Update from Elsa Aramburo:
As you may know, after serving the Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, México community and leading a private, bilingual K-12 school for 21 years with 375 students and a staff of 35, the school closed because of the pandemic.
It is time to redefine what I do now and how I serve my community
Matthew 25:35-36
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”
Observing the community’s needs, I have chosen and have worked towards opening a community center to serve seniors and orphans in an impoverished area of Los Cabos, Mexico. The center will be named “Shalom” meaning “Peace” in Hebrew.
The project is being developed on a one-acre property with a building with 7 rooms and space to plant fruits and vegetables and trees.
The goal is for this to be a sustainable project with a holistic approach that provides nutrition, education, and health services in the community center.
Vision
To be an empowering organization in my community.
To create a mindset of bilingual leaders who live with values for generations.
To support and care for the elderly and orphans and generations to come.
To impact and serve the environment.
To protect children and succeed in education despite disadvantaged conditions.
Economic support, teamwork, breakthrough and breaking out of a mindset of following along, from living in poverty to becoming successful citizens.
A mentality as of conquerors, successful people with global citizenship, victorious people that positively impact the world with their decisions.
“My past doesn’t determine my future”
Major Goals and Objectives
- This project will provide nutrition, health, and education services for orphans and elderly people.
- Among the activities that will be carried out are actions that will need to be taken to fulfill the goals and objectives
- People: What roles need to be filled (including yours)
Currently, we have two families living on the property and helping with the garden. We have another couple that is helping with the electricity and plumbing. - Visiting, there is a missionary couple that is willing to help.
- We have two nurses and one doctor that are willing to serve.
- We still need teachers for every activity or subject that will take place. We will have nurses and teachers on staff.
- Preparation of preserves and teas and dehydrating fruit. This will create a collaborative environment where we learn to take care of each other.
- The classes that will be taught are art, music, cooking, crochet, woodwork, gardening, exercise, values,
technology, theater, recreational activities, and movies where they can learn about other cultures. - Solar panels must be installed.
- Classes and health services must be designed.
Staff must be hired. - Water well must be activated.
- Marketing to the local community.
My role is to be a change agent leading this project in collaboration with the community. I oversee HR, operations, and development.
Timeline:
By the end of this year, we plan to finish construction of ramps, rails, patio, and porch access to the building. We have planted fruit trees and vegetables. We plan to be operating in the spring of 2025.
Resources: Financial, Material, Human
This project is being funded with 10% tithing of our family business that is real estate development, and funded with a triple bottom line action plan. 10% of gross revenues go towards funding this project in collaboration with GreenAngels.
The Key Performance Indicators
will be:
# of people served in educational activities and health services
# of activities and services offered
Quantity of harvested fruits and vegetables
Qualitative Indicators are the level of satisfaction and happiness of the people after participating in the community center.
The mission will be accomplished when we see seniors and orphans interacting in unity, peace, and love in the community. The purpose is to create a great lasting legacy going beyond sustainability and empowering the community with education and health services.
We aim to provide a sense of belonging and to help individuals understand how each one is important in this world.
Leadership
My leadership style is collaborative and purpose-driven. I need to work on my communication skills and I know I cannot successfully launch this project on my own. My challenge is to find the team members that will be serving and empowering the community with ethics and a global mindset that will bring them to another level of prosperity for their future. I bring people onto my team that understand the vision and mission of the project, and who are committed wholeheartedly.
Closing Thoughts
According to the economic conditions of the area where this project is being developed, the health and education services that will be offered will create a lasting and positive impact on the community. The staff and
clients’ futures will be improved because of the services offered by this community center. Many will have the opportunity to flourish as leaders according to their talents and gifts.
This community center will assist in giving
dignity and value to all who participate.
Update Sept 8/24......
Good things don't always come about instantly. But they are worth waiting for as is the case with the slow but steady progress towards fulfilling the purpose behind Casa Shalom.
Step by step, Elsa Aramburo is walking towards her mission of making Casa Shalom a sanctuary for the very young and the elderly in her community. A lack of resources can slow things down but never stops the momentum. While the house is being remodeled there is action outside. Vegetables have been planted and harvested. Lunches have been served to those in need. Community gatherings have taken place to celebrate togetherness.
And throughout, the vision becomes a plan and the plan will become reality.
Elsa herself, already a force in her neighborhood, is working towards her Leadership Diploma with the University of Peace Executive Education branch and will take this further knowledge and turn it into action. She not only plans to help those in need of shelter, but intends to make Casa Shalom into a sustainable entity. She will work with women in the community, especially those who have not had the advantages that we may take for granted and who seek opportunities to support their families, such as the PinMoney Moms. She will help them work together, learn how to start small businesses and sell local artisan products.
Casa Shalom is the perfect centre around which a productive relationship can evolve. The women can gather there, not only to produce saleable items, but to work together to mentor the young and to learn from the elderly, thereby giving them back their purpose.
Greenangels, along with donors, continue to support Elsa's endeavors towards creating a sustainable outcome and a better life, paticularly for women and their families in her community.
______________________________________________________________________________
A home, a sanctuary, a community hub. This is Elsa Aramburo's dream. Since the school closed due to COVID, Elsa has turned her attention to the community, mothers, young children and the elderly, respecting their needs and providing a gathering place for support and inspiration.
She's found a large house, in need of repair but basically sound, and step by step, is turning it into a haven. It sits on a large lot with water available and utilities in place. She envisions it remodeled and repainted with new bathrooms, kitchen appliances, beds and other necessities. She can picture the abuelos (grandmothers) in their rocking chairs, their hands busy creating crafts. She can see the ninos (children) playing in the garden, and planting the veggies they will later cook. She can envision women working together to generate added income for their families, creating 'cottage' type businesses. She can imagine a healthy and loving place that those now in need will call a home away from home.
A lot of work has been done but lots more needs to happen before the vision is complete. Elsa has provided a list, quite a long one, of items needed for the house. The priorities are below:
- Remodeled bathrooms (7)
- Kitchen and laundry appliances
- Flooring
- Countertops
- Beds and bedding
- Ramps
- Wiring and fans
These are the essentials with other items needed as funds allow. The vision is to work towards sustainability by having all residents contribute their talent, whether large or small and by growing a garden that will provide nourishing vegetables to eat and sell at the marketplace and to resorts.
Greenangels is supporting Elsa's dream and you can too if this speaks to your heart.
Thank you.
