The Update

Everything seemed to come together at the last minute.

We found a house for rent that would serve as the ideal space for Voces de Mompox to continue as an after school program. With a large living room (that’s PART of the living room, in the photo above–to be repurposed as a computer/multi-media room), three bedrooms (to be converted into a library, study room, and possible bedroom for future volunteers), a kitchen, two patios, and a couple of other nice details (three bathrooms, hooks ready for hammocks to be hung, and a nice work room), this house in the center of town, offered at a totally fair price by the owners who are enthusiastic about Voces de Mompox, it’s hard to imagine finding anything better.

We also interviewed and are prepared to hire a young woman who is motivated and totally qualified to facilitate Voces de Mompox on-site. Not only would she be an ideal director, the job would provide her with much needed income and the pride of being able to support her family.

By the end of our time in Mompox, most of the parents and family members of the kids had come by to introduce themselves, to thank us for caring about their loved ones, and to express their support for the Voces project. We feel a huge obligation and commitment to seeing this project through, and with all the infrastructural pieces in place, there’s just one more thing we need: funding!

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The Dollar Challenge

Since the Voces de Mompox project started, more than 4,000 people have visited CollazoProjects and read the kids’ articles and viewed their photography. The kids have been psyched to check our analytics and see how many people have seen their work and to learn where the visitors are from, and your support has been an incredible motivator for them.

In addition to your kind comments, your thoughtful personalized e-mails, donations to the ChipIn fund, and offers to help with everything from website development to grant-writing have been deeply appreciated.

The fact that 4,000 people have visited the site got us thinking: If every single person who read a Voces de Mompox article contributed just one dollar to the ChipIn fund, that would be $4,000! And $4,000 goes a long way in Colombia. In fact, $4,000 would secure the rental of the site for one full year, would pay the facilitator’s salary, and would provide some seed money for equipment.

Thus, we’re announcing The Dollar Challenge!

We challenge every visitor who hasn’t yet contributed to the Voces de Mompox fund to donate at least one dollar in support of the program being developed for the ninth graders of Mompox that will help them continue developing their writing, computing, multi-media, and communication skills, all in preparation for better opportunities for college and future careers. You’ll know how we’re using the money because updates will be posted at least once a week on the website and the kids themselves will be detailing what services they’re receiving and what work they’re creating on the ground in Mompox.

Are you ready to take on the challenge?! GREAT!

Just go to our home page and click on the ChipIn icon in the top right portion of the sidebar. This action will redirect you to a secure server where your transaction will be conducted via PayPal. If you have a PayPal account already, fantastic! If not, you can sign up for one–it’s quick, easy, and free.

Tomorrow, we’ll be posting 10 more ways you and your friends, family, and network can support Mompox to become the better community it’s capable of being. And stay tuned– there are lots more stories from the kids and from us about Mompox!

Thanks for your support,

Francisco & Julie