Hey everybody,

I’m really excited to share this next update on the Pencils of Promise school fundraiser. With your help and donations, we were able to build to raise $25k to build a school for the children of La Independencia. I seriously can’t thank you enough for making that wish a reality for me this year. I couldn’t have done it without you.

So who remembers the old building that was used as a classroom before our extreme makeover? It’s been a while, so let me give you a quick refresher. This was what the place looked like before we got there…

And this is what it looks like after renovation…

Now THAT’S impressive. This is one seriously awesome view, but let’s take a tour for the details.

The old palm structures that were used before lacked bathroom facilities. You can imagine how that rough that must have been for the students trying to learn and the teachers educating.

Well folks, the days of not having a place to potty are over. The new school now includes a 3-stall bathroom equipped with proper waste management for the village. When I saw this, I couldn’t help be feel a little excited and then relieved, much like the kids will feel with this new feature.

The classroom sits across from the bathroom facility and, if you ask me, has a pretty killer view of the surrounding jungle. There are small paths to get to the school, but I’m sure the children know the area well enough to navigate. Now that we’ve covered the outside, let’s take things indoors.

“WELCOME TO CLASS”

The children are immediately greeted with a warm welcome upon entering. I think having that positive motivation can really do a lot when it comes to learning and making the kids feel connected and motivated. Of course, a cool Pencils of Promise decal is printed into the floor tiles and it definitely puts the finishing touch on the room.

I’m also stoked that the walls are colorful and the room is spacious enough to move around. Things were way different before (check out this post for a throwback). By the time school gets out, I hope those walls are covered in the students’ artwork. The best wall decor money can’t buy.

We also have a dedication plaque that’s awaiting installation, so be sure to follow my Twitter or Facebook on the latest updates for that.

Thanks again to everybody who supported this project. I’m so honored to have you on my team.

– Ty