For Love Knows No Borders

"A Child is a Child, First and Foremost, Regardless of their Migration Status." 

<3 Trump wants to build a wall, while we will literally build cardboard playhouses <3

UPDATES:
* Shelter program is written! I have been contacted so far by 4 other shelters/orgs looking to use it.
* Madre Asunta has 58 kids (mainly ages 4-10 years old) and 1 teacher.
* The organizations currently serving the shelter are pulling out after February and the shelter was a bit stressed about what they will do for the psychosocial wellbeing of the children, so this sort of self-sufficient in-house programming comes at just the right time!
* Their learning materials for the 58 children consists of:
        - A couple boxes of coloring books
        - A box of workbooks from the dollar store (Math, English, Spanish)
        - A small library of reading books
* The shelter has indicated high interest in English learning. We will be doing 1 hour daily of English with the kids and also 1 class per week of "Mommy and Me" for the mom's, just building vocabulary and early grammar.

I guess I can't believe how underserved this shelter is. To my knowledge it is the only migrant shelter that accepts children.

GoFundMe Goals: Purchase Program Supplies; Support Unexpected Out-of Pocket Expenses; Leave A Small Nest of Funds to the Shelter

Let’s spread the ❤️ ❤️ ❤️!

ORIGINAL STORY:

Hello friends and family! :-)

In mid-February I'm headed down to the U.S./Mexico border in order to volunteer with migrant children in the Tijuana shelters. Immigration politics are irrelevant to me--I wish that they could stay home safely in their home countries as much as they do.

Right now, shelters are maxed out. Growing waves of migrants are expected still. 

"These children have limited access to many of the essential services they need for their wellbeing, including nutrition, education, psychosocial support and healthcare.
They are also at risk of exploitation, abuse and trafficking while on the road or amidst the crowded camps and respite centres at the border.
Such difficult conditions come after they have already fled violence, extortion, devastating poverty and a lack of opportunity in their home countries of northern Central America." (UNICEF )

My aim is to play with the kids, make them laugh, and relieve stress, while implementing a small, low-cost program that other volunteers can carry on with.  (Who Am I? Click Here) 

Results will be shared with multiple organizations currently serving this population.

In activities designed to reduce the cognitive effects of trauma, funds will be used to purchase:
(Note: Obtained Supplies are Striked-Out)

