Day Four in TJ
We finished the house!
What a great morning of finishing touches – installing windows, the door, putting the locks in…such a good feeling to put a lock on that door and know that the windows work, and the roof is done and won’t leak…
Thank you so much for reading and supporting.
More posts coming when we get home.
cheers
james
last minute details…
We’re about a week away from the Tijuana 2010 trip…. Just working on the final details. This is when it can get a little hairy – farming out backpacks, soccer balls, random tools and craft supplies to our team members. Here’s some of what we’re bringing:
50 School Bags for kids – from MEC
50 mini school supply kits – my wife got some screamin’ deals on school supplies, so each bag will have some pencils, pens, erasers, a notebook, and one other small item like colored pencils
20 fairly traded soccer balls
our tools for the house build
craft supplies for kids we meet in the street – there’s nothing like an impromptu craft sess in the street.
We’ll try to keep you posted as to what’s coming down the pipes for the trip – and future trips – there’s some cool stuff in the mix!!
-james
pencils, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
Testing out google mapping…
So, inspired by some of the slick use of tech (ie the way cool folks at charity:water ) I’ve seen out there – here’s a shot at a google map – still trying to get the coordinates from our first house build, which I’ll drop a pin on asap, but here’s one that shows our March 09 housebuild location in the south, and our upcoming Mar 2010 location (the Northerly waypoint) in Tijuana.
Let us know what you think!!
Cheers, and Merry Christmas! May peace be with you! – james
View Larger Map
Excerpt from the Ground #2: Showing Love with a 13 Dollar Soccer Ball
I never knew that a soccer ball could change a child’s life, but over spring break ’09 nineteen other Canadians and I got to see 52 fair trade soccer balls change hundreds of children’s lives. Working alongside Younglife and Love Tijuana our group of twenty got the amazing opportunity to spread God’s love to the people of Tijuana, Mexico. During our six day trip we built a house in Terrazas, gave food and milk to families living at “the river” (poorest part of Tijuana), gave out 76 school bags, and 52 soccer balls.
Something I will never forget was an amazing experience where our group got to give twenty soccer balls to a school. Once the young students of the school saw what we had brought it was nothing short of a mob, who knew that twenty fair trade soccer balls could make over three hundred kids jump and scream to the point where we were all overwhelmed and even a little scared. What was so amazing was knowing that the balls we were giving to these kids were fair trade- no child labour, and the company’s factory is in Pakistan and pays all their employees fair wages. It was great to give a gift that you knew in no way had been part of exploiting someone by not treating them fairly.
There is no feeling like giving a soccer ball to a child who dreams and talks about being a soccer player, but doesn’t have the money to buy a one. To them, every gift we gave was so much more than it appeared to us, it wasn’t just a ball, it was hope that someone cares about what they go through every day and is willing to do something about it. To see the kid’s faces light up when they got a soccer ball and to see the tears of joy in their parent’s eyes brought the trip in to perspective. What does twenty Canadian teens and leaders travelling thousand of miles to come to a place where hope is strong but means are not look like to a family who received a house, to the families that were given food, to the kids who got school bags and to the neighbourhoods of kids that now have soccer balls to share and enjoy together?
The gift we all got from giving joy to those families and children far out- weighs the true fact that our group couldn’t help everyone and that we couldn’t give to everyone we saw, because we just didn’t have enough, but that feeling swells up in you and makes you want to go back and have twice as much to give. So maybe one day everyone will know that they are worth so much more than the property the government won’t let them own, or the food they can’t always give to their children. They need to know and be shown how precious they are, and we need to show them.
- submitted by Cordell W.
back on the ground…
prayer, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
Stay tuned…
TJ 09 – Two days away…
Just wanted to update and let you all know that on Saturday afternoon we’ll be pulling into Tijuana in style – 16 fantastic teens, 4 crazy leaders, 52 fair trade soccer balls (a big thanks to James @ social conscience for setting us up with such a great deal!) and 75 school bags to give away to children down there….oh yeah, and one house to build.We’re stoked to see our sponsor child, Gustavo, again, and build a house for him and his family…this is a once in a lifetime thing!!
Thank you so much for your support. Please keep us in your prayers if you are the prayin’ kind of person. It is always an intense trip.
