DC Area Fundraiser a Success! Evento en DC un Exito! THANK YOU!

 

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all well! We held our first-ever USA fundraising cultural event in Arlington, VA last Saturday and I am thrilled to announce that it was a success! It took many weeks of hard work preparing and coordinating, but in the end we pulled it off, everything was ready, and we had a good turnout despite some competition from another Peruvian event in the area that same night. We want to send out a huge thank you to all of the marvelous people who braved the cold (and nation's worst traffic) to come out and spend their whole evening sharing with us our work and our passion. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and the dancing and the food as much as we did!

 

We really want to thank all the people who contributed their work and performances to help make this event a success. We couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. GRACIAS!

 Thanks first of all to our dear friend Lauren, who has been the engine pushing all our DC event fundraising forward, giving up her own bedroom for nearly a week as we prepared for the event, sacrificing sleep and sanity helping us with all the details, and generously donating any item we could not get from other donors or that we had overlooked. We love you Lauren! Thanks also to Lauren's housemates for putting up with our Peruvian invasion!

A big thanks goes to Jacquie Antonson and George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution for donating the use of the room and audio-visual equipment, which worked out perfectly!

 

 Big thank you to Mamauca for opening the event with some awesome and authentic festejo dancing. We especially want to thank Griselle and her husband Victor Ruiz for sharing their time and their talent with us, despite a busy schedule! ¡Mil Gracias!

Another special thank you goes out to Cecilia Villalobos and Axel from Salsa Fuego School, for being so generous with their time and heating up the second half of the event with some hot salsa dancing. You guys are the best!

A very special thanks to my beautiful sister Rayen, who has been helping us non-stop doing everything from creating beautiful brochures, flyers, and invitations to cooking and setting up plates! THANK YOU RAY!!!!! Big thank you to Amalia and Costa Verde Restaurant for donating rice and potatoes and to El Chalan Restaurant for donating a Dinner for two....Gracias!

 

And another special thank-you to Jazmin, my lovely niece, who has also been helping us out with coordination, preparation, ticket sales, and a lot more. Thanks Jazmin, you rock!!

Overall the event was a success, and we are proud to have pulled everything together despite the short lead time and despite this being a new area for us. While we did not meet our original fundraising goal, we were able to make some great connections while still raising a significant amount of money that will be a real boost to our work in Peru.  We are glad to have one event's experience under out belts as we head to New Jersey and to San Francisco for our events there, for which we are getting ready and excited. We hope you are excited too! Here are some more pictures from the event, enjoy!

 Milagros, a radio host and reporter for El Tiempo Latino interviewing me for a newspaper article that will be out this week!

 Boiling purple corn and pinapple to make Chicha Morada, which was a big hit!

 Jazmin cutting beef for the Lomo Saltado, which came out delicious.

 Rayen peeling onions for the Lomo Saltado.

 Andy working on videos and multimedia presentations about our work in Chincha to show at the event. Thanks to Andy's dad for donating the laptop!

 Lauren's friend Ashley toasting Peruvian corn to make the Canchita. Great job, Ashley! Thanks for your help.

 Jazmin making the tasty sauce for Papa a la Huancaina. Also a big hit with our guests!

Authentic, hand-made Peruvian items all set up for the auction.

 Jazmin and Mayten at the door receiving our attendees and selling tickets.

 

 We were happy that Andy's Uncle Reed, Aunt Ann, and cousin Michael came out to support us. Thanks for being there guys, and congrats for acquiring some gorgeous stuff at the auction!

 Some of our guests enjoying the food.

 Cecilia and Axel from Salsa Fuego showing us how salsa is done

 Lauren and Ashley trying out some new salsa steps with Cecilia and Axel. Way to go ladies!

We had just the right number of guests for the space

 Lauren giving people a closer look at some of the items during the auction

 Getting into the bidding at the auction! Thanks to all the people who purchased items during the auction...we really appreciated your generosity and enthusiasm!

 Getting ready to raffle off a beautiful Tawantinsuyo shawl!

 An honest hand chose the person who most deserved this gorgeous shawl... congrats Ashley!

 Rayen putting the finishing touches on the event program

Andy helping prepare the item descriptions for the auction...
Friends in NEW JERSEY, our next event will be in your area on Saturday, February 5th...come and help us make our NJ event an even bigger success....we can do it!

LCDM's US 2011 Fundraising Tour! Tour Recauda Fondos 2011 en EE UU!

