We Are Now the Featured Lantern Project!

 And as it is September, I can report that our construction project for the Educacion y Futuro (EDYFU) shelter for homeless girls in Tarija, Bolivia is now a featured Lantern Project for the months of September and October.  Those of you with an extra $5, $20, $50, $100, $500, or $5,000 (laugh if you must, but a much-loved friend from long past just re-emerged to send that amount--true story!) can now easily click on this link DONATE HERE and  the funds will be deposited in the Lantern Project #430 fund, and all of that money will be sent to Tarjia.

I have already laid out the fundamentals of the project here:  Introducing the EDYFU Project.  In that post, you can see some photos, watch a video introduction (brutally, I'm certain) translated from Spanish by yours truly, and have a look at the proposed budget.

Lantern Projects is a US-based non profit that offers the following:

  • Credibility.  Lantern Projects has  been around for nearly two decades and has funded over 400 small charitable and social development projects from around the world. (See the map below--and note the as-of-yet uncolored Bolivia!)
  • Personal History.  A similar (if more ambitious) project at the Kimbondo Orphanage in the D.R. Congo Foyer House Rennovation Blog was undertaken with the help of Lantern Projects.  We have a personal and trusting relationship with Lantern CEO Gail Uilkema.
  • No overhead.  Lantern Projects sends 100% of all donations directly to the project organizers, in this case Educacion Y Futuro in Tarija, Bolivia.  Lantern collections the donations for us, and guarantees that they arrive where they should, without even charging for wire transfers or any other expenses. *
  • Lantern Projects is a 503(c) organization, meaning that all donations by US taxpayers are tax deductible. This is critical. Most of you are generous people and it makes sense to try to make your money go further by making as many tax-exempt contributions as possible.

* (Actually, if you donate through Lantern Projects, PayPal does take it's 1.5% cut.  FYI, if your bank uses Zelle--and many due--contact me and I can let you know how to send directly to Gail.  You'll still receive the tax deduction; but this will guarantee that 100% of your money comes directly to Bolivia.)

While I am located in Santa Cruz, which is 500 miles from Tarija, EDYFU founder Vincente Danhier will be sending regular textual and photographic reports. And Shiera, Sephie, and I will be visiting in October. Given that Vincente hopes to start construction in the next week or two, we're hoping to see a sixteen bed group hope close to being ready for business.

So if you are able, please visit .  As you can see, the process from that point is pretty simple.












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