Also, please pray for Ana – we are going to see if she is willing to leave her life of factory work to return to school and get an education. If she is willing, we are going to help her out – some kids from my school (who were on the 08 trip) decided to raise money to help support putting her into a private school after hearing her story last year. I met Ana two years ago, when the team I was helping lead stuccoed her family’s house. Ana wrote the test at the end of gr.7, and didn’t get a high enough grade. Now she works in a sewing factory for 10 hours a day, and rides a bus for about 3 hours to and from work. She probably makes about 10 dollars a day, if she’s lucky. Ana is about 14 or 15.
This is huge, perhaps the most important part of our trip, but Ana and her folks need to agree with the idea before we can act. If they say yes to this rescue, then perhaps we can help break the cycle of poverty in her family by helping provide Ana with an education that could get her a decent job.
I’ll update the blog when we hit the ground again in Canada. Here’s hoping for an amazing trip of spreading hope in practical ways…
cheers,
james
gearing up for the spring break drop – 75 school bags!
gearing up for the spring break drop – 75 school bags!, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
Just a quick photo of the swag bags I picked up today from the post office… 75 school bags for children who need them in Terrazas, and around Tijuana, Mexico! A big thanks for Mountain Equipment Co-Op for footing the bill for shipping!!! Yahoo!!
Thank you for your support!
The Countdown is on…
Just wanted to update as we’re drawing nearer to our Spring Break Trip/drop.
Only 3 more weeks!
As we’re getting closer, we’re trying to tie up loose ends, which means I just got to order SEVENTY FIVE swag school bags to hand deliver in Tijuana!!
A massive THANKS to all of you who’ve helped us beat our goal of having a minimum of 50 bags to take with us!
Another big THANKS to the great folks at Mountain Equipment Co-op for footing the bill for our shipping fees!!
Next stop – ordering those fair trade soccer balls!!
house {re}build
hillside, terrazas, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
the last minute details…
It’s the big week before the big trip/drop to Tijuana! I’m stoked, and the list of little details continues to grow…
One big issue we are currently faced with is the new flight restrictions that many airlines are enforcing. Last year, we were able to take two suitcases per person. That translates into a lot of room for extra stuff…This year, we’re cut in half – only one suitcase per person, which means we are having to cram a lot more stuff than last year’s trip into half the space.
ouch
No worries, we’re willing to pay a little extra, especially with some of the swank stuff we’re taking. The backpacks look amazing – I have a bunch of blue ones crammed into my suitcase- and the fair trade soccer balls…very cool! I can’t wait to start giving those out! Our school group also received an amazing donation of about 2-3000 dollars worth of contractor grade construction supplies (tool belts, framing hammers, some dewalt power tools, the works!) from JVD Installations that we will be able to use on our house build and leave for future groups to use. Totally worth a few extra dollars for some extra suitcases!
This time next week, we’ll be wrapping up our first day. I’m hoping to be able to get updates on the web via phone. We’ll see how that pans out…
very excited, but there’s a lot of packing and prep to do yet!
cheers, and thanks for helping make this trip that much more fantastic!
pickup day!!
What a great spending spree!!
My family and I had the pleasure of picking up fair trade soccer balls and backpacks today…
We were happy to finally meet Janine, the face behind Fair Kick Soccer, and hear how she came to be involved with fair trade soccer balls.
janine w/ Fair Kick Soccer, originally uploaded by James Matthew.
We are grateful for her support in helping us meet our goals!
Our garage is now home to four boxes of backpacks, and a box of soccer balls…
By the way, a 2002 toyota echo can easily accommodate 41 backpacks (MEC Pika Plus), 20 deflated size 4 fair trade soccer balls (no child labor!!), costco groceries, random mec biking supplies, two lovely children and all their paraphernalia, and my lovely wife and I (oh, and an ipod & other misc. things like banana peels…) And when I say easily, I mean when it is packed to the trunk lid, with boxes under children’s feet….
cheers!
we only have 58 backpacks left, and then all of our goals would be met for September!
Delivery date: Sept. 22-28.08
Time to get our shop on…
Well, it looks like it is shopping time!
We’ve got enough green to order about 40 backpacks.
