To our Common Ground Community…We are very thankful for you!
You’re an incredible community of language learners and you inspire us! We see your drive and motivation to improve your Spanish speaking ability and to have a greater impact in the communities where you live, work, study, serve and play. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your Spanish language learning journey.
If you have traveled with us on our Spanish immersion programs, you know we have the opportunity to collaborate with incredible organizations that work with marginalized populations in Latin America.
These nonprofits serve some of the most marginalized and neglected communities in Ecuador and Costa Rica. The local directors and staff continue to pour their time, resources, and encouragement into the lives of individuals that are breaking toxic patterns and generational cycles of abuse, neglect and poverty.
During this holiday season, we have an opportunity to continue to support them from afar. Would you consider helping us raise money for these 3 specific projects? If you’re in, we’re in… Common Ground is matching your donation dollar for dollar to the 3 organizations we’re going to share with you now
Watch this brief video to learn more:
In Ecuador our immersion participants have the opportunity to work with two local non-profits.
Cetad Exitus
Cetad Exitus is an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab facility for women in Cuenca, Ecuador. For multiple years now, the center has requested that Common Ground support their patients through workshops focusing on mental health, healthy relationships, self image, sexual abuse and safe sex practices. Our donations to Cetad Exitus help defray the costs of psychiatric medications (averaging about $150/mo for each patient) that these women need during treatment. If you feel led to help with this need, click on the button below and donate any amount. $1 or $1,000 helps.
Fundación Arenal
Fundación Arenal has worked for more than 30 years with the most vulnerable kids in Cuenca, Ecuador. This year, they have committed to helping the 71 kids that they sponsor with their oral health. A local dental team has stepped up to provide routine dental care to these kids and Arenal needs funds to help offset the cost. A routine exam with cleaning and fluoride costs about $23 and specialty care such as minor operations or endodontic care can be up to $100. If you would like to help with this need, click on the button below.
In Costa Rica, we have the honor of volunteering with the CEDCAS organization.
They serve one of the largest shanty towns in Costa Rica called Guararí. Would you consider helping us raise money for their school uniform drive? 107 kids need school uniforms in order to attend the free public school. If kids in Costa Rica do not have a uniform they cannot go to school.
The average cost of a school uniform is $100 per year and the average income of these families in Guararí $400. You can help send a child to school by contributing to their uniform. And Common Ground International, will match your donations up to $4,000.
In Costa Rica, the academic school year ends in November. As they are getting ready to conclude their school year, let’s help send 107 kids to school next year!
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to help you along the way!
To conclude, we have a Spanish challenge for you- Learn how to spread thanks en español!
Aprende cómo expresar la gratitud en español.
They say that gratitude can change your outlook on life. It’s a skill and a discipline that is to be honed, practiced, and made a habit. It is easy to look around us and see what we don’t have and compare our lives to others. A slight perspective shift, focusing on gratitude can help us appreciate what we do have and return the kindness to others around us.
We have created this gratitude vocabulary card for you to express your thanks in Spanish!
Dicen que la gratitud puede cambiar tu perspectiva de la vida. Es una habilidad y una disciplina que hay que perfeccionar, practicar y convertir en un hábito. Es fácil mirar a nuestro alrededor, ver lo que no tenemos y comparar nuestras vidas con las de otros. Un ligero cambio de perspectiva enfocándonos en la gratitud puede ayudarnos a apreciar lo que sí tenemos y corresponder a la amabilidad de los otros a nuestro alrededor.
Go ahead and download the key vocabulary and verbs to express your thanks in Spanish. We challenge you to write a note to someone you are thankful for.
