Buenos dias amigos! My name is Amanda La France and as one of newest volunteers to the Club Acorn family, I am both honored and very excited to share with you the current ongoings of the center! At the center we just started "Nuestro Barrio es tu Casa" which means "Our Neighborhood is your Home", a multi-media project that combines self identity and environmental exploration to demonstrate the importance of community and the vital role each and every member contributes to a neighborhood that make it a home. The components of this project include Photography, Theatre, Painting, in addition to Writing short stories and poems. All of these mini-workshops will be pieced together to culminate into one final presentation to be held in January for family, friends, and the community of La Boca. With this project we hope to instill, even if just a small part, a feeling investment to the community in which these amazing young minds are a part of. And that in turn, down the road, will surface again as these children become the future leaders of their communities! Week 1 started with a discussion about our group's families, likes/dislikes, personalities, characteristics, homes, neighborhood and also what they envisioned as their perfect place. This week we will continue the theme of their unique identies as well as apply that theme as we go out into the barrio to take pictures of the aspects of La Boca that make it so special as a home. We will also begin creating short skits that will tie in messages of tolerance, anti-drug use, and community togetherness. Whew! We have a lot to get done in the next coming weeks! We'll keep you posted!

Hello to all the Club Acorn family, friends and supporters! I'm John Reece, the new Director of Club Acorn. First and foremost, I would like to introduce myself and express my happiness of being part of not only a fantastic club but also an amazing international community.

 

I have been working with the previous director, Lenore Matthew, since July and although sorry to see her go...I'm looking forward to this experience and hope to follow in the footsteps of Ali, Sara and Lenore. If I have achieved half of what they have, I will be happy.

 

Back to the latest developments of Club Acorn...we are approaching the summer months, which means a turnover in volunteers. Although we are going through a transitional period in terms of staff, the good part of this is we are getting fresh ideas!

 

Last week, the children of the centre worked together on producing a huge flag, representing various different countries. Each child was given a black and white copy of a flag from a different country - The first task was to find out which colours to use, with the aid of a book (which helped the staff as well as we did not know all of them either!) then once painted...they produced a huge banner, with all the flags together. The idea was to get the kids to think about equality. We didn't tell them at first what our aim was...which made it more pleasing for all of us when one of the boys who was not particularly keen on the painting, decided to write a title to our display...NO A LA RACISMO! No to racism.

 

The banner along with title now hangs proudly in our centre and everyday they see their work on the wall. We are planning an anti drug campaign once we have the materials to produce placards and an exciting photography workshop where the children talk about their community using visuals (this you will hear about in more detail  two weeks from now, as one of our volunteers will tell you all about it!). We have some great ideas for our club and we strive for the funds to be able to give the children the materials to showcase their work and give them something to be proud of, while they are learning in a safe environment.

 

Any contributions and we are entirely grateful!!! Monetary, paint, paper, dictionaries...you name it!! Ok, that's all for now folks!!!

Saludos,

John