Choclo Grande

LLI's Wish List!

2012-01-29T06:32:00.001-08:00

Since LLI's Summer reading program has been SUCH a success, we've decided to extend the program into the school year of March - December! In addition, we'll expand to another area in Huaycan.

This means we'll need new Spanish books ALL year round. Thanks to generous donations, we're good with English books, but will gladly accept with need the following books in Spanish (or other titles!):

Harry Potter Books 3, 4, 5 (in Spanish)

Hunger Games (in Spanish)

Un Principe en la Nevera

Any Dr. Suess Books, Spanish Edition (Except for Hop on Pop)

Curious George Series, Spanish Version (Except for Curious George Plants a Seed, Spanish Version)

Crumbs on the Stairs/Migas en las escaleras

And anymore titles*!! We are in particular need for Spanish books for 6-10 year old reading levels (specifically that would interest boys) and easy chapter books with interesting topics for young readers.

*Thanks to generous donations, we have copies of popular books in Spanish like "Goodnight Moon," "The Giving Tree," "The Hungry Caterpillar," and "Charlotte's Web."

Ready to Order? Ship them to our US address. Email Lara@lightandleadership.org for the address!

About the program: LLI opens up its "biblioteca" or library 4 times a week in Zone D. Kids from all over Huaycan having been coming to read books for a few hours a day. An average of 25-30 children come every session.

Yes, We Work Weekends

2012-01-25T05:05:00.001-08:00

One of the biggest changes LLI volunteers have to get used to is working the weekends... Saturday and Sundays are no longer days to relax, but instead are jam packed with LLI's program activities! Between Saturdays and Sundays, LLI offers the following classes:

7 English classes
4 French classes
Physical Education
Chess (2 sections)
Art (3 sections)
Math
Summer Reading/Library
Computer Skills (2 sections)
Woodburning Class

It's busy, but a good busy!

Art Class with 6-9 year olds

Collage Day!

Kids sprawl out anywhere to read a book :)

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Special thanks to Clare Donovan for the photos and to our dedicated LLI Volunteers who work the "weekends."

Looking for an Internship?

2012-01-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

Light and Leadership offers several long term internships within our organization... check out which one is right for you and apply now!

Community and Program Development Coordinator

House Manager

English Education

Thanks and we'll see you in Huaycan :)

Reading Success!!!

2012-01-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

We're celebrating our first week of our Summer Reading Program at LLI's main classroom in Zone D, Huaycan. We've received an ASTOUNDING number of kids in the program, which offers library hours four times a week. Kids anxiously wait outside of the classroom waiting for the program to open up.

It's been SO good, we've had to cap the number of kids that can enter during the scheduled hours. Reading time is given as an hour and a half, with an additional time to write up book summaries or listen to stories read aloud in English and Spanish.

Thank you to ALL of those who generously gave books. You've made this possible!!!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Hanna-Leena for all the hard work in coordinating the program, and the additional LLI volunteers for pitching in. :)

Be Part of the Family. Volunteer!

2011-12-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

Make your New Year's Resolution NOW to volunteer in Peru with Light and Leadership in 2012.

Who do we need?

English and art teachers for March, April, and May
French teacher for March
Chess, phys. ed, and math teachers are always welcome :)

Check out more information NOW on www.lightandleadership.org and fill out an application!

Christmas in Huaycan = Success!!

2011-12-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

Way to Go LLI Volunteers and Supporters!!

Together, they have well surpassed their goal of $1,000 for the Christmas in Huaycan fund. In November, LLI volunteers got together and decided to take their own initiative: they wanted to give a Christmas to remember to the kids and families of LLI. The result was an out pour of support from their family and friends, donating a few bucks to several hundred dollars to support this cause.

After a chocolatada (Peruvian Christmas party for kids... paneton and hot chocolate is served!), all of LLI's students received a gift, with most getting new shoes, t-shirts, chess boards, musical instruments and MORE. Families received gift baskets filled with nutritious goodies for holiday meals. On behalf of LLI's kids and families, thank you LLI volunteers and supporters! Please enjoy the photos!

Thanks again to LLI's August - December Volunteer team. To all who have participated, whether it be for a few weeks to several months, your work and dedication is appreciated and has made an impact in Huaycan. THANK YOU.

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. So who was this LLI team who raised this money??? Vinnette Harrington, Whitney Reynolds, Meghan Resler, Heidi Valimaki, Valentin Salgado, Jake Holder, and Mariel Feigen. Once again, way to go :)

...And We're Off! LLI's Auction Begins!

2011-11-23T19:49:00.000-08:00

Light and Leadership's Annual Auction has begun! This year, we're featuring both Art and Services. We know you'll find something in there for you, and maybe bid on a gift or two. With items with starting bids from $10.00 and up, there's something for everyone to bid on!!

Join the fun and start bidding! The auction ends December 3rd at 7:30 PM (central time), so hop to it!

Creative Kids.

2011-11-21T06:56:00.000-08:00

Light and Leadership hosted an art exposition and contest this past Saturday, featuring 44 pieces of art from our talented students ages 6-13. Students were invited, along with their families, to come out and vote for their favorite pieces. We welcomed some parents, friends of our participants (who are eager to sign up next year) and several of our art students. Snacks and refreshments were served... this was the real deal.

Congrats to our winners:

6-9 years old
1st Place: Enzo
2nd Place: Nahomi
3rd Place: Alvaro

10-13 years old
1st Place: Alessa
2nd Place: Yajaira
3rd Place: Sofia

Special thanks to Meghan Resler, resident art teacher at LLI for putting this Expo together! Thanks as well to all the LLI volunteers for coming out to help and vote. Awesome.

LLI's Auction Featuring Charcoal Drawing Classes!

2011-11-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

Starting November 23, LLI will begin its annual auction and this year we are featuring artwork AND services, like a Charcoal Drawing Class for Four!!

See the details below:

Up to 4 individuals, casual attire...

January 7th from 1-3pm

33 Contemporary Gallery

Zhou B. Art Center
1029 W. 35th St., 1st Floor
Chicago, IL

About the workshop facilitator:

Sergio Gomez attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Governors State University and received a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Northern Illinois University. The art of Sergio Gomez has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions in venues in the US and abroad. Sergio Gomez is owner and director of 33 Contemporary Gallery and director of VisualArtToday.com; a curated online exhibition space for international contemporary art. In addition, Sergio is an accomplished graphic designer, art & design professor at South Suburban College, and independent curator at the Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago.

Get ready to bid! More details will be posted on how to bid in the next few weeks. Be sure to pass this blog onto friends who would be interested!!

Questions? Contact Lara DeVries at Lara@lightandleadership.org

Puppet Crazy!!! (Part II)

2011-11-07T08:52:00.001-08:00

Late last month, English students in Zone Z, with the help of their ever-creative volunteer teachers, put together a puppet show and performed for other LLI students and families! Featuring a pirate theme, students used their puppets (created in a previous LLI art workshop) to tell a story using Spanish and English.

As a treat, these same students will be going on a field trip this Saturday to check out a puppet show in Lima. Awesome!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Whitney Reynolds, Meghan Resler and Vinnette Harrington for the hard work on the puppet show :). Thanks to Valentin Salgado for the photos.

What Do Incan Ruins and Chess Have in Common?

2011-10-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

...LLI kids from Zone Z and Zone S, of course :)

Yesterday, certain Light and Leadership kids enjoyed an action packed day: a guided tour of the Huaycan Ruins in the morning and then a chess tournament in the afternoon (with Zone D kids!). Now that sounds like a pretty sweet Saturday...

We saw 18 kids compete in our chess tournament and play 5 rounds of chess against their competitors. In the end, FOUR kids tied for first place. Way to go Alessa, Aracelly, Jefferson, and Julio David (representing three zones where LLI works)! Certificates of Participation were awarded to all students and top first place winners were awarded special prizes.

Check out photos below of the field trip and the chess tournament!

Fourteen kids joined LLI's volunteers for a guided tour of the ruins.

Kids listen as the guide explains...

Valery from Zone Z, Los Alamos.

Melanie (with her little brother Brayan looking on) takes on her opponent.

Alessa, one of the first place winners, is very focused!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to LLI volunteers Valentin Salgado, Meghan Resler, Mariel Feigen and Charlie Maguire for being super helpful volunteers during the field trip and tournament. Thanks for taking the photos too, Valentin!

¡Viva la Biblioteca!

2011-10-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

Light and Leadership is happy to announce a Summer Reading Program to begin in January 2012!

Here are the details:

The program will run for two months (January 9th - February 25th) and will be open to LLI participants ages 6-13 in ALL areas of Huaycan. Kids are invited to join us in our LLI library up to three times a week for a few hours per session. Participants will earn points for the amount of time they spend reading (double points for English) and extra points for writing up book reports. ¡Viva la biblioteca! :)

Ready to help us out?! Good, we were hoping so. In order to provide an awesome library for kids to get EXCITED about reading, we need some pretty awesome books. This is what we are in need of most:

English books appropriate for age levels of 11-13 year olds (easy chapter books)
Spanish books appropriate for age levels 6-13 year olds

Need some ideas? Be sure to check out Barnesandnoble.com-- they seem to have an expansive collection of Spanish (and of course English) books for kids. Have it shipped right to Tinley Park, IL (USA)! Email Lara@lightandleadership.org for the exact address.

