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!
Photo updates…
I’m slowly starting to get some photos online from our 08 trip in Tijuana.
check them out by clicking on the photos link on the right of this page, or you can click here .
Merry Christmas, everyone!
James
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 –
The Low-down on Fair Trade Soccer Balls…
Here’s the big news I was hinting at the other day…
I got word about a week ago from Janine @ Fair Kick Soccer in Victoria, who is supplied by Fair Play Sports, the company we were originally to partner with.
Fair Kick Soccer is donating 10 balls to our cause!
Amazing news, which means we only have to raise funds for 5 more balls to meet our goal of 20 fairly traded soccer balls for the kids of Terrazas and ‘the River’ in Tijuana!
A huge thank you to Fair Kick for wanting to be involved and throwing in with us!!
Running the Numbers on Soccer Balls…
Photo Caption: the newest soccer team @ the river in Tijuana tests out their new equipment. Note the factory in the background and how it contrasts with the house that is under construction.
I am stoked to announce that we’ve been offered a fantastic deal on fairly traded soccer balls.
I’ve been in contact with Dave at Fair World Sports, and thanks to their “Let the Children Play” program, we can purchase soccer balls for about 12 dollars a pop (with shipping).
That’s 12 dollars, for a Fairly Traded Soccer Ball! Only a buck or so more than what you’d pay at WalMart, but it’s of higher quality, and is fairly traded! That’s also cheaper than what you’d pay at stores like Sport Chek for a ball made by Nike or Adidas.
The amazing part of this partnership, is that our payments go to help children in other developing countries. Here’s an excerpt from Fair World Sports’ website :
Your support makes all this possible because in the price of the ball is a Fair Trade premium that is used to provide better than average wages plus additional health and educational benefits to the workers and their families.
The funds raised by the sale of Fair Trade certified sports balls will be used by Y Service Clubs to support projects with children in other countries, especially where there has been war and where education and playing sports are important tools in building a culture of peace. ( Fair World Sports )
This is a gift that keeps giving – Your donation of 10 dollars to Cameras With A Conscience will buy a fairly traded soccer ball for children in Terrazas and @ ‘The River,’ but that money will also be used by Fair World Sports to help children in other countries affected by war and poverty. Fantastic!
Our Goal for 2008: 20 fair trade soccer balls (12 dollars each!) to be hand delivered to the children of Terrazas and ‘The River’ by gr.12 students of Duncan Christian School.
the ten dollar backpack
I bought a backpack yesterday…they are pretty slick.
Only 99 to go!
the price actually comes to 12.25, but I’m willing to cover the extra few bucks for a ten note!
Why Fair Trade Soccer Balls?
Caption: With assorted footwear. @ the river, Tijuana, Mexico. At every major crossroads, Pastor Giarmo would call for all the kids to assemble. The bunch that rallied to his call became the newest ‘football’ team, and had to be photographed to document the beginning of their journey towards world cup victory.
To watch children playing soccer reminds you of how simple happiness can be to a child. All it takes is a ball, a few kids and some random objects for net posts, and you have a game. My brother, who lives in Mexico city, says that kids down there are ‘born with cletes on’, a statement that reinforces the popularity of soccer in Mexico and other Latin American Countries.
One of the coolest moments being in Tijuana in September o7 was watching kids as they were given soccer balls. One of the students in our group brought a suitcase full of deflated soccer balls to inflate and give away while we were in TJ. We handed these out at ‘the River’ – an illegal squat that stands close by the factories where the people work. Typical shift workers there earn about 12 dollars a day, and work 12 hour shifts.
The pastor who was guiding us as we handed out beans, rice, and some clothes and toys to the families there would stop at each dusty ‘intersection’ and call to all the kids in that area to come. He assembled them as the newest ‘football’ team, and had to get official team photos as well, as the children were given a soccer ball. It was a simple gift, but one that was amazing to give!
I am stoked to announce that Scott of Fair Trade Sports {Edit: 830 – and the company Y Focus Fair Trade Sports} have offered to supply us with fair trade soccer balls to the Children in Terrazas and ‘The River’ area.
