Simply put - Sayulita's beaches are a mess. The flooding has brought garbage and debris to Sayulita's beautiful coastline. Mother nature needs our help.
Please Join Us Costa Verde International School is pairing with Punta Sayulita to organize this year's annual International Coastal Cleanup or Limpieza de Playa this Saturday at 9:30am at Punta Sayulita Beach House (next to Don Pedro's). To find out more: http://www.elsayulero.com/story/saturday-beach-clean
Beach Clean Up Around The World
Sayulita's beaches aren't the only ones in need of clean up. Our planet's oceans and waterways are polluted with waste. Each year The Ocean Conservancy program organizes teams of volunteers to go to beaches, lakes and rivers around the world to clean trash and debris. This is one of the biggest events for cleaning up the world's waterways. If you are not in Sayulita, but want to help in this effort, you can find out about a waterways clean up in you area at: http://www.oceanconservancy.org
Flood Victim Updates Coming Soon...
It is important to not just report on the crisis, but to also follow up with the people effected. Visit this blog again soon for a video update on Nancy, Fernando and Costa Verde School.And thank you again for all who have donated their time and money!
September 17, 2010
Life gets back to normal
Dozens of volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide truck loads of clothing, mattresses, food, and water to flood victims. They have shoveled mud, pumped water, and power washed walls. Now the long list of families in need has shortened and we are seeing life getting back to normal. It was, as some describe it, a herculean effort. The generosity of the community, both locally and internationally, has touched us all.
Generosity brings tears
Yesterday, as bags of baby clothes and were distributed, a woman who's house had been flooded, approached the group of volunteers who were distributing. She needed a few things, but moments after leaving arrived with a big bag. Inside were clothes that no longer fit her children and she wanted to donate them to pass along to someone who needed them. Giving, not just receiving, in the face of losing almost everything brought tears to our eyes.
Sayulita is strong
Sayulita is back! Our strength of spirit and generosity was tested, but our community proved it can overcome.
What's next
Rebuild. Many structures were damaged, including Costa Verde's back retaining wall. They are calling for heavy rains next week, so we need to rebuilding and fix damaged structures. Don't let it go
Again, thank you deeply to everyone who donated their time and money during this crisis. YOU made a difference! But don't let it go, let us continue to build on this community spirit.
September 13, 2010
Fernando's Story
Today, a group of volunteers arrived at Fernando's house on Manuel Placencia Street with pressure washers, mops, bleach, and rubber gloves. The going was slow, but great progress was made. To hear how Fernando, his pregnant wife, and 7 year old son barely made it to safety from the rapidly swelling river, please view the attached video.
Not Unique
Their story, while heart wrenching, is not unique. Many, many families are struggling to clean, provide for their children, and get back to their lives. If you are in the Sayulita area, please consider joining our clean up crew which will be meeting at Costa Verde International School on Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th at 9:00am. Cash donations are also desperately needed. One hundred percent of your gift goes directly to providing relief to these struggling families and insuring Costa Verde International School is safe for the children to attend. (See September 11th post for more information about Costa Verde's destroyed retaining wall.)
Thank you to everyone for your generosity! Please continue to visit this blog, as updates will be frequent.
September 11, 2010 The Tragedy.
Monday September 6th, the rain came down in sheets. School was canceled, roads were closed, the river filled up with brown muddy water - but the worst was yet to come. Tuesday night the town of Sayulita, and up and down the coast line of Bandaras Bay, saw rains continue to fall, and the full force of Mother Nature was unleashed. The river flooded over its banks, filling houses with many feet of water or taking them away all together. People fled on foot, leaving all of their personal belongings behind. Sayulita's bridge collapsed, shops and restaurants on the river fell, and Costa Verde International School could only watch as a house, then a road, then their retaining wall was taken by the now powerful river, threatening many of their classrooms.
A Community Responds.
In the following days - without electricity or running water - neighbors helped neighbors by taking them in, providing a hot meal, or filling sandbags. It was a town in crisis. Now, as tractors and people mobilize, we are able to assess the damage and the need - and it is great. Costa Verde International School, along with a group of volunteers, is now calling out to their international community for help.
Our plan. Tamarindo and Mangal Neighborhoods: These were the areas of town most affected. We are organizing clean up crews to go door to door with buckets, mops, and shovels. Many neighborhoods are simply unlivable until the mud is cleared away and garbage is taken away. Once houses have been cleaned, we will assess and provided needed household supplies.
Beach: Cleaning crews will also be mobilized to clean up the beach, which was filled with garbage and debris washed down from the river. This will be an on going effort.
Public kindergarten school (next door to Costa Verde): Their building was badly damaged, so we will be helping them clean, providing them with laborers and building supplies so that they can rebuild, and will replace lost teaching supplies.
Costa Verde International School: With our retaining wall gone, Costa Verde school is on the edge (literally) of being taken by the river with the next rain. Thirty volunteers - teachers, parents, children and even a couple of tourists - laid 1,000 sandbags in the hopes of saving their school. But it is only a band-aid. It will take many generous donations to be able to rebuild the retaining wall and keep the river secure from future flooding.
Here is how YOU can help.
There are three simple things you can do: volunteer your time, provide supplies, give money.
Time:
If you are in the area, your donation of time is needed.
Here is a schedule of activities that Costa Verde is organizing:
Saturday September 11
9am at CVIS with Jessica to go into neighborhoods to help
9:30am at Don Pedros for a Sayulita beach cleanup
Monday September 13
9am at CVIS with Lina to go to the Kinder and into neighborhoods to help
Tuesday September 14
9am at CVIS with Lina to go into neighborhoods to help
Supplies:
These items can be dropped off at Costa Verde:
gloves/sunscreen/mosquito repellent
mops/brooms/squeegies
multi-purpose cleaning liquid
rags
trash bags
buckets
Money:
We understand many of you care deeply for the Costa Verde and Sayulita communities, but may not be able to physically be here. That does not prevent you from making a difference! One hundred percent of your generous tax deductable financial donations go directly to supporting the people of Sayulita and to rebuilding Costa Verde International School. Your money will support our clean up efforts, provide emergency supplies to families and local public schools, and to ensure Costa Verde's retaining wall is rebuilt.
This will take you to the Costa Verde International School website. Please then click "Donations" to donate via Paypal.
Thank you.
Simply, thank you. We literally could not do what is needed here without you. This blog will be updated daily, so please check back frequently for updated information and photos. Also, please share this blog with others. We know not many news organizations are not reporting on the flooding here, so please spread the word about our plight.
