July 2015 – Little Known Help Zone

On Tuesday, Little Known Help Zone had the honor to speak at the Keystone Technology Innovators Summit at Shippensburg University. I was the keynote speaker and had the opportunity to share how to ignite passion in the classroom, the same topic which started Little Known Help Zone.

I shared my journey in the classroom and abroad, talking about both my learning and volunteering/projects. The audience included 120 “best of the best” teachers and Assistant Department of Education Secretary Matt Stem, all of which expressed such enthusiasm and support. The presentation also included a Q&A section. This resentation was the first to receive a standing ovation, a truly humbling experience.

An added bonus, $801 was raised towards Little Known Help Zone causes. This is the most money ever raised, and this was an unexpected surprise. The generosity and kindness of everyone was truly beautiful and heartwarming. Etsy orders also emerged, as well as many new twitter followers. All of this support helped Little Known Help Zone grow, and it was a wonderful experience seeing so many people care about causes abroad.

See the wiki page here: http://kti2015.wikispaces.com/Makenna+Lenover

Here’s the back channel! https://todaysmeet.com/Makenna

Stay tuned to se where all this donated money will go! Hint** Since it was an education conference, students abroad will be aided!

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

El Salvador is a country of immense beauty and charm, and also poverty. After visiting and exploring the country, I was enamored by the landscape and culture. In touch with their Mayan roots, Salvadorans are hard working and friendly, full of pride and respect. Many Americans do not travel due to the civil war of the past, but the country now is beautiful and inviting.

El Salvador has impoverished conditions, where most workers make about $7 a day. Agricultural workers have a monthly salary of $90, so clearly El Salvador is a place of need. When exploring the country, I was privy to viewing houses made from metal and tarps, and roads completely washed out by the recent swell. I was inspired to start two projects for El Salvador, both very important causes in the country.

We visited the Remar orphanage in El Tunco and got to tour the facility. With over 100 children and a school to run, this orphanage has high overhead costs. They are working to build houses for older kids and create a bakery to support the orphanage and teach the children skills. All these projects have helped the orphanage grow self sustaining, but there are still needs, mainly financial. The children were adorable and I was blessed by hugs and smiles, pictured below. Little Known Help Zone donated tons of books and toys as well as $50, with more projects to come. With collaboration, there will be attempts to provide a solar system as well as create a website and base in the US to earn more funding for orphanage projects.

When exploring the coffee plantation, I learned the ins and outs of how the coffee we drink and love comes to be. One detail the stuck out to me is the women who hand sort the coffee beans to assure the highest quality. These women work 8 hours a day and have no ear protections due to little funds. Their job is important to the lives of many and they deserve the best in return. Little Known Help Zone is going to work to send ear plugs to these women to protect their hearing and provide a comfortable working environment. Stay tuned for more!