Northwest Region
Early October 2010
What is the Pequeño Tour?
Each year Friends of the Orphans Northwest works with community partners to present 1-2 weeks of fundraising events in the Puget Sound area and beyond, featuring a small group of children from a Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) home. The Pequeño Tour raises much-needed money for our homes, and increases awareness about the need to end the cycle of poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean, one child at a time. It is a great opportunity to meet the children and see the positive impact of NPH in their lives.
During the Pequeño Tour, churches, schools, businesses and individuals host events featuring a small group of children who perform folkloric music and dances from their country. The children also share their experience growing up at NPH and how it has transformed their lives. This year, the pequeños will be here during the first two weeks of October.
What can we do when pequeños visit the Northwest?
There are a variety of ways to host the children. Here are a few examples:
Mass or Service – We can help bring your social justice mission alive by educating your community about NPH’s work to help children living in poverty. The pequeños and/or our staff and volunteers are available to come and share their stories of transformation by speaking during or after a service or at another appropriate time. Many churches support the work of NPH by offering a second collection, sometimes in conjunction with readings that teach about social justice and caring for “the least among us.”
Home or Church Gathering –We can help you plan a special event that will feature performances and stories from the children and build community for your parishoners. Examples include Fiestas with food and music, taco feeds, and other fun and educational gatherings where people can make a donation in support of the children or a specific project at one of our homes. We can also help you host a Sponsorship Drive to encourage sponsors in your community to share their story and invite others to sponsor children, too. Sponsors invest in their godchildren, write them letters, and even visit them in the homes. Sponsoring a child is a great way for families to connect their children to social justice in a very real way and provide an opportunity for cultural exchange and learning.
Business Luncheon – The children can visit employees at a meeting room or cafeteria during their lunch hour or during a staff gathering. The children can perform, speak to the audience, and answer questions. A free-will offering would be taken as a donation to Friends of the Orphans/NPH.
School Visits - The children can visit schools and perform in the gym or auditorium. They can also speak to the audience, answer questions, and/or visit classrooms. Some schools have the children visit the Spanish classes and answer questions or perform a song or dance. The school makes a donation, or takes a collection, for Friends of the Orphans/NPH. As with the home or church gatherings, we can also help you host a Sponsorship Drive to encourage sponsors in your community to share their story and invite others to sponsor children, too.
How will the Pequeño Tour benefit my church, school or business?
Having the children come perform and share their experiences of love and transformation will benefit your community in a variety of ways, including:
• Bringing your social justice mission or commitment to corporate social responsibility alive in a meaningful and tangible way by answering the call for “the most to help those with the least.”
• Offering opportunities for cross-cultural learning and exchange.
• Engaging kids and families in programs that appeal to everyone.
• Offering opportunities to travel together as a community.
• Feeling the satisfaction of supporting children who need our help.
These are a few suggestions, but the possibilities are endless. If you have an idea for an event with the children, please contact Megan Goodwin at mgoodwin@friendsus.org or (425) 646-3935. We would be happy to work with you to create an engaging, successful event with your group. |