P̶l̶a̶y̶ ̶P̶a̶r̶a̶c̶h̶u̶t̶e̶ ̶(̶$̶2̶5̶.̶9̶9̶)̶  DONATED!
P̶e̶n̶c̶i̶l̶s̶ ̶1̶6̶ ̶P̶a̶c̶k̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶1̶2̶-̶C̶o̶u̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶1̶9̶2̶ ̶t̶o̶t̶a̶l̶ DONATED!
C̶r̶a̶y̶o̶l̶a̶ ̶C̶r̶a̶y̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶C̶r̶a̶y̶o̶n̶ ̶T̶a̶b̶l̶e̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶H̶o̶l̶d̶e̶r̶s̶  DONATED!
R̶o̶y̶a̶l̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶u̶m̶e̶r̶ ̶P̶o̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶,̶ ̶T̶w̶o̶ ̶C̶o̶o̶l̶ ̶B̶l̶u̶e̶/̶Y̶e̶l̶l̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶2̶2̶ ̶x̶ ̶2̶8̶ ̶I̶n̶c̶h̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶P̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶2̶5̶ ̶(̶$̶2̶4̶.̶5̶6̶)̶ 
Colorations GCAPBL Activity Paint, Blue 1 gal ($17.39)
Coloring Books (10 for $10.00, from Dollar store)
J̶u̶n̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶Z̶o̶o̶ ̶S̶a̶f̶a̶r̶i̶ ̶S̶t̶a̶m̶p̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶S̶e̶l̶f̶-̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶S̶t̶a̶m̶p̶s̶ ̶(̶$̶6̶.̶9̶9̶)̶ 
Multi Colored Pencils for Kids (24 Pack) ($7.97)
P̶a̶r̶t̶y̶ ̶B̶a̶l̶l̶o̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶1̶2̶ ̶I̶n̶c̶h̶e̶s̶ ̶R̶a̶i̶n̶b̶o̶w̶ ̶S̶e̶t̶ ̶(̶1̶4̶4̶ ̶P̶a̶c̶k̶)̶
Perfect Stix Paper Plate 6-300 6 Paper Plates White (Pack of 300) ($9.99)
Playing Cards (6 for $6.00, from Dollar store)
School Smart Washable Tempera Paint, 1 Pint, Assorted Colors, Set of 12 ($29.45 each)
US Art Supply 20 Piece Large Round and Large Flat Hog Bristle Children's Tempera Paint Brushes ($11.96)
100-Piece Puzzles (10 for $10, from Dollar store)
3̶ ̶̶̶F̶̶̶l̶̶̶o̶̶̶o̶̶̶r̶̶̶ ̶̶̶P̶̶̶u̶̶̶z̶̶̶z̶̶̶l̶̶̶e̶̶̶s̶̶̶ ̶̶̶f̶̶̶o̶̶̶r̶̶̶ ̶̶̶K̶̶̶i̶̶̶d̶̶̶s̶̶̶ ̶̶̶A̶̶̶g̶̶̶e̶̶̶s̶̶̶ ̶̶̶3̶̶̶-̶̶̶5̶̶̶,̶̶̶ ̶̶̶2̶̶̶ ̶̶̶x̶̶̶ ̶̶̶3̶̶̶ ̶̶̶F̶̶̶e̶̶̶e̶̶̶t̶̶̶ ̶̶̶(̶̶̶$̶̶̶1̶̶̶2̶̶̶.̶̶̶9̶̶̶9̶̶̶ ̶̶̶e̶̶̶a̶̶̶c̶̶̶h̶̶̶,̶ ̶)̶̶̶ ̶$̶3̶8̶.̶9̶7̶ ̶t̶o̶t̶a̶l̶
P̶o̶r̶t̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶C̶D̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶y̶e̶r̶ ̶(̶$̶2̶3̶)̶-̶ ̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶"̶w̶a̶l̶k̶"̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶p̶o̶r̶t̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶a̶k̶e̶r̶!̶  DONATED!
K̶i̶d̶s̶ ̶B̶o̶p̶ ̶P̶a̶r̶t̶y̶ ̶B̶o̶p̶ ̶M̶u̶s̶i̶c̶ ̶C̶D̶ ̶(̶$̶9̶.̶7̶9̶)̶ 
Stickers ($10)
Construction Paper (6 for $6, from Dollar Store)
̶C̶a̶r̶d̶s̶t̶o̶c̶k̶,̶ ̶8̶.̶5̶"̶ ̶x̶ ̶1̶1̶"̶,̶ ̶H̶e̶a̶v̶y̶-̶W̶e̶i̶g̶h̶t̶,̶ ̶W̶h̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶(̶$̶1̶1̶.̶9̶9̶)̶
H̶i̶l̶a̶r̶i̶o̶u̶s̶ ̶1̶5̶”̶ ̶R̶u̶b̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶S̶c̶r̶e̶a̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶C̶h̶i̶c̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶T̶o̶y̶ ̶F̶o̶r̶ ̶K̶i̶d̶s̶ ̶&̶ ̶P̶e̶t̶s̶ ̶(̶$̶8̶.̶2̶9̶)̶
Multipurpose Copy Paper 500 sheets (2 for $18)
Assorted Color Washable Markers 100-Pack ($13.75)
Heavy Duty Packing Tape (6 giant rolls for ($12.41)
Portable Handcart/ Storage Boxes ($21.77)
̶P̶e̶r̶f̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶S̶t̶i̶x̶ ̶C̶r̶a̶f̶t̶ ̶W̶T̶D̶-̶1̶0̶0̶0̶ ̶J̶u̶m̶b̶o̶ ̶C̶r̶a̶f̶t̶ ̶S̶t̶i̶c̶k̶s̶,̶ ̶0̶.̶1̶"̶ ̶H̶e̶i̶g̶h̶t̶,̶ ̶0̶.̶6̶"̶ ̶W̶i̶d̶t̶h̶,̶ ̶6̶"̶ ̶L̶e̶n̶g̶t̶h̶ ̶(̶P̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶1̶0̶0̶0̶)̶ ̶(̶$̶1̶7̶.̶9̶0̶)̶ 9
W̶r̶i̶s̶t̶ ̶B̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶J̶i̶n̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶B̶e̶l̶l̶s̶,̶M̶u̶s̶i̶c̶a̶l̶ ̶T̶a̶m̶b̶o̶u̶r̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶5̶0̶ ̶p̶c̶s̶ ̶1̶ ̶I̶n̶c̶h̶ ̶G̶o̶l̶d̶e̶n̶ ̶J̶i̶n̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶B̶e̶l̶l̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶2̶0̶ ̶M̶e̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶R̶e̶d̶ ̶C̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶(̶$̶4̶.̶9̶9̶)̶



U̶N̶E̶X̶P̶E̶C̶T̶E̶D̶ ̶a̶d̶d̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶c̶o̶s̶t̶:̶ ̶3̶ ̶w̶e̶e̶k̶s̶ ̶A̶i̶r̶b̶n̶b̶ ̶(̶$̶5̶6̶9̶)̶  DONATED!
UNEXPECTED additional cost: Mexican Car Autoinsurance ($185)
UNEXPECTED additional cost: Broken Car Window ($100) (LOL)

**Other items will be purchased in Mexico  

Activities include:
*Music * Dance * Art * Physical Games * Card Games * Puzzles * Meditation; 
And are planned for a 10-hour weekly schedule.

I will do this on my own time, with my own money.  It would mean a lot to me (and to the little ones!) if peeps rallied round and showed their <3<3 <3

Any extra money will be donated to a shelter organization to support continuation of the program. Remember, with the conversion rate a little goes a long way! :-)
5 USD =        95.01 Pesos (XE Currency Converter )
5 EURO = 108.96 Pesos

Please consider donating funds and be sure to check here for updates and photos!  MUCHAS GRACIAS! THANK YOU!!

- "Reach for the Stars" scheduled program activity.


*Photo taken from Google
Our lovely learning space <3

*Photo taken from Google