Dear friends, we are SOOO excited about our ARLINGTON, VA fund raising event to be held this SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR). Everything is coming together and we could not be more grateful to Jacquie from ICAR for all her help with the venue, and to our friend Lauren for giving her time and energy to help me make this event possible. Andy and I are in Virginia now staying with Lauren and her generous roommates who are all sharing their space with us...Thank you ladies!!
Our goals with these events are to raise the funds we need to meet our 2011 goals, let universities, organizations, and programs know about our work in Chincha, and develop lasting connections and partnerships with institutions that share our vision and goals.

Please friends, if you are in the Washington/ Virginia/Maryland areas or have friends in those areas invite them to attend our event which will be filled with Peruvian food, music, dance, culture, spirit and much more! Come have FUN and help us continue helping wonderful people in Chincha, Peru! COME ALL!!!

Queridos amigos, estamos muy muy emocionados por que nuestro primer evento recauda fondos en Arlington, Virginia se llevara a cabo este SABADO, ENERO 22 de 6:00pm a 9:30pm! La universidad George Mason y su Instituto para Analisis y Resolucion de Conflicto se han unido a nuestro esfuerzo y precisamente sera ahi, donde realizaremos nuestro primer evento recauda fondos. Esperamos que nuestros amigos de Virginia, Washington, y Maryland decidan pasar un trozo de su sabado con nosotros ya que nuestra noche ofrecera una deliciosa cena peruana, musica y danzas peruanas, la posibilidad de comprar hermosas prendas y piezas traidas desde Peru a traves de una subasta, y rifa, y la oportunidad de contribuir a la salud y bienestar de maravillosos seres humanos en Chincha, Peru quienes merecen todo nuestro trabajo y esfuerzo! Vengan y diviertanse con nosotros!

Look for upcoming information about our New Jersey event on Saturday, February 5th, and our San Francisco event and After Party on Saturday, February 12th!!!!!

Our Christmas in Chincha, part 2 / Nuestra Navidad en Chincha, parte 2

 

 Dear friends and family, here are pictures of our Dec. 25th Christmas at the Beach celebration! The kids and I had a blast and really loved having each other and the beach as our x-mas present. Good friends, a sunny day, and open water was all we needed to be happy...and the munchkins Andy and I brought our kids from Lima :) This is the fourth Christmas my Mina De Oro kids and I spend together and there was no better place to celebrate than by this incredible natural body of water full of life and movement! I hope you enjoy these pictures and can feel all the fun we had that day! Enjoy!

Queridos familiares y amigos, estas son fotos de nuestra celebracion navidenha con los chicos de Mina De Oro, el 25 de diciembre en playa Totoritas. Esta fue nuestra cuarta navidad juntos y la playa fue el regalo perfecto para todos. La pasamos muy bien, disfrutamos mucho el mar y el estar juntos en este dia especial. Espero ustedes disfruten viendo estas fotos y sientan toda la buena energia de la que nos cargamos los chicos Andy y yo....

Arriving...llegando a las totoritas

sharing the munchkins Andy and I bought for the kids in Lima...compartiendo los munchkins con los ninos...

I want to thank our friends Lauren, Bree and Inmaculada for helping us make our x-mas beach trip and shelter celebrations possible with their donations....we had a lot of fun thanks to you ladies...THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Queremos agradecer a nuestras amigas Lauren, Bree y Inmaculada por ayudarnos con sus donaciones, a hacer posibles nuestras celebraciones en los dos albergues y nuestro viaje a la playa el 25! Las chicas en los albergues, los chicos de Mina De oro, Andy y yo la pasamos muy bien gracias a ustedes! MUCHAS GRACIAS!

Kids racing at the beach...haciendo carreras con los chicos!

A sus marcas...listos...fuera!....ready....get set...GO!!!!

Perdiendo miedos y disfrutando el aguita!!!

Minero & Witi having fun! Mi Minero y Witi disfrutando el agua!

Jo & Jun....man, my kids are growing fast....:(

Andy helping Jorgito be less afraid of the BIG water...

mi hermosa Cielito y Tati comiendo sus pancitos con tamal y colao chinchano!!!

Disfrutando la arena...Jenny & Cora enterradas hasta el cuello en arena :)

Cielito y Paloma playing volleyball...jugando su propia version de volleyball

Andy y Xio....

Food break!!! Una pausita para comer....

Mi hermosa Paloma....my beautiful Paloma....

Kids receiving a few simple toys my friend Paty from Cusco sent for them...thank you Paty!

Los chicos reciviendo unos regalitos que nuestra amiga Paty de Cusco envio para ellos...GRACIAS PATY!

Celebrando navidad en la noche con mis muchachos....

Outside my house celebrating x-mas with my kids at midnight....

mas chispitas mariposas.....