Like books, but want to do more?! The PRIZE for our top readers is a school supply SHOPPING SPREE!!! We need your help-- sponsor a child's shopping spree! Contact Lara@lightandleadership.org for more info.

After all this-- why are we doing a reading program? 1) We want to keep kids engaged in our programs even in the summer 2) Kids have little access to a wide range of books 3) Schools often don't have the resources to offer a consistent selection of books as part of the curriculum (very few libraries are found in schools). So... this is a great direction for LLI. Get involved!!!

Get Ready! Alpaca Party 2011!!

2011-10-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars:

Light and Leadership will hold its annual Alpaca Party fundraiser on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011.

This year, LLI will be auctioning off both artwork AND services (like private yoga classes!!!). More details coming soon.

Get ready to party for Light and Leadership!

One Active Way to Support LLI: Private Yoga Classes

2011-10-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

It's getting to be that time again-- Light and Leadership is gearing up for our annual auction. Only this year, LLI's auction will feature beautiful artwork AND amazing services. Both will be up for bid in late November. The auction will close on LLI's annual Alpaca Party on December 3rd.

So, stay tuned for previews of services that will be offered, like Private Yoga Classes!

Calling All Students! Be Our LLI Ambassador!

2011-10-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

Light and Leadership happily announces a new program for college and graduate students to get involved with LLI, and then earn a free stay in Huaycan, volunteering with LLI's programs*!

Introducing... LLI's College Ambassador Program.

Here's the details:

LLI’s Campus Ambassador Position offers a great opportunity for those seeking a future career in education, social work, international development and/or not-for-profit organizations. Those who have a strong desire to serve marginalized communities, work with women and children, and become more involved with the global community should apply.

What does this position entail?

◦ Committing one academic-year to LLI’s initiatives as a Campus Ambassador

◦ Organizing an annual fundraiser on campus with a small target goal of about $300

◦ Networking with the campus’s Internship Coordinator and the Office of International Programs to promote volunteer opportunities available through LLI

◦ Promoting the sale of the Huaycan women’s artisan crafts through local bookstores and/or other campus outlets

◦ Participating in meetings once a semester with other LLI Campus Ambassadors to give feedback, share ideas and possibly coordinate events with other campuses. These meetings will be held in a central location within Chicago. If you are not from Chicago, please do still apply! You will hold personal phone meetings with a Board Member to guide you during your ambassador position.

The Best Part: Incentives!

In addition to recognizing your work on LLI’s website and/or blog, we would like to offer LLI Campus Ambassadors, who meet their target goals, a one week FREE stay at LLI’s volunteer site in Huaycan, Peru. Please contact us for details.

We believe that volunteers, who show great interest in LLI’s mission and work, should have the opportunity to know our project first-hand!

How to apply?

Please contact Light and Leadership by sending your resume and statement of interest to Lara DeVries (lara@lightandleadership.org) or Stephanie Willard-Worrell (Stephanie@lightandleadership.org). Both Lara and Stephanie serve on the LLI Board of Directors.

Have Experience in Education? Volunteer!

2011-09-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Do you have experience in the education field and are looking to apply your skills in an area that really needs it? Want to gain experience abroad and impact a non-profit and it's community? This internship allows you to do just that!

Light and Leadership, a small grassroots non-profit working in a shantytown outside of Lima, Peru, is looking for a manager for our English language education program. This is a great opportunity to develop the direction of our program and add something impressive to your resume. The intern will be responsible for the following activities:

Developing and/or refining LLI's English language curriculum for ages 6 years old - adult.
Hold weekly meetings with our volunteer English teachers.
Observe volunteer teachers and assist teachers with lesson planning and classroom activities
Teach English classes weekly
Develop an evaluation system for students

Light and Leadership is looking for a candidate who fits the following profile:

Available for a year commitment, starting July 1st, 2012
Must have prior experience teaching and/or education field
Has experience in diverse classroom settings (ESL classrooms a PLUS)
Is organized, independent, and reliable
Has excellent English writing and speaking skills (must be a native speaker)
Feels comfortable leading meetings and giving feedback
Has a passion for education and helping others

Spanish skills are not required.

In exchange for a year contract, the English Program Manager will receive free room and board. Transportation costs are the responsibility of the intern.

Puppet Crazy!!!

2011-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

LLI goes crazy. For puppets :)

On Tuesday, LLI's resident Art guru, Meghan Resler, teamed with returning volunteer Whitney Reynolds (Happy Birthday today!) to offer an art workshop in Zone Z. The outcome: absolute success.

Kids went crazy for the puppets and showed true creativity and enthusiasm for the project. This workshop was only stage one-- Meghan and Whitney will meet with the kids in two weeks to put together a puppet show. We're sure their parents will be delighted by their kids' creativity as they watch the show...! Stay tuned for videos and pictures of that performance.

Want to be part of the art fun? We are looking for Art Volunteers (short or long term) beginning in March 2012. Sign up to volunteer online at www.lightandleadership.org!

Be sure to check out more photos below of the awesome art workshop! (Thalia pictured above)

Willie shows us puppets are cool :)

Kennedy and his new friend

Our older students got involved too. Here's David with his puppet "Cincuenta Cent"--50 cent. We always like a good laugh :)

Joel, we loved this one!

Published on behalf of Light and Leadership by Lara DeVries. Special thanks to Meghan Resler for the photos and being the art ringleader. Thanks to Whitney and Mariel too :)

This is what we need: YOU.

2011-09-12T10:05:00.001-07:00

Light and Leadership is in NEED of volunteers for next year! We are seeking out volunteers to teach our education programs just outside of Lima, Peru. Opportunities can be found specifically in our English and French programs (but other opps can be found in Chess, Math, and Art) starting January 2012!! Long term stays (at least two months) are preferred, no Spanish is required. Internships are available too!

Super exciting, right?! Apply NOW.

Speak Spanish? Have a passion for working with women? AND you're available for 4 months starting January 2012? WOW, be our Women's Empowerment Program Manager! Email Lara DeVries at Lara@lightandleadership.org with your resume and cover letter.

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Jessie Pincus for the photo. We miss you!

LLI Works With Teachers!

2011-09-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Light and Leadership started teaching the teachers English at a local public school in Huaycan, called Huaycan Mixto. Classes are held twice a week with the twelve signed up teachers, and we expect more to come as word spreads.

Light and Leadership is excited to take this new direction in improving the education level of local primary school teachers.

Now That Was a Good Month.

2011-08-31T12:43:00.001-07:00

August was a fantastic month for LLI.

On August 12th, we celebrated with our Chicago and global community about the work being achieved in Huaycan. Thank you to all who came out and the support of the Glessner House and Taste of Peru restaurant. Be sure to check out photos from the night on our Light and Leadership Facebook page!

A special thanks also to our Alpaca Club Members and those who donated raffle tickets. Check the list below and please support those who have supported us!

Lia Sophia Jewelry

Gift certificate to Binnys Beverage Depot
Wine Tasting from Wines for Humanity
Francescas
GAP gift card

Sunrise Nursery Basket and Card

Entertainment Cruises Chicago - Two architectural tour cruises (VIP Passes)

Everything Alpaca - Alpaca Throw

2KingsCoffee - Coffee Gift Basket
Chicago FIRE tickets
Passes to the Shedd Aquarium
Gift certificate from Houlihan's
Gift certificate from Ottimo in Orland Park
Gift certificate from Between Cafe and Pisco Bar

Gift certificate from Nail Boutique at 2142 W Division

Gift certificate from Crust (an organic pizza place)
Gift Certificate to Rock Bottom
Light and Leadership pendant

Later in the month, Chicago Public Radio WBEZ hosted Light and Leadership on their Worldview program. Missed it on the air? Listen to it here! Thanks to WBEZ for selecting LLI!

Glessner House-- THIS WEEK!

2011-08-08T13:27:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to RSVP for Light and Leadership's event being held at the Glessner House Museum this Friday, August 12th from 7-10pm. Come and eat great food provided by Taste of Peru and enjoy live Peruvian music. Let us know if you will be there by contacting Louella@lightandleadership.org.

What's more... you can WIN stuff :)

Check out the awesome list of raffle prizes:

Lia Sophia Jewelry

Gift certificate to Binnys Beverage Depot
Wine Tasting from Wines for Humanity
Francescas
GAP gift card

Sunrise Nursery Basket and Card

Entertainment Cruises Chicago - Two architectural tour cruises (VIP Passes)

Everything Alpaca - Alpaca Throw

Gift certificate from Nail Boutique at 2142 W Division

Gift certificate from Crust (an organic pizza place)
Gift Certificate to Rock Bottom
Light and Leadership pendant

Top Performer Field Trips!!!

