Support Denise in Ethiopia!!
Donation protected
Hello again family and friends!
I am heading back to Ethiopia this summer!! This year I am acting as Coordinator of the program through the Vincentian Lay Missionaries and traveling to Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Four other teachers and myself will be living amongst and educating a community of children in Africa that suffers from poverty, poor education, and disease.
Many of you already know that I am a high school English teacher on the Northwest side of Chicago but serving and immersing myself into new cultures is a part of who I am. Two summers ago I taught through the same program in Jimma, Ethiopia and have also served communities in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Florence, Italy and Duran, Ecuador. I will specifically be teaching English and life skills to a very different crowd than my usual Chicago teenagers-- a crowd of much younger seekers; a crowd of 4th-8th graders who just want to enjoy their summer off by learning English! How neat is that!
The Vincentian Lay Missionaries have always been near and dear to my calling as a Catholic lay person since I consider myself a Vincentian after having been educated at DePaul University as an undergrad AND NOW A GRADUATE student too! I also want to honor and continue living out the spirit of the late Monseigneur Egan, a priest in Chicago whose work on issues of civil rights, changing neighborhoods and poverty shaped areas throughout our nation, and whose name is on an award I received from DePaul upon receiving my Bachelors.
Spending time this summer in Ethiopia will also give me perspective to bring back to my Chicago students in the fall. I have many ideas on how to implement my experience in the classroom and also keep in touch with the families and children upon my return. This experience challenged me as a person and educator last time and I am ready for that enrichment again! I am ready to live amongst this beautiful culture of people once again, but meet new students and a new area of the country.
I would be extremely grateful and humbled by any donations or prayers you would be willing to send my way. Your donations will not only help me get there and back, but also with vaccines and bringing supplies like notebooks and pencils, balls, beads and string for bracelets (they loved those the last time I was there!) and other toys to play with, and breakfast and lunch for the kids each day. I know I couldn't have even gotten this far without all of your support. I sincerely thank you and welcome any questions if you want to hear more!
Here is a link to the Vincentian Lay Missionaries!
http://vlmusa.org/
Help spread the word!
I am heading back to Ethiopia this summer!! This year I am acting as Coordinator of the program through the Vincentian Lay Missionaries and traveling to Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Four other teachers and myself will be living amongst and educating a community of children in Africa that suffers from poverty, poor education, and disease.
Many of you already know that I am a high school English teacher on the Northwest side of Chicago but serving and immersing myself into new cultures is a part of who I am. Two summers ago I taught through the same program in Jimma, Ethiopia and have also served communities in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Florence, Italy and Duran, Ecuador. I will specifically be teaching English and life skills to a very different crowd than my usual Chicago teenagers-- a crowd of much younger seekers; a crowd of 4th-8th graders who just want to enjoy their summer off by learning English! How neat is that!
The Vincentian Lay Missionaries have always been near and dear to my calling as a Catholic lay person since I consider myself a Vincentian after having been educated at DePaul University as an undergrad AND NOW A GRADUATE student too! I also want to honor and continue living out the spirit of the late Monseigneur Egan, a priest in Chicago whose work on issues of civil rights, changing neighborhoods and poverty shaped areas throughout our nation, and whose name is on an award I received from DePaul upon receiving my Bachelors.
Spending time this summer in Ethiopia will also give me perspective to bring back to my Chicago students in the fall. I have many ideas on how to implement my experience in the classroom and also keep in touch with the families and children upon my return. This experience challenged me as a person and educator last time and I am ready for that enrichment again! I am ready to live amongst this beautiful culture of people once again, but meet new students and a new area of the country.
I would be extremely grateful and humbled by any donations or prayers you would be willing to send my way. Your donations will not only help me get there and back, but also with vaccines and bringing supplies like notebooks and pencils, balls, beads and string for bracelets (they loved those the last time I was there!) and other toys to play with, and breakfast and lunch for the kids each day. I know I couldn't have even gotten this far without all of your support. I sincerely thank you and welcome any questions if you want to hear more!
Here is a link to the Vincentian Lay Missionaries!
http://vlmusa.org/
Help spread the word!
Organizer
Denise Prociuk
Organizer
Bartlett, IL