Why fair trade Soccer Balls? Well, conditions in Soccer ball factories and for people who have to hand stitch soccer balls are notoriously bad, and to be blunt, it doesn’t make sense to give a gift of a ball made using child labor (a cycle that reinforces poverty and oppression) to a child who lives in poverty (or any child, for that matter). It just doesn’t make sense to help someone while supporting the oppression of others. The great thing is that the prices of fair trade balls are similar to those made by Nike and Adidas. If you want to read more about this issue and what companies like Fair Trade Sports do, then check out their blog. There’s a good post by them, titled “Health Care & Micro Credit Programs”.
Fair Trade Sports & Y Focus are great companies, and I’m excited to support them.
Details on our cost for a soccer ball coming soon…
Our goal for Sept. o8: 20 Fair Trade Soccer balls to be hand delivered to children in Terazzas and @ ‘the River’.
Our Dreams & Goals for o8
It’s time to be making goals for the upcoming year, and my family has some crazy ones for o8!
Here they are, and we will need your help to meet them:
1. 100 Backpacks hand delivered to the children of Terrazas, TJ, Mexico. (cost = 10.80 + taxes = 12.25 per bag)… Our plan is to Partner with DCS in having the bags filled, and then the o8 team to TJ will deliver them.
2. Funding one house build for a family that needs it in Terrazas, TJ. (cost from the ground up = $5500)…
3. 20 Fairly traded soccer balls to hand deliver to the children of Terrazas and ‘The River’ (cost yet to be finalized).
‘Speak up for the people who have no voice,
for the rights of all the down-and-outers.
Speak out for justice!
Stand up for the poor and destitute!’ Proverbs 31:8 & 9 – The Message
Here’s to a great new year, and sharing faith, hope and love in practical ways!
waiting
children wait in line to recieve gift bags filled with toothpaste, toothbrushes, and small toys in Terrazas, TJ, Mexico.
This image was taken in September of 2007 in Terrazas, Mexico, at our last day of kid’s program. We handed out approximately 100 gift bags to the boys and girls there that were made by parents, teachers, and families of Duncan Christian Elementary School, and given out by the grade 12 class at DCS. I was proud to be a chaperone on this trip.
This year, my families’ hope is to up the ante. Instead of sewn bags, we would like to give backpacks that children could use for school. My hope is for my family and friends to raise enough money to put together 100 joy bags. In church this morning, my wife and I were talking before the service about our tradition of ordering items from the Samaritan’s Purse gift catalog. Last year, my favourite item to give was a soccer ball. I think this year it will be water filtration systems, but we haven’t done our ‘Christmas shopping’ yet. My wife whispered to me that it would be great to do something more personal. I looked at her and said ‘that is what we are working towards’.
Our hope for next September: To deliver between 70 and 100 gift bags to the children of Terrazas and surrounding areas. We are currently wondering about partnering with a group of parents, teachers and families from Duncan Christian Elementary school who have been making gift bags (updates soon on that one, hopefully…) Backpacks will be more bulky than the bags we brought last year, as they will be packed in school bags, so I am unsure as to how many we could actually take with us…
P.S. To see more images from the Love TJ o7 trip, see: Love Tijuana, o7 – I have limited the number of photos due to confidentiality and using student images. You can also view the work we did @ ‘the river’.
Joy Packs
What would it cost to fill a backpack with joy and hand deliver it to the kids of Terazas, Tijuana, Mexico? That is the question I am currently sorting through.
World Vision does it for kids in Canada for $25. I am going to aim for that price, or slightly less than that.
So far, I have found a potential backpack to use, Mountain Equipment Co-Op’s Pika Plus rings it at $12.oo, but they are willing to give 10% off of a bulk purchase (any number over 10). It’s also a great little bag that takes a beating, from what I’ve heard and seen (both are important for where these are headed!). I remember seeing these bags kicking around University campuses back in the day. I don’t know about you, but if I am giving a gift, I want it to be usable and durable. I also trust MEC’s ethical stance, which is essential from where I stand. No point giving children in Mexico products that were built in Mexico or elsewhere using slave labour or unfair employment.
So, a slick pack for 10.80 per unit, and free shipping on orders over 150 dollars.
That leaves roughly half the price to fill the bag.
Next stop: what are the ultimate ingredients for a swag bag for young boys and girls in Terrazas…