2011-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

At the end of last month, Light and Leadership celebrated the end of our semester by applauding the hard work and dedication of a select group of students. In all, 33 students, who had perfect or near perfect attendance and high participation in classes, were invited on a special field trip! We took two groups: our kids ages 6-13 years checked out Divercity, a fun and interactive way to learn (where kids get to be grown-ups, group pictured to the right) and our students ages 14+ checked out Chengdu, a Chinese acrobatic show. Way to go everyone!

This would not have been possible without our volunteer team and our donors. THANK YOU for allowing us to celebrate with LLI's Top Performers!

After enjoying the show and dinner. Keep up the good work :)

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Sarah Renkert for the photo. We miss you :(

Snapshot: Art in Zone S

2011-07-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Check out the snapshots from Zone S, an area of extreme poverty in Huaycan... :)

Want to read directly what Gladys, our volunteer art teacher, has to say about our program? Check out her amazing blog here: http://artedperu.blogspot.com/

Thanks for all your hard work, Gladys!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Special thanks to Gladys for the photos and the great work!

We've Been Inked!

2011-07-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

No joke, volunteers like LLI.

For her second time around as a volunteer, Ellie Hargadon-Lowe decided to make it official... and permanent: She loves LLI.

A few weeks ago, Ellie tattooed Light and Leadership's logo on her ankle. It came out quite well. Light and Leadership promises, especially to Ellie's mother, that this is not a requirement to be a volunteer :) but it is pretty great to see someone so passionate about our organization and cause.

Going to be at the Glessner House Event this August?! So will this tattoo. Ask Ellie to see it!

...to the National Museum!

2011-07-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, LLI's women's group took a field trip to the national museum to see the Yuyanapaq exhibit, a photographic display of the destruction brought to many Peruvians in cities and small towns by the terrorist group, the Shining Path, in the 1980s and 1990s. The exhibit serves as a way to remember those who suffered or were killed during this tragic time.

I myself have been to this exhibit many times since moving to Lima a few years ago, but I had never experienced it like last Saturday. A majority of these women had lived through this experience as young girls or teenagers and it was so moving, and heart-wrenching, to listen to their stories and commentaries as they viewed the photos of the history they lived through.

Although the exhibit was intense, the mood lightened a bit once we went out for some appetizers and Irene, who's in her 70's, began dancing to the music and laughing with me. This is why I love working with these women: they have difficult pasts, and possibly difficult futures... but they are always positive, resilient and eager to learn more. We have slowly built up this women's group over the past year and it shows no signs of slowing down!

Volunteers Ellie and Jessie pose with three of the women.

Part of the group waiting outside the museum.

Special thanks to Franzi Weil, former LLI volunteer, who graciously sponsored this field trip! Interested in sponsoring a field trip? Contact Lara@lightandleadership.org for more info!

--Lara DeVries, LLI Executive Director

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Jessie Pincus for the photos and to Sarah Renkert and Eleanor Hargadon-Lowe for coordination of the field trip. We'll miss you :(

Woodburning: Check.

2011-07-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday, volunteer Art teacher Gladys Pasapera held a Woodburning workshop with our women's group. Fourteen women picked up a new artisan skill and a few of them discovered they are quite good at it... which got us thinking about a new chapter in our Artisan Project. Stay tuned for more details.

This workshop was something new for our women's group. Light and Leadership is now incorporating different types of educational workshops into our monthly or bimonthly meetings, including art. It was an absolute success! Art is a great way for women to come together, learn something new, and form stronger bonds with each other and with our volunteers. We'll be doing a Woodburning, Part II workshop sometime in late August, so look out for more details then.

Check out a few photos below from the workshop:

Volunteer Ellie Hargadon Lowe, who also coordinated the workshop, with Irene and her woodburning design.

Lara DeVries and Gladys Pasapera with long time participant Marina and her son.

Published on behalf of Light and Leadership by Lara DeVries. Special thanks to Sarah Renkert and Ellie Hargadon Lowe for workshop coordination and the photos, plus thanks to Gladys Pasapera for her time and talent! Great job ladies :)

Light and Leadership Celebrates Two Years!

2011-06-14T08:36:00.001-07:00

Two years of education programs. Two years of working hard.

Two years of IMPACT on hundreds of families in Huaycan.
Thank you.

On June 12th, LLI celebrated it's two year anniversary with lots of amazing activities. We welcomed over 110 kids and their parents. Kids enjoyed an hour and a half of face paints, balloon animals, I ♥ LLI bracelet making, hula hoops and jump ropes, and MORE. We continued the celebration with our English Vocabulary Bee (Congrats to our SEVEN winners, pictured above!) and a group of students put on a presentation about LLI and how past and current volunteers have gotten involved with LLI. Stay tuned for the video! LLI also handed out special awards to outsanding students in their areas of Physical Education, Chess, Art, English, French, and Participation. Two women also received awards for our Computer Skills class.

It was an amazing day.

Stephanie (also a Vocab Bee Winner!) hula-hoops.

Volunteer Chris Tomlinson hides the rock under one cup and shuffles. It was tough to fool the kids...

Enzo shows off his I ♥ LLI bracelet he made.

Volunteers came out from Lima to help. Gonzalo paints a butterfly for Angelica.

David does "Bozo Buckets"

Packed house for the Vocab Bee!!

Volunteer Lauren Kenyon sits with students during the Bee and awards.

Bryan shows off his winnings for Best Artist in Los Alamos, Zone Z! Way to go.

And at the end of the day, over 20 volunteers from all over the world gathered around to celebrate the amazing day with some "Chifa" (really great Peruvian-Chinese food). Thanks to our in-house volunteers (Ellie Hargadon-Lowe for event coordination), our dedicated staff, local Huaycan volunteers (that's you Katty!), and commuting Lima volunteers.
We did it!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Want to be there next year? Email Lara at Lara@lightandleadership.org. It's a day not to be missed. Special thanks to Mimosa Lindstrom, Jessie Pincus, Natalie Kinsey, and Carlos Motin for generously lending LLI their Anniversary photos!

Save the Date: Friday, August 12!

2011-06-01T14:07:00.001-07:00

Save Friday, August 12th, to celebrate with Light and Leadership! We'll be holding an event at the Glessner House Museum (pictured to the right). Tours of the museum will be available starting at 6:30 pm for only $5!

More details coming soon, but get ready for a night of good food, drinks and great people!

Want to stay updated? Be sure to sign up for our email list on www.lightandleadership.org, follow us on Twitter, and "like" us on Facebook!

Bunnies, Chicks, and Alpacas!

2011-05-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, Light and Leadership took a group of 9 kids from Zone D, Huaycan, to El Arriero, an interactive farm located on the outside of Lima. LLI provided lunch, transportation and an awesome farm experience to the kids! Kids fed everything from bunnies to alpacas, cows, and other animals, and had the opportunity to pet baby chicks, plant seeds, and have fun together on the playground.

Stay tuned for news on LLI's 2nd Anniversary celebration June 12th, 2011!

Excited kids (big and small...) are excited to check out the birds.

Allison feeding the animals.

Volunteer Mimosa Lindstrom feeds the bunnies.

Aracelli with her chick.

Kids plant seeds in the farm's garden.

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Mimosa Lindstom for the photos and the field trip planning.

LLI Pendant: Show Your Support

2011-05-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

Show your support by wearing a Light and Leadership Pendant! Based on the Light & Leadership official logo, the pendant is cast in sterling silver and available on a 20 or 24" silver cable chain. Measuring 2 cm across, the pendant is the same size as a Peruvian 10 cent coin and looks great on both men and women!

$5 from each sale will be donated to the Light & Leadership Initiative by Anna Star Jewelry to support their mission to bring change the women and children of Huaycan, Peru.

Order your pendant now!

5K Success: Si o Si!!!

2011-05-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

On April 30th, OVER 70 runners and walkers came out to support Light and Leadership in Oak Forest, IL. Participants enjoyed crisp and dry weather (hooray)! Congrats to the first place winner, Andy Druetzler (pictured to the right, 1st place male runner), and to Diane Spacek (first place female runner). All participants received a ribbon made from one of our kids in Huaycan :)

Thank you to ALL of those who supported us by running and walking AND to our several volunteers who helped out. PLEASE support our sponsors who so generously offered sponsorship to make this event happen. Check out the names and links below:

Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc.
Oak Lawn Toyota
Monica Kendall - Aflac (monica_kendall@us.aflac.com)
CL Coatings
Harrington & Associates
New Balance
Amber Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Clinical Associates in Counseling LLC

Special thanks to the generous efforts of the students at James Hart School!! Through PENNY WARS at their school, they raised over $750 for LLI! Amazing work!

And they're off...

(L to R) Lara DeVries, Carl and Susan Hudac with Rich and Karen Solle

Sponsor Monica Kendall and family :)

Trinity Christian College alumni and faculty (plus family!) making a pretty great showing (we were even missing a few in the photo)

Former volunteers Connie Wood, Elizabeth Jongetjes and Amy Ravenhorst show off the ribbons from Huaycan. Connie Wood wins farthest traveled... all the way from Madison, Wisconsin. Excellent work.

