Birds, birds, and more birds…and music in Kraków…

We are in Brazil!!! Woohoo! We flew into Sao Paulo Airport and met our birding group on Thursday. We started our birding tour in Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, a national park in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The birds are beautiful. Check out the tanagers below. We’re going into the highlands tomorrow. It will be cold, but there will be a lot of birds. Can’t wait!

Meanwhile, in Poland, the work continues. KDU/Fundacja Kocham Debniki and Let’s Help Together Foundation are partnering to start a democratic school at the Psychotherapeutic Integration Center. The concept of a democratic school is where teachers and students work together in education. It’s a school built on respect and partnership of students and teachers. Students will have lessons in the morning, and in the afternoon, they learn by participating in their interests. Not all students learn the same way; this approach helps them learn according to their talents, skills, and interests.

There is space for four classes for Juniors, 9-12 year-olds, and two classes for 13-17 year-olds. The teenager classes started last Thursday. They are led by an experienced team of teachers from a Ukrainian school with the democratic school concept from the Foundation “Unity.” We thank them for allowing us to co-create this project. The work of KDU and Let’s Help Together is giving these Ukrainian children a chance at a new life. Having fun and getting an education is a fantastic way to learn! Kudos to you all for your hard work.

There’s more big news last week is…drumroll… Last Thursday, Pearl Jam played at a sold-out concert to 40,000 people in Kraków. Someone in the band got wind of the great work we are doing in Poland/Ukraine, and they invited our local Krakow team to attend the concert as VIP guests of honor. Eddie Vedder publicly thanked us for our work in front of 40,000 concert-goers. The band also made a direct donation to our mission. Check out the videos, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE1Q21oqi_Q&t=59s, https://youtu.be/Bq5g4Ys_F-A.

“Yesterday, we received an extraordinary distinction; during the Krakow concert, Pearl Jam Fundacja Kocham Dębniki thanked Eddie Vedder for our actions for families fleeing the war in Ukraine.

We feel that this is a thank you to all of us, the Ukraine Relief Initiative group, and those supporting us from across the ocean, Krakowskie Dębniki dla Ukrainy. Without you, none of it would have been possible!

The war continues, and women from our Cracow community lose their husbands, homes, and their sense of security every day. Autumn is fast approaching, and with it, another wave of people fleeing the cold from their ruined homes. Let’s keep it up!” – Olga Lany, KDU

Thank you for your donations. Because of you, we can help Ukrainian women and children with a community center that offers Polish language classes, daycare, art classes, help with job searching, and a clothes and food pantry. And much-needed therapy and summer classes for the children. But, we still need to continue our mission of supporting thousands of Ukrainians in Poland. Will you please consider another contribution to help us offer these services to help the resettlement of our displaced Ukrainian friends? We are without words except thank you for your love and support. Be positive and stay safe.

 

Freedom is possible!

 

Much love,
Cindy and Dana

 

HOW TO MAKE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UKRAINIAN RELIEF INITIATIVE
All contributions are fully tax-deductible through HCC, our registered 501(c)(3) passthrough charity.

TO CONTRIBUTE BY CHECK:
Make your check payable to **Hispanic Community Council** – (VERY IMPORTANT: not to Ukraine Relief Initiative) and send it to the following address:

HCC – URI
c/o John Kersey
208 Liberty Street
Warren, PA 16365

Please indicate “Ukrainian Relief Initiative” in the check memo and include a note with your contact info (address, phone, email).

TO CONTRIBUTE ELECTRONICALLY BY PAYPAL:
Use this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WMYJHS9UVMWY2. PayPal goes through the “Hispanic Community Council,” our 501(c)3 passthrough organization.
In the memo, please include your name, address, phone #, and email so we can process your tax receipt.