Yo feliz al ver a Alexis y Adolfo...Alexis & Adolfo stopping by to say hello on x-mas...they are sooooo big!

lighting up sparklers with Alexis & Adolfo...yayyyyyyyyy

More simple but special x-mas celebration outside mi casa in Chincha....

Dreaming away with the kids.....sonhando ....

Dear friends and family, thank you for visiting our blog....please continue getting to know us....we sincerely appreciate your time and friendship! UNTIL NEXT TIME!! HASTA LA PROXIMA VEZ AMIGOS! Gracias por visitar nuestro blog y seguir conociendonos! Mayten

Happy Holidays Friends! Felices Fiestas Amigos y Amigas!

Dear friends from Peru and the world, we are busier than ever these days organizing our fund raising events in the US, working on our end of year activities, and preparing our February trip to Paracas and our March health campaign. This will be our fourth christmas in Chincha with the kids and we're running around making sure they, our shelter girls and our friends Rosaura and Manuel feel loved, thought of, and accompanied on this special time. But, before we get caught up in a tidal work wave, I wanted to send you a special embrace during this special season. At LCDM, we want to wish each and everyone of you, our dear friends, warmth, laughter, health, love, music, delicious food, sincere family and friends, and tons of FUN! You are important to us, and knowing you are out there thinking of us, and finding ways to help us continue, means a great deal to me. Thank you for your friendship and company! Please know that we are thinking of you and that we value you quite a lot. Enjoy...Enjoy...and Enjoy some more on our behalf! All my love to each of you! Have a fantastic holiday season! Mayten

Queridos amigos del Peru y el mundo!!! Estos dias estamos llenos, mas bien repletos de trabajo pero no queria dejar de saludarles. En esta temporada especial quiero abrazar con todo mi ser a cada uno/a de ustedes a traves de este mensaje y desearles mucha luz, calidez, salud, amistad, amor, mucha risa y aun mas divercion! Nosotros pasaremos nuestra cuarta navidad en Chincha con los chicos de Mina de Oro, con nuestras chicas de los albergues y con Rosaura y Manuel.....para nosotros sera como siempre maratonico... correremos de amigos a amigos, habran muchos abrazos, mucha simpleza, muchos cantos, risa y amor....exactamente como debe ser.....Deseo para cada uno de ustedes amigos nuestros muchos abrazos llenos de amor genuino, deseo que se sientan queridos y queridas y acompanhados por nosotros en espiritu y amistad.....disfruten sus fiestas y apapachen a sus familias y amigos......reciban un enorme abrazo y mucha mucha luz! Hasta prontito! Mayten

LCDM's 2011 Objectives! Nuestros Objetivos para el 2011!

Dear Friends, family and colleagues, after a week wrestling with acute bronchitis picked up over the weekend in Chincha, and a teaching job that helps me keep my project alive but makes it difficult to juggle all things to do, I am ready to reach out to you and ask you to please help us meet the goals we have set for next year. As you may know, for three years, we have been dreaming of purchasing land where to build a permanent home for LCDM, and this year, I am determined to make this dream a reality. To this end, La Casa De Mayten will be traveling to the US to conduct fund raising events in different US cities hoping to raise the funds necessary to meet this and other 2011 goals.At the moment, we are planning three big fund raising events in the NY/NJ, and San Francisco areas and a smaller one in Washington, DC. If you are interested in becoming part of our fund raising event organizing teams, please contact me here as soon as possible or email me at lacasademayten@gmail.com, so we can coordinate activities, delegate responsibilities, and establish objectives.

Queridos amigos, familia y colegas, despues de una semana con bronquitis aguda y un final de mes en mi trabajo bastante ajetreado, les escribo para pedirles ayuda, mucha ayuda para poder continuar como proyecto y lograr todas las metas trazadas para el 2011. Como quizas sepan, mis ninhos y yo llevamos mas de 3 anhos sonhando con tener un lugar propio donde construir el hogar permanente para La Casa De Mayten y este 2011 estoy decidida a lograr ese objetivo, y algunos otros mas. Para esto, mi co-director y yo hemos decidido hacer un enorme esfuerzo, viajar a EE UU, y hacer un tour Recauda Fondos de tres ciudades diferentes, esperando recaudar los fondos necesarios para comprar el terreno y hacer algunas actividades anti-violencia y pro-salud este 2011. Actualmente estamos planeando 4 eventos en EE UU, dos en NJ/NY, uno en San Francisco, y otra mas pequenho en Washington, DC. Si alguno/a de ustedes amigos nuestros desea ser parte de nuestros equipos de coordinacion para estos eventos, por favor escribanme a lacasademayten@gmail.com lo antes posible. Nosotros confiamos que con su ayuda podremos hacer nuestros suenhos y objetivos posibles. 