Part of Team Administration. Thanks Stephanie (LLI Board Member) and David Worrel!

Light and Leadership: The 5K... Just Around the Corner!

2011-04-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

Light and Leadership is gearing up for our first 5K run/walk! We are looking for runners and walkers to support LLI's programs, so sign up now. Sign up now online* and receive a free t-shirt** and some pretty great goodies.

The 5K will be held on April 30th at Yankee Woods in Oak Forest, Illinois (165th and Central Avenue). Both adults and kids are welcome to participate, see our application online for registration fees. Race starts at 8 am.

Questions? Contact Lara@lightandleadership.org

Special thanks to our 5K sponsors:

Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc.
Oak Lawn Toyota
Monica Kendall - Aflac (monica_kendall@us.aflac.com)
CL Coatings
Harrington & Associates
New Balance
Amber Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Clinical Associates in Counseling LLC

Thanks and happy running/walking for LLI!

*If you do not receive an email confirmation after submitting your online form, please contact Lara DeVries at Lara@lightandleadership.org
**T-shirts given out to the first 150 runners.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.....

2011-04-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

...that is, LLI's Field Trip Season! And it's back!

At the end of March, LLI kicked off our field trip season with a visit to the Huachipa Zoo with Zone Z kids and a visit to Lima's Art museum with our drawing workshop students. Check out the pictures below and we know you'll agree with our kids (and volunteers)... Field trips are wonderful.

At the zoo, kids learned about all different kinds of animals, then participated in a hands-on habitat workshop.

Coolest kids at the zoo!

Building Habitat Displays

Dinosaur + Edd = Smiling Kids

The art museum was a blast-- none of the students had ever been there, so this was a first and a memorable trip!

Drawing class in the museum lobby

Chowing down on some delicious ice cream

Please contact Lara@lightandleadership.org to learn how you can sponsor a field trip for as little as $100 USD!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Mimosa Lindstrom for coordinating the field trips and Edd Elliot, Connie Wood, and Kim Smith for being great volunteers (and for passing along photos).

Art, Art, Everywhere!

2011-03-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

We've had some good artsy last few weeks here at LLI. Check out the photos to see why it's been oh-so-good:

Face masks in Los Alamos, Zone Z

Andy Warhol prints

Our women's group checking out ICPNA's exhibition on Peruvian Women's art, celebrating 55 years of women's right to vote.

Karla in our month long drawing workshop!

Nicol and Anel-- experiencing the joys of creating foam animals :)

Art is awesome. We hope you agree.

Don't forget to sign up for our 5K here on April 30th!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Special thanks to Kim Smith for the photos and teaching Art and Sarah Renkert for organizing the Women's field trip.

Light and Leadership: The 5K

2011-03-12T15:58:00.000-08:00

Run or walk to support Light and Leadership! LLI is hosting its first ever 5k run/walk Saturday, April 30th! Find the details below:

Registration begins at 7:15 am
Race begins at 8 am in Yankee Woods (165th and Central, Oak Forest, Illinois).
Payment (Registration before April 23 $25.00, Registration after April 23 $30.00, Children 4 - 12 years walking or running with their parent: $15.00)
Be sure to tell others: run with your best friend or walk with your kids!

The application form can be filled out online. Please fill out one application per participant and be sure to encourage friends and family to participate too. You will receive confirmation of your online application and received payment within 24 hours VIA EMAIL, so please be on the look out!

Volunteer Spotlight: Elizabeth Jongetjes

2011-03-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

LLI sees over 40 volunteers come to work in Huaycan every year. Volunteers quickly become part of LLI's family and the Huaycan community.

Elizabeth Jongetjes, a recent college graduate (Trinity Christian College) from Delavan, Wisconsin, just finished a two month stay in Huaycan with LLI. Please read on to hear her thoughts about volunteering, LLI's work, and living in Peru.

1. What are your responsibilities with Light and Leadership? Describe a typical workday (or your favorite workday):

My responsibilities with LLI keep me very busy. Each day is a little bit different, but primarily involves preparing for and teaching classes. I am responsible for a variety of classes from basic math to intermediate English. I teach kids as young as 6 years old as well as a couple classes for adolescents and adults. I love the variety of classes, locations and students that make up my week. Thursdays have become one of my favorite days each week. Each Thursday I start my day at 10:00 teaching English to 10 – 13 year old students in Zone D. The class consists of one hour of English followed by one hour of sports. It’s a great balance of work and play. Around 12:30, we have lunch at the volunteer house. Each day we enjoy a delicious traditional Peruvian meal together. It’s a great time to enjoy food, company and talk about new ideas and experiences as well as ask questions. At 2:20, I head up to Los Alamos to teach another English/sports class. The kids in Los Alamos have quickly become dear to my heart. Definitely makes the hot and bumpy combi [bus] ride well worth the while. My last responsibility for the day is the opportunity to private tutor a boy named Moises for an hour and a half. It’s a great to be able to work individually with one student. My responsibilities vary each day, providing me with a rich and rewarding variety of classes, experiences and opportunities.

2. Why do you think it´s important to volunteer (abroad or domestically)?

Volunteering has become a very important part of my life. Volunteering has opened doors for opportunities and experiences that have made an impact not only in my own life, but in the lives of others. Dedicating my time to a cause that I believe in is highly rewarding. I have found over and over that the times that I focus more on others and less on myself are the times when I experience the greatest measure of joy. It is healthy to take a step back from my own world and become directly involved in someone else’s. There are countless volunteer opportunities available everywhere. For the last few years I have volunteered domestically and been greatly blessed by such experiences. Going abroad and volunteering in Peru has been an amazing volunteer experience that I would highly recommend to anyone with a love for adventure, learning and service. Volunteering in Peru allows me the opportunity to explore a new place, learn about a different culture and give back to the people that I quickly came to love.

3. What has been your favorite aspect of volunteering with Light and Leadership?

My favorite aspect of volunteering with Light and Leadership is building relationships with the people I came here to serve. Getting to know my students and other people in Huaycan makes everything I do here incredibly personal and exciting. Everyone is very friendly, welcoming and thankful. Hugs from students each morning, hearing my name shouted while walking down the street, receiving a piece of homemade chocolate from a student’s mother, being thanked and loved every day, and always being asked, “When are you coming back?” Are just a few of the reasons why I love this place, this group of people and my life as a volunteer.

4. Do you feel Light and Leadership is making an impact in the community? If so, how?

I definitely feel that Light and Leadership is making an impact in the community. Enthusiasm for education has spread quickly. The community takes pride in their ability to learn English, French, computer skills, art and more. Light and Leadership offers the people of Huaycan excitement, pride and new possibilities. As education increases, so do opportunities, potential and joy.

5. What is it like living in Huaycan? What are the biggest differences and/or similarities compared to where you are originally from?

Huaycan has quickly become home for me. When I first arrived, I wondered how my life could ever feel right in a place so different. However, I was warmly welcomed into this community and found the people and culture to be very special. The differences in landscape, economics, language, and customs were drastic, but the similarities in hospitality, emphasis on family and love for life made me feel at home. I’ve found that it’s the people around you that make things feel right. The simplicity of life here is refreshing, and has taught me a lot about what I really need and what is most important to me.

6. Was your experience in Huaycan similar to what you expected?

My experience in Huaycan had elements that I anticipated, such as learning about a new culture, teaching classes, and learning a bit of Spanish. In addition, my experience provided me with friends from all over the world, the opportunity to explore new places, the ability to communicate in a new language, and the amazing feeling that I am making a difference in the lives of others. It’s inevitable to go to a new place without a list of expectations and anticipations, but often, it’s the surprises, changes of plan and unexpected challenges that add to the value and richness of an experience.

Light and Leadership relies on enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, just like Elizabeth. Be a part of our team! We currently need volunteers from August - December (2011) and January - February (2012). Check out our program!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Elizabeth Jongetjes for being a great volunteer and lending us her thoughts! Come back soon!

And the Winners Are (and yes, a drum roll please)...

2011-03-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of the award season, LLI is announcing our own winners! For the month of February, LLI held a contest to recognize the highest test score in each English and French class for ages 6-15.

The prize? A brand new backpack full of school supplies. Kids were excited about new folders, fresh markers, cool erasers and more. School starts this week, so our winners were ready with new gear. Backpacks were packed with pencils, notebooks, folders, markers/crayons, erasers, pens, scissors, glue, rulers, compasses, pencil sharpeners, ABC games (for little ones!), jump ropes and/or jacks.

Why a backpack and school supplies?

In one of our meetings with mothers of our students in Zone Z in February, it came up that several families struggle to afford the long list of school supplies (the average list costs about 500 soles/175 USD) for every child. Although LLI is unable to provide backpacks to all participants (over 140 this semester!), we decided to offer a contest in every class to help alleviate the burden of some families. Kids got very excited and eagerly awaited the results from their teachers (pictured above... French students gathering around to see the contents of the new backpack).

