put a roof over doña Efigenia
Donation protected
NO MORE FUNDS NEEDED! I'm keeping the page open just for photos of the new roof.
Will you pitch in to give this elderly justice warrior a roof that does not leak?
Doña Efigenia lives in the Moravia neighborhood of Medellín, Colombia. The neighborhood was originally constructed on a garbage dump, & she was a leader fighting for schools & public services there. Eventually the dump was converted into a hill, now covered with grass, flowers, & a commemorative walk with a set of poster-photos showing the history of its transformation. The surrounding houses and shops are painted in bright colors. It's an inspiring place, though there is still significant poverty.
Efigenia, now in her 80s, is the community songwriter! She has had a very hard life. Like others here, she was a garbage picker and raised her children alone. But she was committed to neighborhood improvement and wrote new lyrics to old tunes to serve as anthems of the community's struggle. When her son was killed, she took in his three children and raised them as well; one of them, a grandson, lives with and cares for her now. Her health is not good, and the problem is made worse by dampness in her little house. Its roof leaks in several places and needs to be replaced.
To the left in the photo you can see how primitive her home is--that's part of the kitchen. I visited in July 2019 during a neighborhood tour and was moved by her willingness to sing for our little group and her ability to recall the lyrics. Her songs speak eloquently of the struggle against injustice and inequality.
I asked her friends--Sandra, Julio, and others who make up a literature/writing group at the neighborhood cultural center--to get an estimate for a new roof. They asked for a couple of bids from neighborhood contractors and sent me the better one. In US dollars it's very affordable! So I've created this fundraiser and am extending it through November 30. The funds will be sent via Western Union to don Julio, a trusted community leader. Any extra will be sent along to use as Efigenia wishes--perhaps for flooring or a decent kitchen sink. Would you pitch in with me and share with your friends?
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for caring.
Will you pitch in to give this elderly justice warrior a roof that does not leak?
Doña Efigenia lives in the Moravia neighborhood of Medellín, Colombia. The neighborhood was originally constructed on a garbage dump, & she was a leader fighting for schools & public services there. Eventually the dump was converted into a hill, now covered with grass, flowers, & a commemorative walk with a set of poster-photos showing the history of its transformation. The surrounding houses and shops are painted in bright colors. It's an inspiring place, though there is still significant poverty.
Efigenia, now in her 80s, is the community songwriter! She has had a very hard life. Like others here, she was a garbage picker and raised her children alone. But she was committed to neighborhood improvement and wrote new lyrics to old tunes to serve as anthems of the community's struggle. When her son was killed, she took in his three children and raised them as well; one of them, a grandson, lives with and cares for her now. Her health is not good, and the problem is made worse by dampness in her little house. Its roof leaks in several places and needs to be replaced.
To the left in the photo you can see how primitive her home is--that's part of the kitchen. I visited in July 2019 during a neighborhood tour and was moved by her willingness to sing for our little group and her ability to recall the lyrics. Her songs speak eloquently of the struggle against injustice and inequality.
I asked her friends--Sandra, Julio, and others who make up a literature/writing group at the neighborhood cultural center--to get an estimate for a new roof. They asked for a couple of bids from neighborhood contractors and sent me the better one. In US dollars it's very affordable! So I've created this fundraiser and am extending it through November 30. The funds will be sent via Western Union to don Julio, a trusted community leader. Any extra will be sent along to use as Efigenia wishes--perhaps for flooring or a decent kitchen sink. Would you pitch in with me and share with your friends?
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for caring.
Organizer
Ruth Goring
Organizer
Chicago, IL
