getting ready for the IGE

On my last hectic last two days in Toronto, I was asked to write a little something on my preparations for the IGE to be posted on the International Award's blog.  A lot of preparation and research has gone into this trip aside from the school supplies collection, and as sat and reflected, I realized that my entire summer has been devoted to this adventure.  I cannot express just how excited I am to be 2 plane rides away from the IGE!

I thought I'd share with you what I wrote for the International Award's blog, and it can be found here: http://intaward.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/getting-ready-for-ige-2011/

Thanks for all the well wishes! My flight will be boarding in one hour! I'll write once i'm in Nairobi!

I'm leaving on a jet plane.. for the 2011 IGE!

Hi everyone!

It's finally here!!! No more days left to count! I'm leaving on a jet plane tomorrow night!

Thank you everyone for your heartfelt generosity, encouragement and overall sense of community. You have all helped me to collect enough school supplies to push my luggage limit over the edge! 

I will be travelling with one duffel bag full to the maximum limit of 23 kg (50 lbs) and more in my 2nd piece of personal luggage/carry on!

 

So to count my final tally...

Stickers: 4 pack

Calculators: 4

Notebooks: 8

Rulers: 12

Pencil sharpeners: 19 (5 classroom size)

Pens: 47

Erasers: 73

Sidewalk chalk: 96

Eraser tops: 180

Pencil crayons: 432

Classroom chalk: 816

Pencils: 1,066

give or take a package of pencils!

Thank you all again for your amazing support! 

I will be blogging about my adventures at the IGE 2011, Kenya, in this space as well, so stay tuned!

thank you Jill Hermant and Megan Wainman!

more thanks to give!!

Thank you Jill Hermant & Megan Waiman for the pencil cases, pencil crayons, rulers and pencil eraser tops!

I am now adding more to my luggage and putting some in my 2nd personal piece of luggage. Time to take out that extra t-shirt that I will not have a chance to wear!

final tally to come! stay tuned...

23.3 kilos!!!! (50.9 pounds)

Pencils & Rulers & Chalk!! OH MY!!

With one week to go, I have reached my luggage limit!!! (okay, a little over, but I'll just have to hand carry some stuff)

My duffle bag is now stuffed to capacity and I am now bringing over  

23.3 kilos = 50.9 pounds 

of school supplies for the Riandira Primary school, as well as other elementary schools in the Mount Lognot area!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you ALL for your generosity!!!

Keep watching this space! I will keep this blog updated with pictures and posts as I travel to Kenya!

thank you Leyah Javed, Gloria Truong, Pearl Vas & Sara Riberro!

...and the supplies keep rolling in!

Thank you to Leyah Javed and Gloria Truong for your contributions today! more pencils and notebooks! YAY!

and Thank you to Pearl Vas and Sara Riberro for all the pencil crayons, rulers, pencils and stickers!

8 days left!

tally...

With one week and a half weeks to go, I've received more contributions to the pile! 

Thank you Savoarn Nov for the huge bucket of sidewalk chalk & Jennifer Lui for cute dinosaur pencils!

Here's what I've collected so far:  

Pencils - 694

Colour Pencils - 12

Erasers - 67 

Small paper notebooks - 4

Small Pencils sharpeners - 5

Large Pencil sharpeners - 5

Pens - 47

Sidewalk chalk - 96 pieces

Chalk - 792 pieces

I've just weighed it... and the total so far, is 40.5 lbs!! YAY!!!

thank you Mr. Anthony Lisanti!

Thank you Mr. Anthony Lisanti for your amazingly generous donation!
I made a trip to Staples, and found chalk that comes in 144 per box! And big pencil sharpeners!! Ones where you can attach them to a wall or desk, and can be a sturdy communal sharpener for a class!!!

By the way.. chalk is HEAVY!!! I now have 30 lbs of school supplies thus far!! I have a max of 50lbs! Almost there!!

Thanks for your support everyone!

all roads lead.. back to the beginning

Hi everyone!

For those of you just coming into my blogspace, and at a quick glance, do not understand what this blog is about.. may I direct you to my first post in June entitled "my story".

This explains what I am doing, and who I am doing it for.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my posts!

Love,
Julia

Thank you Amy & Tommy Lee!

Did you know? Staples sells chalk that comes with 144 pieces in one box?! Isn't that amazing?!

The only problem is.. it's so heavy!!! With Amy & Tom's donation, I was able to get 288 pieces of chalk!!

CRAZY! Can someone say #winning!!

Thank you Kate Leroux!

Thank you Kate Leroux for your generous monetary donation! A trip was made to Wal-Mart, and yay for Back-to-School season!!  

You know you're getting a deal when they start bulking and throwing in "bonus items"! 

4 erasers for the price of 2!

only a couple of weeks left!!

With my flights now booked, the reality of seeing Riandira Primary School again is really setting in!!
3 1/2 weeks left!!

I have a 2 baggage limit, so I am dedicating one solely to the school supplies that I am donating to the students.

If you have school supplies available for donation, please let me know asap! Thank you all!
Time to start packing!