So onto the winners...!

Zone D:

Alessa (also perfect attendance for January/February)

Anel (also perfect attendance for January/February)

Erick (also perfect attendance for January/February)
Mao and Renzo (tie!)
Gabriela (French II)

Deysi (French I)

Zone Z:
Valery (Los Alamos; also perfect attendance for January/February)
Deysi (UCV 232)
Anabella (UCV 232)
Mery Jane (UCV 231)
Andrea (UCV 231)
Xiomara (UCV 231)

Zone S:

Natividad

Valery in Los Alamos (Zn Z) showing off her new backpack

Gabriela and French teacher Lorene Mermin

Natividad with her backpack in Zone S

Anel and English teacher Lauren Kenyon

Andrea with her new backpack.

Special thanks to all LLI's volunteers for teaching this summer and to our supporters for giving us the opportunity to do such contests! In total, 13 backpacks were given out. THANK YOU!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. For more information, visit www.lightandleadership.org. Special thanks to Connie Wood, Elizabeth Jongetjes for the photos... and for being great volunteers, too.

Say "FROMAGE!"

2011-02-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

French teacher and volunteer, Lorene, and a few of her French students say "Fromage" (or "cheese!") as they wrap up the summer session of French classes. Exams are this week!

Stay tuned for who achieved the highest score on their test... and who won a backpack with lots of great school supply goodies.

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Looking to volunteer? We have opportunities in our French and English education programs starting August 2011. Apply now at www.lightandleadership.org

WANTED: You.

2011-02-12T07:20:00.000-08:00

Just a friendly invitation to join us in Huaycan this August - December! LLI is currently looking for volunteer English teachers to work with kids and women from August 1st - December 12th. We NEED you!

Are you a student? Just recently graduated? Complete an internship with us in English Education! We are looking for one to two Interns/Volunteers.

Not a student? Not recently graduated? We still want you here :) No matter your age* or current college standing, fill out an application online to volunteer now!

*Only half true, must be 18 or older.

Nutrition: More Than Just Fruit and Veggies.

2011-02-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday, LLI kicked off its women's program for 2011 with a Nutrition workshop. Elida, Huaycan's hospital's nutritionist, kindly volunteered her time and led a workshop to thirteen women in Zone Z.

Elida led the women through eating a balanced diet and lifestyle. She specifically focused on nutrition for kids, starting with nutrition during pregnancy. What did we learn? Nutrition is so much more than eating your "choclo" (Peruvian corn) every day. It's about balance. It's about understanding what nutritional value our favorite Peruvian dishes offer us, or what they don't. It's about making sure Huaycan's (and all over the world) kids get accustomed at an early age to eating right. And lastly, it's about making the right decisions about nutrition for yourself, so that your family follows in your footsteps!

Special thanks to Elida and to Sarah Renkert, LLI's house manager, for organizing the workshop. We look forward to the next workshop in March!

Interested in working with our Women's Program long term? We are looking for a program manager to start asap in Huaycan! Please view our internship/volunteer opportunity here and apply if the position is right for you (advanced Spanish skills a must)!

Zone Z's women's group

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Thanks to Enora Guerinel for the provided photos. For more information, please visit www.lightandleadership.org.

UBELONG Visits Light and Leadership!

2011-02-03T08:43:00.001-08:00

Light and Leadership had the pleasure of hosting UBELONG's first Expedition group for a day in Huaycan last month. Thank you to the entire Expedition group and to the founders of UBELONG, Cedric Hodgeman and Raul Roman for such an incredible day! See you all back soon :)

Check out more of the good work UBELONG is doing in Lima and elsewhere around the world on their website.

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of Light and Leadership. Special thanks to Cedric Hodgeman for the photo provided above.

Q&A with Sarah Renkert: Why Keyboarding Rocks.

2011-01-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Just this month, LLI opened up its long anticipated Computer Education program. Sarah Renkert, LLI's volunteer house manager, has taken the reigns of the program and has developed a basic keyboarding curriculum, which includes a pen pal program. Read on to learn about Sarah's take on the program:

Why do you enjoy teaching keyboarding with LLI?

The greatest part about the keyboarding and basic computing course is that the women are enthusiastic and truly seem excited to be enrolled. Thus far I have had 100% attendance and nothing but positive reactions. Overall, it is really wonderful to have a class where the women come, not out of obligation, but because they truly want to learn and feel that material will be beneficial to their everyday lives. This feedback really drives me to continue developing and improving the course.

What are the levels of your students? Were they at a higher or lower level that you had thought?

While we do have a couple more advanced students, the overall computing level of the women is quite low. The majority needed instruction on how to use both a mouse and basic keys. Admittedly, I was expecting the women to have a slightly higher understanding. Several homes in Huaycan do have personal computers and for those who don’t, cheap Internet cafes are available. Nonetheless, it is easy to forget that without basic instruction, approaching a computer would be extremely intimidating.

Why do you think computer skills/typing skills are important for women to have? Why do you think they signed up for the course?

There is no doubt that computers will continue to play an ever growing and integral role in the Peruvian job sector. Therefore, learning basic skills such as typing and general computer functions could potentially lead to greater economic opportunities for the women. On a personal level, the women will gain confidence by measuring their own progress and improvement, while also feeling secure in their ability to both approach and successfully use a computer.

Can you explain the pen pal program and what it brings to the keyboarding class?

The pen pal program in itself is a very straightforward project. In each class, the last half an hour is specifically set aside for the women to write a letter to a former Light and Leadership volunteer. The LLI volunteers will then write a letter in return that same week. The goal is to continue this program throughout the length of the course. I truly believe that the pen pal program will be dually beneficial for both the women in the course and the participating former LLI volunteers. For the women in Huaycan, they are able to continue practicing and developing their typing skills in a more applied manner, which is unquestionably more exciting than copying text straight from the typing program. In addition, the women are able to build cross-cultural friendships, while those who had personal relationships with the former volunteers are able to stay in touch. From the volunteer perspective, the girls [volunteers] are able to continue playing an active role in Light and Leadership, while also staying updated on life in Huaycan.

LLI now offers three sessions of computer classes to a total of 12 women. The program session will run until the end of July. We'll be looking forward to some great WPM results!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Special thanks to Louella DeVries for the photos. Looking to volunteer? Visit www.lightandleadership.org.

Starting 2011 off right!

2011-01-21T07:36:00.001-08:00

Light and Leadership is having a really busy, but great, January!

January 10th kicked off our new year of programs. English, French, chess, math, physical education, art, computer and dance classes were full swing last week across Zone D, Z, I, and S. These programs will run until the end of our summer term, February 25th.

We've opened up a few new locations for classes:

Zone Z UCV 231 previously only had been offered English for adolescents 14 years and up. This year, we've began working with 6-13 year olds as well! Twice a week, kids now are offered an hour English lesson and a half hour of physical education. In addition, our chess program was opened up to 10 years and up!
Zone Z UCV 232 gladly welcomed chess classes! Every Thursday, 6 kids wait to call "jaque mate" or "check mate" and celebrate their victory. Stay tuned for Chess tournament results early next month.
In Zone D, Sarah Renkert, LLI's house manager, began offering basic keyboarding classes to 12 women (3 different sections of classes) to much success! Stay tuned for WPM updates :)

In addition, LLI hosted Trinity Christian College's Interim group's Day Camp! For five days, 14 Light and Leadership kids participated in educational workshops involving Environmental, Artistic, and Linguistic themes! Excellent job Trinity :) Check out more pictures on their blog here. Special thanks to Katty Allcca Rojas, LLI student and volunteer, for helping out with the Day Camp. Couldn't have done it without you!

Look out next week for another update, as LLI has been quite busy this month and we show no signs of slowing down! For now, enjoy the photos below!

Chess in Zone D (also in Zone Z 231, 232!)

Monica and Mao in Zone D after the TCC Interim Day Camp

Dinner with all friends and volunteers of LLI. Thanks Louella!

Published by Lara DeVries, on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Special thanks to Louella DeVries and Amy Ravenhorst for the photos. Please visit www.lightandleadership.org for more information on how to get involved in LLI's programs!

2010... That Went Fast!

2010-12-30T10:13:00.000-08:00

This year was an incredible year for Light and Leadership. We offered more than 500 English classes to over 120 students, designed a case management system for our participants, opened new Chess and Math programs, began integration of a set curriculum, moved to a bigger and brighter classroom space and volunteer home, and plus, we saw over 50 volunteers from Finland to Australia contribute to LLI's goal of accessible and quality education! It was a fantastic year and we are so grateful to all of those who support us, specifically our Alpaca Club Members (find out how to join here)!

December closed out 2010 for LLI with a bang... literally. LLI volunteers took nine of Light and Leadership's most dedicated and top performing students to see STOMP, the percussion and music show, where kids watched bright eyed as the perfomers banged away on everything on stage. Beforehand, kids were treated to a full "pollo a la brasa" meal and delicious dessert! Great job kids, keep of the FANTASTIC work!

