"On the Trail"

The Journals from the Road


March 4:  To the Ruins of Monte Alban - Oaxaca City, Oaxaca


I have been meeting so many wonderful people here from the couple from Denver who paid for my dinner at a vegetarian restaurant to the eighty year old vendor who sells pancakes on the street and has biceps of steel to Carlos, a Shakira fan who sings to the Beatles and doesn´t know all the words like I sing to Shakira (the Colombian Spanish singer)!

Yesterday, I met a traveling teacher from Philadelphia, who also volunteers at a center called Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots, here in Oaxaca City. He invited me to join him so today at about 11:00 I came over to help out.

The organization helps Triqui Indian street children by providing clothing, food, and supplemental education for them. Their mission statement is ¨To enroll in school the street children, whom without our help could not do so, and to remove any barriers that hinder the children from attending.¨ This center also provides nutritious food for the children and teaches families how to become self-sufficient.

I volunteered with the group for about two hours, helping kindergarteners with some geometry puzzles. I met one of the long-term volunteers there, Damien, who is, amazingly, from Corvallis, Oregon. He has been working there since last May and has an elementary teaching certificate. I was really impressed by the very good work that this group is doing. I was assured by Damien that all contributions go directly to the kids and that the organization only uses word of mouth advertising so funds can go to the kids.

If you would like to make a donation to this group as a classroom, or as an individual you may send donations to:

Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots
449 Crane Avenue South
Taunton, MA 02780
USA

Or for more information you can email Frank Vannini at vannini@worldnet.att.net or call at 508-884-8207

or email Blandina Valesco Martinez at streetchildren@spersaoaxaca.com.mx

Please let them know that "PeaceBike Sent Me". Helping organizations like this is one way that you and PeaceBike can make a lasting difference for peace in one little part of the world.


Peace(Bike),

TAD