Amigos de Jesus School Graduation

Amigos de Jesus recently celebrated school graduation.  Our on-site primary school works with our children in all academics, life skills, vocational training, tutoring, English, computer skills and more.  Congratulations to all the graduates.  Keep up the good work!

Juan, Olvin and Chilo receive their First Communion

After much preparation, on Monday, December 19th Juan, Olvin and Chilo were baptized and had their first communions at the local parish.  Below are pictures of the event.  

Congratulations Juan, Olvin and Chilo!  

A Happy Holiday for 10 New Children

Late this past Saturday night a tragic fire struck the Nueva Esperanza home for children located in San Pedro Sula (http://laprensa.hn/Secciones-Principales/Sucesos/Cierran-hogar-Nueva-Esperanza-por-incendio).  The home for 155 children, infants to age 12, has been temporarily closed and housing is needed for all of the displaced children.  Amigos de Jesus was contacted and asked to take ten (10) of these boys.  The boys were welcomed into our family yesterday, filled with hope and smiles.  The transition will most likely result in permanent placement for them and Amigos de Jesus staff is working to make them feel safe, secure and help them adjust to their new surroundings.  Below is a picture of Wilson Escoto holding an introductory question/answer session with the children to explain to them where they were going and what to expect.  The ten boys seem to be doing well and arrived just in time for our school graduation celebration that will be held this Friday.  One of the boys told Wilson on the car ride to Amigos, "We are gonna have a great Christmas!"  Please keep these boys and the others who are still awaiting placement with safe homes in your prayers.

Donation Collection Success!

Thank you to everyone who donated in-kind goods for our donation collection!  We successfully packed and sent to Honduras a 40 foot container full of donations for the children.  Among these donations were over 50 bicycles, 15 scooters, 100 bags of clothing, 25 bags of shoes, school & art supplies, backpacks, sports equipment and so much more!   Thank you specifically to Carr & Duff for allowing us the facility to store all of the donations, to Bob Kurtz for endless waves of donations, to Jim Henry, Anthony Granese, Matt Santoleri, Rob Santoleri, Jeffrey Santoleri, Tony Taglione, Aaron & Tim Zupko for tirelessly packing all 40 feet of the container.  The children say "Muchas Gracias"! 

Construction Campaign

In December of 2010 Amigos de Jesus began a Construction Campaign that will triple the size of the orphanage and allow our facility to house up to 180 children, boys and girls.  The first facilities, including 4 new dormitories, will open during the first few months of 2012 and the new children will be welcomed into our family.  It has long been a dream of our organization to complete the physical construction of the facilities and extend our reach and potential in Honduras.  It is entirely by the grace and generosity of our benefactors and friends that this Construction Campaign was made possible.  If you would like to contribute directly to the construction of the new buildings, please contact our office at 610-644-8237 or amigos@amigosdejesus.org.  See below current pictures of the construction process and check back often to see our progress.

UNION players meet children from Amigos de Jesus

Josue (11), Jonatan (14), Jonny (11) and Nahun (18) were chosen to visit the United States along with Amigos' Directors of Operations, Amy & Wilson Escoto, from September 14th to the 21st.  During their stay we visited many of our friends and benefactors but we also got a chance to have a little fun.  Knowing how much the boys love soccer, I reached out to Rob Smith, VP of Soccer Development & Relations for the UNION.  He graciously offered to host the boys at the stadium in Chester, PA and give them a private tour of the facilities.  The boys had a wonderful time and even got to meet some of the players.  Rob and the team were gracious and kind in sharing an afternoon with our children and giving them a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a professional stadium and team first hand.  Our many thanks to Rob and the UNION!   

Community Dollars Fundraiser

Amigos de Jesus is participating again this year in a great fundraiser that requires nothing more than for you to shop!  The Whiteland Towne Center, in Exton, PA, is hosting an event to raise money for local charities.  Every time you shop at one of the participating stores, you are eligible to receive $1 in community dollar vouchers for each $1 you spend.  For example, if you spend $35 at Dress Barn and ask for the “community dollars”, you will receive a $35 Community Dollar voucher.  You must request your community dollars at the point of sale and turn them into Amigos de Jesus by November 6, 2011.  The charity that collects the most vouchers wins the top prize of $1,000.00.  Please see the list of participating stores below and contact Emily Ford at 610-644-8237 or emily@amigosdejesus.org for more information.  Thank you!

