Three years! We’re not such a young organization anymore. People in Tololar know who we are, and people in America can more consistently pronounce our name. We’ve helped people study, start businesses, travel and grow. We’ve spent over $20,000 on projects in the community, built three large drip irrigation system, given out almost 100 computers, and touched a lot of lives.
We’ve grown, ourselves. Since starting out, we’ve learned how to better focus on root problems, how to create projects that run effectively and efficiently, and how to deal with difficult infrastructure. We’ve had some setbacks and challenges, some great successes, and a lot of fun.
In my own life, I’ve gone from being a scared and homesick Peace Corps volunteer to feeling like El Tololar is a deeply-rooted part of my soul. I have friends there that will be my friends for life, and I’m so glad to be able to share this place and its people with you.
There’s a lot of work to be done – I wish I could say that the overall situation in Tololar is improving, but with climate change and worldwide economic injustice, it’s not. But we will continue to fight, because it’s the right thing to do. And it’s so worth it.