LLI also treated our other students who had participated in our programs to special attendance prizes. Prizes were awarded according to their attendance percentage... kids enjoyed choosing between brand new board games, puzzles, dolls, t-shirts, and more! Great work kids!

Also, Light and Leadership held it's second Chess tournament! The two finalists were once again Hericka and Jhordy, but this time Hericka came out on top! Excellent! Look for the next chess tournament at the end of February.

If 2010 was this good, we better look out for 2011! We have a full volunteer house scheduled to start our programs on January 10th, plus a Trinity Christian College Interim group will be holding a day camp. Our programs will continue in Art, Physical Education, English, French, Math, Chess, Dance, and soon we will be offering Keyboarding and Typing! Stay tuned.

Thanks again to everyone who made 2010 such a success for Light and Leadership! We look forward to next year!

Published by Lara DeVries on behalf of the Light and Leadership Initiative. Photos provided by Sarah Renkert and Christine Garcia. For more information, please visit www.lightandleadership.org

LLI's Art Auction is ON!

2010-11-30T09:31:00.001-08:00

Start Bidding!!! Beautiful artwork from Sergio Gomez, Barbara Anderson, Javier Chavira, Anna DeVries, John Bakker, Jack Findlay, Marv Van Wyck and MORE!

Be sure to start bidding now-- the auction ends on Saturday, December 4th, at 7:30 PM (Central Time).

Thanks for your support and special thanks to ALL of our contributing artists :) We appreciate it!

Field Trips are Great.

2010-11-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

LLI has been enjoying the high season for field trips. This past Saturday, LLI took some students (ages 13 and up) to Lima's National Museum, where they learned about the recent history of the Shining Path, a terrorist group that was active in the 1980s and 1990s. Huaycan played an important role in the nation's history during this time. Only one out of the eleven students had been to the museum, so it was a first for so many!

Speaking of firsts, some kids also experienced their first elevator ride :)

After the museum, LLI students had some fun at the Parque de la Reserva, a collection of water fountains in Lima!

Under the water tunnel

Waiting for the big "fountain show" to start!

Once again, thanks to Franzi Weil and Sarah Renkert for coordinating and leading the field trip. Fantastic job!

Published by Lara DeVries, on behalf of Light and Leadership. Visit www.lightandleadership.org for more info on how to get involved!

It's Something Incredible.

2010-11-20T10:26:00.001-08:00

It's big. It's beautiful. It's LLI's new classroom in Zone Z!

Last week, thanks to specially raised funds, LLI purchased a new and much needed classroom space for our English, Art, and Phys. Ed classes in Zone Z of Huaycan. Last Friday, the Board of Directors for Zone Z threw us an inauguration party. After working in Zone Z for more than 18 months, I've come to know this Board quite well. They've offered support to us just as we (LLI) has offered it to them.

Last Friday was something incredible. I love that after a year and a half, I still get that "warm, tingly feeling" after listening to community members thank Light and Leadership for our dedication to their community, specifically to their kids. Their gratefulness is so sincere. Elena, our community contact in Zone Z, told me later, "Lara, I am so happy. Light and Leadership has made this possible and I am so happy."

In addition to being a classroom space for LLI, the Board of Directors of Zone Z will be able to hold meetings in the building. Previously, they had met in the street (the building before was too small for community meetings).

Special thanks to Maura Cato, mother of current LLI's volunteer Tara Cato, for holding an "afternoon tea" fundraiser in Australia to support the purchase of this building. LLI's support is growing internationally, THANKS!

View of the outside of the building.

Volunteers Christine and Franzi with Zone Z Board Members at the Inauguration

Some of the Zone Z Board Members and Lara DeVries in front of the previous building.

Published by Lara DeVries, Light and Leadership Initiative. Photos provided by Lara DeVries and Sarah Renkert. Visit www.lightandleadership.org for more information.

LLI's Art Auction Returns!!!

2010-11-15T19:49:00.000-08:00

It's baaaack! LLI's Art Auction begins November 26th at midnight. Featuring works from Sergio Gomez (pictured, "The Road III"), Jenny Vrieze, Ron Lavery, Liz Popp, Gina Rende, Michael Ruback, Anna DeVries, Dan Diephouse, Steve and Julane Bellin, and Karen Gross!

Check out our online preview and get ready to bid on November 26, 2010 (auction held through eBay)! Auction concludes at the Alpaca Party, a fundraiser for LLI, on Saturday, December 4th. Interested in attending the party? Contact info@lightandleadership.org for more information.

Bid, Bid, Bid! :)

Whoa! Volunteer in Peru AND Paid Airfare?!

2010-11-08T08:13:00.000-08:00

Looking to gain experience in the non-profit world? Speak excellent Spanish and want to volunteer abroad? BE LLI'S HOUSE MANAGER!

The Light and Leadership Initiative (LLI) is offering a unique and incredible opportunity to the right individual. We are seeking a House Manager for our volunteer headquarters in Huaycan, Peru, a poor community on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. The ideal candidate should:

• Be able to work in a team or independently
• Be able to adapt to new situations and living environments
• Enjoy working with people from different cultures and backgrounds
• Be an excellent problem solver, especially with cross-cultural situations
• Be organized and responsible
• Be fluent in English and have advanced Spanish skills
• Previous managerial experience is a plus, but not required
• Previous experience living abroad is a plus, specifically in Lima a MAJOR plus
• Commit at least one year to working in Huaycan with LLI
• Have an interest in working with a grassroots nonprofit and making a difference!

The House Manager position consists of the following responsibilities:

• Develop awareness of volunteer concerns and needs
• Run errands for the volunteer house (Including market shopping)
• Complete volunteer airport pickups
• Prepare volunteer rooms for new arrivals
• Plan and carry out volunteer activities and excursions.
• Assist the Director with new volunteer orientation
• Assist the Director with program/volunteer coordination
• Manage household expense receipts
• Encourage and promote constant communication between volunteers, staff members, and Board Members
• Assist the Directors with weekly volunteer meetings

• Manage post-volunteer surveys

• Other duties as assigned

Light and Leadership also will offer the House Manager the following benefits:

• Free room and board in the volunteer headquarters in Huaycan, Peru
• Round Trip Airfare from the US, Canada or Europe to Lima, Peru
• Transportation costs for Light and Leadership activities
• 2 weeks vacation; two days off a week.

Interested? Please send cover letter and resume to Lara DeVries, Executive Director of the Light and Leadership Initiative, at Lara@lightandleadership.org.

Please, only serious applicants need apply. Must be available for one year AND speak Spanish. This is not a paid position.

Salta, Salta! LLI's First Ever Jump Rope Contest

2010-11-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

Light and Leadership held its first jump rope contest this past Saturday, October 30th. Twenty-one kids came out to participate in four different categories: Speed (how many jumps in one minute), Accuracy (how many jumps before making a mistake), performance (one minute to impress the judges!), and a group jump. Kids came from all over-- Zones Z, D, and I all participated!

Check out the photos below to see the day's activities and the four winners!

Yoshiro, jumping towards victory.

Anabella-- focused. With giggles.

Nicol, mid-action.

Yordy, giving his best "performance" in front of the judges and crowd.

Group jump!

Rafael... happily showing off his Certificate of Participation. Good job, amigo.

The winners! Yoshiro (speed), Axel (group jump), Jorge (performance) and Nayely (accuracy). Excellent job, kids! We are so proud :)

As always, special thanks to our volunteers: Franzi Weil, Adam Hettler, Melissa Fulton, Christine Garcia, Tara Cato, and Sarah Renkert for making this a great success!

Published by Lara DeVries, Light and Leadership Initiative. Visit www.lightandleadership.org.

Volunteer and Intern with Light and Leadership in 2011!

2010-10-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

In 2011, Light and Leadership has plenty of long term volunteer and internship opportunities! Teach English and more in Peru!

Please see our availabilities and needs below:
Volunteer Opportunities:

March 1st - June 12: One English teacher (also can help out with chess, art, dance and more)
March 1st-July 24: Long term opportunities in Art, Chess, Physical Education, Dance, English, and French
August 1st- December 18: Long term opportunities in Art, Chess, Physical Education, Computation/Computers, Dance, English, and French

Internship Opportunities:

Program Development Internship, June 15-December 18
English Education Internship, August 1st-December 18
French Education Internship, August 1st-December 18

Become a part of our team and bring change to Huaycan!

Interested?? Please see http://www.lightandleadership.org/ for more information and fill out our Volunteer Application.

Wild Animals = Wildly Successful Field Trip!

2010-10-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 23rd, our Zone D participants (ages 10-13 from English, Chess, and French classes) went wild over the Huachipa Zoo exhibits. Light and Leadership took 17 eager kids on a tour of the zoo. Our happy kids saw lions, tigers and... anacondas! We ended the day with a excellent workshop on Biodiversity, where kids learned the importance of taking care of the environment. Thanks Huachipa Zoo!

