As you have likely heard, the 14th Annual Bridge Walk was a giant success. We had a fabulous time being together with Sangha at the Golden Gate Bridge and the team in Kantalomba had a fantastic parallel celebration. Together we have raised nearly $100,000 so far and donations are still coming in!
A great team...
I wanted to share an excerpt from a report I recently received from the teachers in the project that embodies who we are as a team—on both sides of the Atlantic:
It has been so wonderful this week to share the experiences and challenges that we are going through as teachers and at the same time to encourage one another and try to find some solutions to the challenges. Example from Charles class: some of his students are not regular in class. So we thought of inviting their parents if possible to come and talk to them so that we can help as partners both here at Living Compassion and at home.
These are families who struggle to have enough to eat, to find health care to combat simple diarrhea, who have zero employment opportunity. It would be so easy to have all of the attention taken up with survival. It is moving that we have a team who has the energy and enthusiasm to support these families to do what is needed now to secure a better future for their children. We are partners in that—all of us!
More news....
Many of the children who were among the first 100 children in the Living Compassion program are sitting for their grade 7 exams this month. This is big. It is a miracle, especially in the case of the girls, that many of them have made it this far. Passing these exams is a prerequisite to continuing their education. Let’s all send them our best wishes!
A great party...
In hopes of enticing you to pencil the 15th Annual Bridge Walk into your calendar, for which we are making a Sangha-wide effort to attend in-person, we will leave you with Theresa’s words about their event in Kantolomba:
The young ones enjoyed dancing especially to the Happy Song that was played. We borrowed two big speakers that made the whole property rock. We really enjoyed and everyone was saying that we should continue doing this each year. How we wish you were around to see how the children were dancing. We look forward to having another opportunity to celebrate with you in future.
See you October 8, 2016!
Gassho
Jen