This fund raising tour is our chance to make our 2011 dreams possible and ensure life for LCDM. Please take a look at LCDM’s key objectives for 2011: 1: to continue offering our services free of charge to the people of Chincha; 2: to continue fighting against violence through our creative/educational anti-violence campaigns and training sessions at schools and shelters; 3: to continue taking free health services to people in marginalized communities; 4: to continue generating creative/educational alternatives and opportunities through workshops and cultural, social and academic exchange programs; 5: buy an adequate piece of land on which to build a permanent home for LCDM; and 6: develop an educational/cultural pre- college program to help integrally prepare youths from Chincha to study abroad.  Before 2010 ends, we are planning to have our traditional x-mas lunch with our kids at home in Chincha, then visit our elderly friends Rosaura and Manuel for an early x-mas dinner with them, then run to Paul Harris shelter with music and some delicious treats for the girls, and finally end the evening having dinner with our girls from Camino A La Solidaridad. We are also presently organizing a camping trip with our neighborhood kids to Paracas in late february as reward for their personal, academic and other achievements, and putting together an integral two-week health campaign we will take to both shelters and my neighborhood the first two weeks of March.

Este tour Recauda Fondos es nuestra oportunidad de continuar nuestra vida como proyecto, y de seguir generando salud, oportunidades y alternativas gratuitamente para nuestros amados ninos y chicas en Chincha. Les comparto nuestros objetivos para este 2011-  1: continuar luchando constructivamente contra la violencia a través de campañas educativas anti-violencias en colegios y albergues para menores violentados; 2: llevar salud integral a seres sumidos en pobreza a través de campañas de salud integral gratuitas; 3: continuar generando alternativas y oportunidades creativo-educativas a través de talleres para niños y jóvenes en Chincha; 4: comprar un espacio adecuado en el cual construir un centro permanente para La Casa De Mayten; y 5: desarrollar en el nuevo centro un programa académico/social pre-profesional que prepare íntegramente a jóvenes chinchanos para salir a estudiar fuera de Perú con la meta de retornar a su provincia una vez culminen sus estudios universitarios y ayudar a crear en Chincha la estructura que garantizara a futuras generaciones el acceso a oportunidades que ahora no existen. 

Antes de que termine este 2010 aun nos queda mucho por hacer...como llevamos haciendo por 3 anhos, tendremos nuestro tradicional almuerzo con los ninhos de Mina De Oro, solo que esta vez, con ayuda de amigos, tendremos nuestro almuerzo navidenho en LA PLAYA!!! :), luego correremos como hicimos el 2009, a cenar con nuestros amigos Rosaura y Manuel, luego llevaremos musica y muchas cosas ricas para nuestras queridas chicas del albergue Paul Harris, y por ultimo terminaremos la noche con una cena llena de musica y calidez con nuestras amadas chicas del albergue Camino A La Solidaridad...tambien desde ya estamos preparando un viaje a Paracas con mis chicos para finales de febrero en reconocimiento a sus logros este 2010, y tambien estamos organizando una campanha de salud integral para las dos primeras semanas de Marzo. Tenemos mucho por hacer y lograr y esperamos ustedes amigos y este tour recauda fondos nos ayuden a continuar.

We have lots to do and achieve and we hope that you our friends will want to be part of our efforts to continue our work and have a home from which to continue connecting the world to our world and vice-versa. We need donations and support in all forms from space, to equipment, to publicity, to performances, to interesting art pieces, to volunteer work, to money, to a place to rest while driving across the states, and much more. We are excited about seeing you again our friends in the US, and look forward to meeting new friends through you at our events! Stay tuned for more updates! Hugs to each of you! Mayten

Necesitamos mucha ayuda en EE UU para sacar adelante nuestros eventos y les pedimos con mucho amor a los que puedan, que consideren hacer una donacion en las siguientes formas: donar un espacio donde celebrar nuestros eventos (solo nos falta conseguir lugares en NJ/NY y DC), equipo para poder realizar los eventos, publicidad y promocion, una presentacion de musica y danza afro-peruana, piezas de arte para nuestras subastas, trabajo voluntario, dinero, mesas y sillas para los eventos, un lugar donde podamos descansar a medida que cruzamos el pais haciendo estos eventos. Estamos muy emocionados con los eventos y con la posibilidad de volver a ver a amigos, familia y colegas despues de bastante tiempo. Por favor, si pueden ayudarnos escribanme a lacasademayten@gmail.com para coordinar esfuerzos y objetivos. Millones de gracias anticipadas por reconocer el valor en nuestro trabajo, y sobre todo, el gran valor en los seres para los que trabajamos dia a dia. No dejen de visitarnos! Abrazos, Mayten