Check out the photos below... we might be heading back soon as well with another group of kids, so stay tuned!

The whole group!

Checking out the Giraffe and Ostrich Exhibit. Andy and Axel approve.

Whoa Anaconda! While the kids looked on in amazement, most of the volunteers were remembering the awesomely bad 90's movie "Anaconda" with Jennifer Lopez and Ice-Cube. Sweet.

Biodiversity workshop. Fabulous!

Fiorella, Yahaira, and Nicol pumped and ready to water the plants in the Huachipa garden after the workshop.

Once again, special thanks to our volunteers Franzi Weil (trip coordinator), Christine Garcia (English and Chess teacher), Adam Hettler (dedicated commuter volunteer (and friend Tania!)) and Sarah Renkert (all around fantastic House Manager) for this wildly successful trip.

Published by Lara DeVries, photos from LLI and Sarah Renkert.. Volunteer with Light and Leadership (www.lightandleadership.org)!

Incan Ruins Never Get Old.

2010-10-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

...Even If They Are Ancient.

This past Saturday, LLI students from Zone Z, I, and S, took a field trip to check out the Puruchuco Incan ruins in Ate. Complete with lunch, a tour of the museum and Incan ruins, and an art workshop, the kids spent the day learning and having fun.

The group outside of the Puruchuco museum, showing off their art projects.

In the museum.

After the tour of the ruins, the art workshop begins... who knew that plastic bottles, toilet paper rolls, and buttons could go oh so far?

Susan, drawing the face.

On the ride home... so happy!

Special thanks to the Puruchuco staff for having us, as well as Franzi Weil, Sarah Renkert and Tara Cato for being excellent Light and Leadership volunteers. :)

www.lightandleadership.org

Chess Tournament!!!

2010-10-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, on October 10th, Light and Leadership held its first chess tournament!! Kids participated from both our Zone Z and our Zone D programs. Thanks to all the kids who participated and congrats to Jhordy, our Chess Champion! Look for another one in December :)

It was soo quiet! Students were extremely focused and concentrated. Our LLI competitors have been learning and practicing since August 2010.

The final two: Jhordy (left) and Herecka (right). Jhordy came out victorious! Both top players received chess boards to play at home!

Each participant received a certificate of participation. Students from Zone Z are pictured above.

Special thanks to Christine Garcia (LLI's in-house chess expert/teacher) and Franzi Weil for coordinating the event. Also thanks to Christel Herben for always helping out with Chess :) Great job!

New House. New Classrooms. Life @ LLI is Good!!!

2010-10-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

Within the past month, LLI has made an exciting change. We've moved volunteer houses and classrooms (in zone D). Check out the pictures below to get a taste of the NEW LLI spaces!!!

Our art and dance students with volunteers!

Chess in Zone D. The first tournament is October 10th. Good luck kids!

Art class!

Our volunteer team plus Dina (LLI cook) and Gonzalo (LLI daytime security) on October 2nd, however we were missing Sarah Renkert, LLI House Manager :(

Pictures of the LLI House...!

View from outside the house! Beautiful yellow :)

Patio-- great for relaxing.

New dining room arrangement. So great!

Big and bright kitchen!

One of three volunteer rooms!

Chess Class in Zone Z!

2010-09-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

This month, LLI started a chess class in both Zone Z and Zone D! Special thanks to teacher Christine Garcia and co-teachers Marta Roman and Christel Herben.

2010-09-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

Want Shoes? Save Money and Support LLI through GoodShop!

$5 any purchase of $40 or more plus free shipping!

8.5% of your purchase will be donated to Light and Leadership! Just click here and name Light and Leadership as your designated charity, and then start shopping and saving!

Tweet Tweet.

2010-09-07T04:31:00.000-07:00

Follow Light and Leadership On Twitter!!!

Light and Leadership has joined Twitter! Follow us to stay updated on daily happenings... hear several times a week about how YOUR support of LLI is impacting Huaycan!

Also, check out our Twitter badges on this Blog (to the right) and on our homepage (www.lightandleadership.org) for Real Time Updates!

Nayely Jumps Rope

2010-09-01T11:27:00.001-07:00

Nayely, a Light and Leadership student in Zone Z, jumps rope and counts in English. Keep an eye out in the next few months for am inter-zonal "saltasoga" competition. It's in the works....

Catalyst Ranch, Zocalo's, and Light and Leadership!!!

2010-08-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

Come out AUGUST 20th to Celebrate Huaycan and LLI at Catalyst Ranch!

COME ONE, COME ALL!! Join the Light and Leadership Initiative in celebrating Huaycan and the good work of LLI's programs! Come if you are interested in learning more about volunteering or supporting Light and Leadership's work in Lima, Peru!

$30 USD per person gets you drinks (soft drinks, wine, beer, and margaritas!), food (delicious mexican food by Zocalo's Restaurant), and excellent company!

RAFFLE PRIZES:

Night at the W Hotel

Sunrise Nursery Certificate

Chicago FIRE tickets

..and more! Free raffle ticket for EVERY friend you bring.

Please RSVP as soon as possible to info@lightandleadership.org

Address: 656 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL

We'll see you on Friday, August 20th!

Special thanks to Catalyst Ranch and Zocalo's restaurant for CO-SPONSORING this event for Huaycan!

Volunteer Excursion!

2010-08-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, Sarah Renkert (LLI's House Manager), took Light and Leadership's volunteers on an excursion to La Punta. Check out the pictures below! For more information on volunteering with LLI, visit www.lightandleadership.org.

A House Favorite: Gonzalo

2010-07-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Gonzalo is our day security guard, but he is so much more than that.
Gonzalo is a funny and caring man that is always engaging in conversation,
even to our volunteers that do not speak Spanish. Despite the language
barrier, he is always willing to communicate. Securing the house is his
job but, as our neighborhood is generally very safe, Gonzalo keeps himself
busy with other activities. Just to name a few, he has color-coordinated
the keys to the house, helped with art projects, danced at the dance
classes, judged the students’ dance competitions, babysat during the
women’s program, helped keep Sarah’s birthday cake a surprise and has even
started growing a mini-garden at the volunteer house. All of us are very
thankful for all the work he does; the volunteer house would not be the
same without him.

--Kristen Painter, LLI Volunteer

Youth Leadership Committee

2010-07-17T17:52:00.001-07:00

My experience with the students of the Leadership program that LLI sponsors was a real joy. I had the opportunity to work with the participants in the development of a literacy program for adults who were unable to read and write. The kids were so energetic and eager to make a difference. What an honor it was to work with the next generation of leaders who will undoubted make the community of Huaycan a better place to live and learn.

-- Ash Kirk, LLI Volunteer

Meet Nicol...

2010-07-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

When you see Nicol playing on the playground and running around with the other kids you wouldn’t notice any difference. She loves playing volleyball and with dolls and HATES playing soccer. However, after about two minutes of watching her in a classroom you will see that she is someone very special. Nicol showed her intelligence very soon after I started teaching her. After only one lesson she would memorize and remember every word we learned. To say she is intelligent would be an understatement. On the last three tests I gave she received 100%. She knows the answer to every single question I ask in class. If my students do not know an answer they look to Nicol to help them. Just today she surprised me by forming a perfect sentence with a word I had never taught her. It has been incredible teaching her for the past 10 months and seeing all that she has learned and retained. She is always hungry to learn more. She completes each worksheet given to her in record time and then runs up to me asking for more questions. It is amazing for me to think of what she can achieve in just one or two years more in the Light and Leadership Program.

--Amy Ravenhorst, LLI Volunteer

Check out the video below of Nicol, reading her (extra) homework:

Mujeres con Iniciativa... Field Trip!!!

2010-07-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 3rd, Light and Leadership's women's program (Mujeres con Iniciativa) took a well deserved field trip. Fifteen women, accompanied by LLI Volunteers (thanks Meri and Luz for all the hard work), went to Flora Tristan, a women's rights organization and then enjoyed lunch and free time in downtown Lima. Check out the pictures below!

Crazy for the World Cup?

2010-06-29T13:40:00.001-07:00

Who are you rooting for?

Brenda, from Zone Z (Los Alamos) is cheering for Argentina in the World Cup. Check out the flag she made during LLI's art workshop last Sunday. Pretty sweet.

Golf Outing Success

2010-06-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

New friends and old gathered for a Light and Leadership fund raiser featuring golf and a party on Saturday, June 12, 2010. Some of the golfers made it through all nine holes at the Square Links course in Frankfort, Illinois and others were rained out after just a few holes. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed some incredibly delicious food, drink and fellowship after golf! There were terrific raffle prizes. Hal Kaufman won the longest putt contest and Jonathan DeVries won the longest drive contest! With LLI supporters, everyone is a winner, including the women and children we serve!

It was a summertime chance to gather and talk about some of the latest news from Huaycan and to make some new friends. It just goes to show, some of the best people on earth support the work of the Light and Leadership Initiative!

