CA 95476

THANK YOU SO SOSOSOSOSO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! SERIOUSLY! HUGS. KISSES. HANDSHAKES. BUTT-BUMPS. CHEERS.

FYI Kids can also be sponsored (so have all of their school costs which include 2 meals a day) for 200 Rand/month (the equivalent of about $22). Its all directly through the school with bank accounts set up for the individual kids. I can pick some favorites :)