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My 10 year decline in physical, financial and mental health culminated with a lumbar compression fracture at the end of March, 2020. With the Love and Help of Mi Familia, I adapted to the reality of not walking for several weeks, then not more than a few meters with a walker, to being able to drive again. But, then COVID-19 came around and changed everything again. My income pays only my rent and car lease in Tecate, where I now live.
Until recently, there seemed no way out of cycle of financial insecurity and illness. A tiny miracle began to sprout when my most trusted friend offered the opportunity to build a house on land he owns. The initial plan was for a shelter constructed from recycled garage doors with a small yard and wire mesh fence.
A generous friend then gifted me $5000 and my little brother, Kevin, offered to create and help to manage this GoFundMe campaign. Shortly after, a young architect from Mexico City was introduced to the project. He helped add plans for a greywater recycling/rainwater harvesting system with an underground cistern for a very small, well planned home for one.
My fundraising goal is $25,000 to complete the house where I will never again have to pay rent and can live indefinitely.
I have paid the initial $7500 to begin the project, with a total price tag of $33,000 USD. The next payment of $7500 is due to the builder by October 19 in order to continue on the planned construction schedule. It is a huge and terrifying sum to ask in such a short time. The remaining $18,000 is due when the house is completed, hopefully by Thanksgiving.
While adjusting to my new circumstances in quarantine, I also became keenly aware of the difficulties faced by the Pa'ipai Community of Santa Catarina, whose only income is from sales of baskets, pottery, piñones and crafts. With social distancing and quarantines still in effect, there is no safe physical place for them to sell, and thereby collect what they rely on for food and medicine. Through my dearest Sister of the Heart, Esperanza Castro, and with the trust of the elders who keep the traditions of their small community, I began to buy handmade baskets and piñones. These treasures from their land and their hands will now help build my home, then a home for Esperanza, and with time and generosity a website she and her community will manage to record and preserve via video the traditional crafts, language, medicine, stories, songs, dances and wisdom from this small community of 120 families.
With your generosity I will fulfill the promise I made to Esperanza the day that I received the first $5000 gift that seeded this dream work. I promised to give her $5000 to build her home as soon as I have secured the means to build mine.
I also have 53 kilos of piñones and 43 pine needle baskets of varying sizes that were collected and made with love by Esperanza and her family. I have already paid the artists and harvesters for these items and they are currently in San Diego, ready for purchase and shipping. Please stay tuned for more details as I will soon be auctioning these items online after raising the initial $7500 due on 10/19/2020.
Until recently, there seemed no way out of cycle of financial insecurity and illness. A tiny miracle began to sprout when my most trusted friend offered the opportunity to build a house on land he owns. The initial plan was for a shelter constructed from recycled garage doors with a small yard and wire mesh fence.
A generous friend then gifted me $5000 and my little brother, Kevin, offered to create and help to manage this GoFundMe campaign. Shortly after, a young architect from Mexico City was introduced to the project. He helped add plans for a greywater recycling/rainwater harvesting system with an underground cistern for a very small, well planned home for one.
My fundraising goal is $25,000 to complete the house where I will never again have to pay rent and can live indefinitely.
I have paid the initial $7500 to begin the project, with a total price tag of $33,000 USD. The next payment of $7500 is due to the builder by October 19 in order to continue on the planned construction schedule. It is a huge and terrifying sum to ask in such a short time. The remaining $18,000 is due when the house is completed, hopefully by Thanksgiving.
While adjusting to my new circumstances in quarantine, I also became keenly aware of the difficulties faced by the Pa'ipai Community of Santa Catarina, whose only income is from sales of baskets, pottery, piñones and crafts. With social distancing and quarantines still in effect, there is no safe physical place for them to sell, and thereby collect what they rely on for food and medicine. Through my dearest Sister of the Heart, Esperanza Castro, and with the trust of the elders who keep the traditions of their small community, I began to buy handmade baskets and piñones. These treasures from their land and their hands will now help build my home, then a home for Esperanza, and with time and generosity a website she and her community will manage to record and preserve via video the traditional crafts, language, medicine, stories, songs, dances and wisdom from this small community of 120 families.
With your generosity I will fulfill the promise I made to Esperanza the day that I received the first $5000 gift that seeded this dream work. I promised to give her $5000 to build her home as soon as I have secured the means to build mine.
I also have 53 kilos of piñones and 43 pine needle baskets of varying sizes that were collected and made with love by Esperanza and her family. I have already paid the artists and harvesters for these items and they are currently in San Diego, ready for purchase and shipping. Please stay tuned for more details as I will soon be auctioning these items online after raising the initial $7500 due on 10/19/2020.
Organizer and beneficiary
Anita Boen
Beneficiary