Hole sponsors included:

Circle Tractor in Homer Glen, Illinois

CL Coatings in Mokena, Illinois

Allan and Mary DeLange

Michael and Louella DeVries

Kelly Nissan on 95^th in Evergreen Park, Illinois

Olive Branch Counseling Associates in Oak Forest, Illinois

Raffle Prizes were donated by:

Bob’s Custom Clubs in Mokena, Illinois

Cooper’s Hawk Winery in Orland Park, Illinois

Culver’s in Tinley Park, Illinois

Frankie’s Ristorante in Tinley Park, Illinois

McDonald’s in Tinley Park, Illinois

Rock Bottom Brewery in Orland Park, Illinois

Sunrise Nursery of Woldhuis Farms in Grant Park, Illinois

White Street Gallery in Frankfort, Illinois

Wines for Humanity (Winesforhumanity.org)

A big thank you to PALERMO’S in Tinley Park for giving us a discount on some fabulous Italian cuisine and to BOB’S CUSTOM CLUBS for a discount on golf balls and tees!

Please take your business to those folks mentioned above – and thank them for supporting Light and Leadership’s work in Peru!

Enjoying the after-party!

Big time raffle winners, Marlene and Harry JaBaay!!

Happy First Anniversary LLI!

2010-06-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

On June 6th, 2010, Light and Leadership celebrated it's first anniversary!!! It was an amazing day packed with face painting, an art exposition, a chocolate sale from our Women's Program, a tough Vocabulary Bee (congrats Nayely, Camila, Cristian, and Deysi!), piñata bashing, and lots of dancing and laughter. Please check out the photos below to see the good time for yourself... and book your plane ticket to be here next year!

Special thanks to our LLI volunteers: Amy Ravenhorst, Meri Paunonen, Eleanor Hargadon-Lowe, Dana Ticker, Whitney Reynolds, and Kristen Painter. FANTASTIC JOB!

Museo de Arte!!!

2010-06-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

Our Zone Z Art students enjoyed a trip to Lima's newly renovated Art Museum! Special thanks to volunteers Meri Paunonen and Cristina Capuzzi for organizing a fantastic field trip.

Los Alamos Say Hi

2010-05-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

Light and Leadership works in three different areas in Zone Z in Huaycan. One of them is "Los Alamos," one of the most desolate places in Huaycan. It's as far as the combis go, as far as buildings are built...

Although it's desolate, the students in Los Alamos have so much personality and are always ready for more. They recently asked their English class to be pushed up to meeting twice a week, instead of once. Light and Leadership gladly accepted this offer!

Meet some students of Los Alamos -- Antony, Akemi, Valery, Angelica, Sara, and Brenda.

Private Tutoring

2010-05-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

Volunteer Nigel Clifford private tutors our student Nicol in Zone Z. Quite adorable.

UCV 231

2010-05-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

UCV 231 English Class sends a message to Amy Ravenhorst, LLI volunteer, who is taking a well deserved vacation to travel in Peru and Brasil. We love you, Chuki!

Jump Rope-Limbo Fun in Zone Z!

2010-05-02T22:09:00.000-07:00

Breaking News -- Country Line Dancing in Huaycan (Taught by a Brit...)

2010-04-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

LLI's conversation club was invaded by a country music loving Brit. The results were... pretty incredible. Line dancing, laughter, and all those good cowboy English phrases. Yeehaw!!!!

Light in Zone Z (Two Parts) Check It Out!

2010-01-21T12:11:00.000-08:00

Vocabulary Bee 09!!

2009-11-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

Road (un)Safety

2009-10-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

Traffic in Peru is crazy, everybody does their own thing and for a foreigner first coming here there seems to be no logic (I still doubt whether there actually is). In Huaycan, however, everything remained quite calm until a couple of weeks ago… That was the time when the traffic lights on the main junction stopped working. Our luck, of course, is that we have to cross that street a couple of times per day!

Sara already had an amazing near-death experience. We were heading back home from ‘Quince’ and had to cross the street. Lara and I started running and safely reached the other side. It’s only then we realized that we were missing Sara. When we looked for her she was still on the other side of the road patiently waiting for a good moment to cross. Exactly at the moment she thought it was safe, traffic started coming in from all sides. This ended up in a big mess with her standing in the middle of the road looking terrified and almost being run over by moto-taxi’s and combi’s. Every time she intended to start walking again she immediately changed her mind as she was almost run over by a next car. In the meantime, Lara and I were laughing hysterically and everybody else was looking at us as if we were crazy. Luckily, in the end Sara managed to cross the street without being injured and also Lara and I calmed down.

-- Nadja Franssen, Light and Leadership Volunteer

Pop.

2009-10-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

Our discussions at the lunch table are mostly pretty calm. However, seeing as a majority of our volunteer staff teaches English, there is one topic that gets everyone heated. The deeply profound question: Pop or Soda?

I, being from the Chicagoland area, have grown up saying pop. Knowing that there are others that, in my now very strong opinion, incorrectly call it “soda,” I realized early on the opportunity I had as an English teacher. There would be no teaching “soda” in my classroom.

I’m not sure how, but the “pop-soda-each-side-thinks-they’re-right” discussion came up. Kristin, who I previously thought was a fellow pop supporter because she’s a Midwesterner (Wisconsin), was staunchly defending the “soda” side. Amy, Sara, and I were making a pretty good showing for pop. I must say though, Kristin held her own.

It was heated. I was almost in tears, Sara and Amy refused to speak to Kristin, and Kristin stormed off.

Well. Not quite. But I’m still stubborn about my choice in using pop and the discussion didn’t accomplish much—except that I now know Wisconsin says it wrong.

It’s worth mentioning that all the while, Nadja, our volunteer from the Netherlands, was not remotely interested in this. I don’t blame her, really.

--Lara DeVries, Light and Leadership Volunteer

So Misunderstood.

2009-10-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

It is possible to come to Peru without knowing Spanish and learn the language. That just means that your mistakes are going to be that much worse. Saying the wrong word in a classroom typically goes by unnoticed because you are surrounded by people who, like you, don’t know any words outside their textbooks. Making a mistake around the table with native speakers nothing goes unnoticed. The results can be tragically embarrassing.

I have been officially speaking Spanish for one month now and it seems to me that I have made more tragically embarrassing mistakes than your average gringa. The worst part is that you think you successfully communicated what you meant to say. But then you start to get strange looks or laughs and then you look around until you are the last to know what terribly inappropriate phrase you have just mumbled out. Thus here is my top 4 countdown of the worst misunderstandings…

4. Sitting around the lunch table one afternoon I begin to gloat about my Wisconsin pride once again. This time I tried to prove to everyone at the table that Wisconsin is far superior to Illinois… in Spanish. I am not even sure what exactly I said but everyone started to laugh, I unsure if this was good or bad. It was bad. It translates to “my love is very juicy”.

3. There was a very important nurse over for a visit to discuss how we could start to partner with her clinic. I sat down and she asked me how my Spanish was coming along. I tried to explain that I try not to think in English phrases but it didn’t exactly come out that way. I said to her “I don’t believe in English.” Might I note, we are an organization that teaches English. Lara and her both look at me like I was crazy in the head. Lara says, “Did you mean to just tell her that you don’t believe in English?” Oh my. Lara smoothed that one over for me but I have since been hesitant to sit down with other guests. Maybe I’ll try it again in a few weeks.

2. Yrma is our “Peruvian Mom” of sorts. She is Luz’s mom and is around all the time. She was getting ready to go on a week long trip and was sitting in our living room getting her hair done. There were at least eight people sitting in the room. I was reading a book and the Spanish phrase for have a nice trip was in there. I say to Yrma, “bien vieja” she started to laugh and so I said it again and again. Everyone was laughing at this point. I look around and knew I had done it again. Translated I said, “You are very old.” Watch out for that one kids… it’s just a close call. Good trip, buen viaje.

Drum roll please….

1. Setting… lots of new people I have not met in the house for a party. They ask me to take a picture. That day I had learned two new words, chócala (high five) and chompa (sweater). I thought it would be a huge success if I would say “uno, dos, tres… Chócala!” when I take the picture. This is more how it went, “Uno, dos, tres… CHUPALA!!” Lots of laughs immediately indicated to me that it was far more successful that I thought it would be, I mean really successful. I was the last to know that I had actually said, “One, two, three… SUCK IT!”

Kristin Bolan, Misunderstood Light and Leadership Initiative Volunteer

Why is choclo so grande?

2009-10-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

Why is choclo so big????? This is the question I have been asking myself ever since I arrived in Huaycan two weeks ago. Choclo is the name for the corn that they have here….if you can even call it corn. This is no ordinary ear of corn like one that you would see in the supermarkets. The kernels on this corn are the size of a penny or larger. I have done a considerable amount of research on the web without any successful leads. If anyone has an idea of how the corn here has become so big, I would appreciate some information. Luz’s explanation of “big seeds” has not cured my curiosity in this matter.
- Amy, newest Light and Leadership volunteer.