Ak Lu'um School Moves Into New Campus

[Michele]

The following is a message and a call to action from the administrators of Ak Lu'um School, Playa del Carmen's only not-for-profit private school. Ak Lu'um accomodates students regardless of ability to pay and also provides special education services. This month, they will be making the big move from the large converted house in the Campestre that they have called "home" for the past two years and into their new campus in the jungle, west of 307, just south of Playa del Carmen. The new school is nearly complete but they need help to finish and are looking for support from the community. For more information about Ak Lu'um, please check out their website at Aklu'um International School Community - Playa del Carmen.

The message from Siobhan and Gaby is below and I have done my best to translate it into English. Any inquiries can be made through the website or to akluum[at]gmail[dot]com.


Hola a papás, mamás, conocidos y ángeles guardianes de Ak Lu'um:

Estamos terminando de construir nuestra escuela.

A diferencia de las demás escuelas en Playa del Carmen, hemos procurado respetar nuestro bello entorno de selva. Los salones de Preescolar y de Primaria ya están terminados. La oficina, que muchos de ustedes ayudaron a construir con sus propias manos (aunque luego hicimos trampilla y le pedimos a un maestro albañil que nos ayudara a terminar) También está lista.

Sin embargo, aún faltan muchos detalles como las bardas de los jardines, los ventiladores, los páneles solares, el baño compostero de maestros (los baños de alumnos son mojados), los jardines y el biodigestor, por mencionar algunos.

Todo esto cuesta, y nuestro presupuesto de construcción está en las últimas; como siempre, han surgido gastos inesperados o cambios al proyecto, esto ha incrementado el presupuesto original.

Hacemos un llamado a toda la comunidad para que apoyen, cada quién como pueda.

A nuestros padres, les pedimos inscribir a sus hijos y pagar la cuota de materiales lo antes posible. Recuerden que existe un fondo de desarrollo, al formar parte de Ak Lu'um este año el donativo es de $ 5,000, pero si ya eres Ak Luumeño antiguo, coopera con lo que puedas.

A nuestros amigos y a la porra Ak Lu'um les invitamos a apoyar esta noble causa con un donativo o préstamo.

Juntos podemos realizar el sueño de un mejor futuro para nuestros hijos y un mejor presente para todos nosotros. El Lunes 18 de Agosto nos veremos de las 10:00 a.m. a las 2:00 p.m. en el 'Open House' anexo el croquis.

Un abrazo

Gaby y Siobhan


Hello to the fathers, mothers, acquaintances and guardian angels of Ak Lu' um:

We are finishing the construction of our school. Unlike other schools in Playa del Carmen, we have tried to respect our beautiful surroundings of the jungle. The Pre-school and Primary halls are already finished. The office that many of you helped to construct with your own hands (although later we enlisted the services of a skilled mason to help us finish) also is ready.

Nevertheless, many details are still missing like the enclosures for the gardens, the fans, the solar panels, the teachers’ composting bathroom (the students’ bathroom facilities are “wet”), the gardens and the bio-digester, to mention a few. All of this costs money, and we are at the end of our funds budgeted for construction. As is always the case, unexpected expenses have arisen and changes to the project have increased the budget.

We make a call to all the community to support us, everyone as best they can. We have asked our parents to register their children early and to pay the quota of materials as quickly as possible. Remember, a development fund exists. When becoming a part of Ak Lu' um this year’s grant amount is $5000 pesos. If you are already an “Ak Luumeño”, please help however you are able.

We invite our friends and the Ak Lu' um team to support this noble cause with a grant or a loan.

Together we can realize the dream of a better future for our children and a better present for us all. Monday, the 18th of August, 10:00 a.m. the 2:00 p.m. we will see each other at the Open House.

Hugs,
Gaby and Siobhan