EDYFU Shelter Project: Goal Met (and then some)!

 Hey, Kids!

So, we've done it.  (You have done it, Vicente and EDYFU have done it, we have done it.)

From our initial target of $11,000 to renovate the EDYFU shelter for homeless girls in Tarija, Bolivia, when then upped the ante to $14,000 in order to build a much needed security wall.

Shiera, Sephie, and I visited the project last weekend, and are pleased to announce that the work is well under way.  Gail of Lantern Projects and I have already transferred $6,700 to Vicente and EDYFU and the rest will be wired in about a week's time.

This is not the most profession or engaging of videos, but for those wanting to get a sense of what things like like at the shelter, and/or what the early work looks like can wade their ways through this 14 minute look.

Now the big news...we have surpassed the $14,000 goal and as of last night, Lantern Projects has collected ~$18,500.

 For this reason, we are declaring the fundraising over.  A new sixteen bed building will be available for homeless girls in Bolivia, we hope by the first or second week of November. And if there is any cost overrun (not anticipated, but some surprises are happier ones than others...), we'll have that covered.

 Which brings us to an obvious point:  What happens with the "extra" +/-$4,000 we raised?  Vicente will make some proposals to me and then I will pass them on to the rest of you. But for now, I can say the following:

1. There is need. Plenty of need. EDYFU struggles to do its vital work and has never had to worry about having "too many" resources.
2. Lantern Project's tax-exempt status requires that the money collected be spent on physical projects, as opposed to overhead costs, such as salaries or bills.  
3. However, because the goal was met (and exceeded) with only $100 from me and $10 from Sephie, the money I had anticipated donating to the project is still available.  Once the new year hits, I plan on donating $2,000 to EDYFU that I trust Vicente to use as most needed, perhaps for salary and general operations. Great!
4. A top priority for the "extra" funds will be to purchase an industrial strength stove and oven.  At this point, the shelter is feeding sixteen girls (soon to be thirty-two) and staff on a very small, borrowed oven.  (This part of the film above A Look at the Oven shows you what they have now. Vicente believes that a major upgrade can be purchased for about $600 - $800.
5. The shelter also has a "theater" room with a small stage that has fallen into disrepair.  Vicente is drawing up a proposed budget to get that room up and running as well.

 In short, we don't quite know what will happen with the "extra" money. But we will promise to be transparent and will guarantee that it will be used to improve the lives and prospects for dozens (and, sadly, eventually hundreds) of young girls in Bolivia who deserve better than they have been dealt to this point in their lives. And that was our goal, yeah?

 More to come as it progresses.  But a massive shout out to all who made this happen.