Talk about having a thing for bags…
There’s still time, if you want to help us meet our original goal of 100 bags. (12.25 each).
happy shopping!
Floored…
Well, it looks like it has happened!! Another goal met – our house build has been pledged!
Through pledges, a donation from someone who wishes to remain anonymous (thank you so much for flooring me!) & a partnership with Bridges Community , we’ve potentially met that goal.
All I can say, is YES!!! Thank you so much for your support. I’m stoked to pass on the news -
The Cameras With a Conscience 08 TJ House is a go!!
For those of you who were just holding back, waiting till the last minute, there’s still those backpacks!
I can’t say how much this rocks!
typing of speaking…
Update:
Sunday, July 6, I’ll be speaking and sharing images with the fine folks of ‘Bridges’ Community about our project for Sept. Hopefully, they will be partnering with us to help build a house this year in TJ.
I’ll keep you posted.
For now, that’s all the news.
JM
We did it!!
I am stoked to announce that we just met one of our goals for this year!!!
One of my way cool students (and a member of last year’s team to TJ) handed me a fifty dollar bill today to go towards fairly traded soccer balls.
Thanks to her (and the others who’ve donated), we just met our goal of 20 fairly traded soccer balls to bring to the children of Terasses and ‘The River’ area of Tijuana.
I am stoked, to say the least!!
A big ‘cheers’ to everyone who has helped. I’ve put out an invite on facebook for people interested in going to pick up the balls @ Fair Kick Soccer in Victoria when our order is in.
Next stop – placing the order…
right on! Thank you for being so cool!!
We’re Workin on it…
“by the way, you can do more with others
then you can alone…” (Erwin McManus- Everyone Gave {What Would the World Look Like if…} Podcast: 16/09/07) Mosaic
We’re workin’ on it: With some help from our friends…stay tuned for more news…coming up: benefit concert??…
house update
Just a quick update on where our fundraising stands on the o8 Terrazas TJ House build…
currently, we’re at $300 that has been donated towards the house.
Our target for Sept. is to fund the whole thing = $5,000.
We’re on our way, but there’s a way to go yet!
Tax Deductions for Backpacks and Soccer Balls!
Great news on another partnership that enables you to get a tax receipt for donating for backpacks or fair trade soccer balls!
St. John’s Anglican Church has agreed to partner with us, as they have strong ties to Tijuana and the people of Terrazas. Cheques would need to be made out to ‘St. John’s Mexico Mission’ and your name and address should be included for a tax receipt (which you won’t get until the end of the year).
It’s as easy as this:
1. Write a cheque- make it out to St. John’s Mexico Mission
2. Tag it: In the memo, just put either: “Cameras With a Conscience Soccer Balls” , or “Cameras With a Conscience Backpacks”
3. Drop it in the mail. Send it to:
Attn: K. Coopsie
7459 Bell McKinnon Rd.
Duncan, BC, Canada V9L 6A9
Share some hope!!!
St. John’s will then pay us out when we go to purchase soccer balls and backpacks.
A big thank you to the folks @ St. John’s!!
Update – where we’re at – where we’re going…
Just a quick update on how things are going…
Soccer Balls : We’ve got 15 funded! Only 5 more to go…
Backpacks : We’ve got 4 funded, which leaves 96 to go…
House Build: We’re set up to take donations through Childcare Worldwide. Sweet!
landscape- Terrazas
Just to give you an idea of the conditions of where the team I was with built last year, and where we hope to build in Sept. o8. Dusty roads, grafitti tagged buildings and fences, people with great hope.
Terrazas – Tijuana.
Using your plastic to give…
Credit Card Donations for the CWC Mexico House Build:
There are three options for Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard) donations-
1. Fax in your credit card request 604-541-7907 – make sure you note that it is for the Cameras With a Conscience Housebuild.
2. Mail your credit card request to the address above, again noting it is for the Cameras With a Conscience Housebuild.
3. Donate Online to Homes for Mexico on Childcare Worldwide’s website, and then e-mail Pamela Poblacion at ppoblacion@childcareworldwide.ca to give your authorization as there is no place, at present, to indicate for what project the donation is for. In your email, state the donation is to go towards the Cameras With a Conscience Housebuild.
Info on tax receiptable donations for soccer balls and backpacks coming soon –
