LLI's Art Auction Returns!!!

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?!

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

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!

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!

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.

...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!!!

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!