 

Help Us Raise Money For Amigos de Jesus!

You don’t need to sell anything or “solicit donations” – just shop!

What:             Community Dollars Program – a chance to earn $1,000, $500, or $250 for                                    Amigos, PLUS a bonus up to $250!

When:             Sept. 1-Nov. 6, 2011

Where:           Whiteland Towne Center

                        Routes 30 and 100, Exton, PA

Participating Stores:

 

Acme –Note:  take receipts to Customer Service center to get receipts stamped; receipts can be turned in at the awards dinner with Community Dollar Vouchers

Big Lots

Black’s Bag & Baggage

Catherine’s

Country Bagel Bakery

Definitely Dance

Devi Indian Restaurant

Dress Barn

Famous Footwear

The Framer’s Market Gallery

Jack’s Camera

Jack’s Pizza

Kreative Nails and Spa

The Hair Cuttery

Hollywood Tans

Learning Express

Music & Arts Center

Party City

Payless Shoesource

Petco

Pizza Hut Express

Plato’s Closet

Riverstone Café

Sally Beauty Supply

Singer Specs

Snip Its

Subway

Warwick Jewelers

Whitford Flowers

The Winner’s Circle

Towne Center Cleaners

Zwei Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar

1800Mattress

The following stores are not participating in the Community Dollars program by handing out vouchers. You can bring receipts from purchases from the stores below, and we will credit you for the Community Dollar Vouchers:

Gamestop

Kohl’s

TJ Maxx

Ulta

Sergio's Sustainable Agrictultural Program

Sergio Tulio Pineda Gomez has been part of our family since he was a young boy - one of the first children to call Amigos de Jesus home.  Now, as a young adult, he has taken an interest in and subsequently become responsible for our agricultural program.  Throughout 2011 he has been receiving training at La Semilla del Progeso, a center affiliated with an organization called EPIC.  Sergio is learning best practices for farming in the rural region where we are located, focusing on sustainable agriculture and organic farming techniques .  Sergio has been implementing what he is learning at the orphanage, experimenting with new techniques and innovative crops.  We are committed to producing healthy crops for our children's consumption and are excited to support Sergio in his development of a robust agricultural program at Amigos. 

Amigos Launches It's First Solar Project!

The cost of energy is increasing all over the world and demand is constantly rising whether you are in Malvern, PA or 2,000 miles away in Macuelizo, Honduras.  Amigos de Jesus has begun development of its first solar project, partnering with TerraSol Energies, a renewable and sustainable energy contractor.  TerraSol Energies will assist amigos with the development of a solar energy plan.  The project design and installation of solar panels will not only reduce cost and promote self-sustainability at our facility, but will also alleviate the natural struggles that we, not unlike most people in rural Central America, deal with on a daily basis.  Constant power outages due to high demand, poor infrastructure and an unsophisticated grid system are not just an inconvenience.  Without reliable electricity the children do not have access to basic necessities - like clean water.  Our electric wells that provide clean, filtered water; our refrigeration system that maintains perishable food; lights for our school; administrative capabilities - All these things and more cannot function during the outages which can last for minutes, hours or even days.  The first phase of the solar plan is scheduled to begin in fall of 2011 and will include the installation of panels that will produce enough energy to run our wells, thereby securing the availability of clean water for our children and staff.  If you would more information on the solar project or how you can help - please contact our office at 610-644-8237 or amigos@amigosdejesus.org. 


Recent news regarding clean energy in Central America:

http://www.voanews.com/policy/editorials/Supporting-Clean-Energy-In-Latin-America-126033819.html

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55316

http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/renewable_energy_central_america

Chicken Coop

This month Amigos de Jesus built a chicken coop at the orphanage to promote self-sustainability.  The children were excited to welcome lots of hens into our family and are learning responsibility through care for the animals.   

The boys all pitched in by walking to a nearby farm to bring the chickens home in their arms so as to ensure their safe arrival to Amigos. 

We are now producing enough eggs for the orphanage and there is even a surplus.  Extra eggs are sold to staff and local community members at a discounted price.