hike4education

2011-09-27T04:34:00.000-07:00

Update project's progress (september 2011)

Dear sponsors and friends of hike4education,

I have good news for you: the construction of the pre-school centre is making big progress. The windows have been placed and the work inside the rooms has started. According to the planning the opening of the pre-school centre will take place in november.

More information about the opening of the centre and photos will be posted in december.

A big hug to all of you,

Beate

Together we are really making a difference!

2011-06-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Dear sponsors and friends of hike4education,

Thank you for your belief in the power of education and my dedication to the children in Guatemala.
Thank you for all your interest and support during my hike4education 2011.
And above all thank you for your incredible generosity and commitment.
So far (June 21st) we raised an amazing € 9.084,- - a fantastic result for which I’m very grateful.

The money will be entirely forwarded to NPH Guatemala to finance the construction of the Montessori pre-school centre which will serve both the NPH orphans and poor children from the nearby village.

A big hug to all of you in Germany, Holland, Spain and in the USA!
Beate.

PS: I will keep you informed on the projects’ progress. Next update will be published in September.

2011-05-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

Saturday May 28: the hike-after, back in Holland
20 km hiking with my friend Carla in the polder north of Amsterdam; strong winds, looks like storm. How I miss the warmth of Castilia. 400 km of the Camino are still to hike. I will surely continue! By 20 June I will inform you about the result of the Camino 2011.
Dear Maarten, thanks a lot for taking care of my weblog before and during the hike. You did a great job! I received lots of compliments which I gladly forward to you.

I made it!! Day 11: Carrion de los Condes - Calzadilla de la Cueza, 17 km.

2011-05-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Today´s program is well-known among pilgrims: it´s an endless path without any houses, the longer you are on the way the less shadow there is, and there is no change in landscape. Some people compare it with hell. But I love this kind of landscape and I really enjoyed the endless horizon and the quietness.
I was lucky because we started early and there was a cool breeze. My only problem was: I had hardly had any breakfast, I had eaten up all cereal, I only had two small pieces of toast. And I felt my blisters on my right foot. Thanks God there was a picknick place to have a rest in the shadow.
Tonight is the last evening with the hiking groep. Three of them will go on hiking, the rest will go back home tomorrow.
I had a great time during this year´s hike. I feel a bit tired now, in general you don´t get much sleep because many pilgrims get up at around 6 or even earlier. Dreaming of my own bed now.

I never forgot the purpose of my hike4education 2011: good preschool facilities for orphans in Guatemala.
I sincerely hope that with my hike and all my physical efforts these days I inspired you to help realize the fantastic project of NPH Guatemala: the construction of a preschool centre.
I´ll keep you informed about the progress.

On the foto you see my travel companions of the last 11 days.Thank you all for your friendship, warmth, confidence and mental support during the hike. We had a great time together.
Erik, thanks for accompanying us as our guide. Your wise words at the beginning of the day inspired each of us to find his own Camino. Good luck for the four weeks to come with new groups on the way to Santiago de Compostella. Buen Camino!

Dag 10: Fromista - Carion de los Condes, 20 km

2011-05-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

En la Meseta. 28 degrees, hardly any shadow. Frog concerts along a river, passing endless cornfields waving in the wind, beautiful flowers. The longer I´m hiking, the more I observe the details and I´m overwhelmed by it. Our earth is so magnificently beautiful!!! During the hike I feel the energy within my body, but at the end of the day I also feel worn-out by the heat.
Tomorrow is the last day on the Camino. I mustn´t think of that now !!
I feel 2 blisters on my right foot and I will take care of them.
Saludos desde España tan bonita.

A hike of 6 km along the main road - heavy.

Day 9: Castrojeriz - Fromista, 26 km

2011-05-22T13:49:00.001-07:00

Today's hike (nearly 7 hours in La Meseta) was really impressive. Herewith some images to give you an impression.

Day 8: Hornillos - Castrojeriz, 20 km

2011-05-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

After yesterday´s major distance my feet show signs of exhaustion (beginning blisters ...). My hiking-speed has changed, I walk more slowly now. At the same time I feel: the Camino has caught hold of me.
I received some new photos from Guatemala of the construction progress of the Montessori preschool centre:

They are busy with finishing the roofs before the beginning of the rainy season. I will gladly continue hiking for this fantastic project and the fantastic kids of NPH Guatemala, they deserve our support.

PS: Unfortunately I don´t have acces to my planet mail account here, so I missed all your support mails. Contact is only possible on Facebook or on beate.sass@hotmail.com

Finally entering La Meseta

2011-05-21T04:13:00.001-07:00

Day 7: Burgos - Hornillos, 31 km

Endless cornfields, never-ending horizon and above all: it´s absolutely quiet !!
The only sounds are the humming of the beas, bird singing and the sound of my footsteps.This is so overwhelming !! I feel in absolute peace with myself.
When I reached Hornillas I had a long rest outside the village, lying on the grass, watching the clouds above me and enjoying the quietness. Now I understand the Spanish saying: ¨el Camino es como una droga¨. I would love to walk on to Santiago - and I know : I will.
A big hug to all of you, Pelegrina Beate.

Day 6 - Burgos

2011-05-21T04:02:00.000-07:00

Burgos is really nice, we had a guided sightseeing tour and visited the famous Gothic cathedral and saw many ancient buildings and churches.

I love the company of warm-hearted and open-minded people and this is exactly what you can find on the Camino. The daily hike that leads you through fantastic landscape, and the physical exhaustion at the end of the day bring you back to basics and to yourself. I had so nice talks with people these days. People talking frankly about their confrontation with serious illness, death of a beloved person, children leaving home - everybody has his own story.
Thinking about my life: I´m so grateful that after the death of my first husband my sons and I had benefit of the social security system in Germany. The children of NPH Guatemala who have stolen our hearts at first sight don´t have such systems. I feel so lucky that with all my passion and enthousiasm I can contribute to giving these kids the chances for life they need.
Saludos desde España!

PS: internet has been a big problem for the last 3 days. I´ll try to post fotos tonight.

The truth is ....

2011-05-19T02:25:00.000-07:00

Day 5: Burgos
Just to let you know: don´t worry about me !! I´ve joined a group of German pilgrims, very nice people, we have lots of fun together. During the day everybody hikes by himself and we spend the meals together. Last night Erik, the guide who transports the luggage from one place to the other had organized a fantastic evening in ¨La Maffia¨, an Italian restaurant. We had reason enough to celebrate after hiking more than 50 km within 2 days. I´m very happy: there will be no more mountains to climb. The flat Meseta will be the new challenge after leaving Burgos.
This afternoon a Spanish guide will show us Burgos. Before I will visit an exhibition about ancient Egypt. NICE NICE
I´m walking on sunshine
Saludos desde Burgos!!!

Day 4: San Juan de Ortega - Burgos, 28 km

2011-05-18T11:13:00.001-07:00

Once again a long distance to cover. In the first village that I passed there was a signpost with the remaining distance up to Santiago de Compostella (518 km to go, but not this time !!).

Fortunately there were lots of clouds today and in the beginning it even rained a bit. I quickly passed one village after the other. The landscape was not really spectacular and I decided to go on hiking without a koffee break. The more I was approaching Burgos the more I was surrounded by traffic and noise. Once again I started listening to my favorite pop music which gave me lots of energy to hold on. I passed the airport of Burgos and a nice Spanish lady showed me the alternative path along the river. After more than 6 hours I saw the towers of the cathedral in the distance.
Tomorrow I´ll have a day of rest to visit the cathedral and do some sightseeing. My feet are longing for a break now!! Burgos must be very beautiful.

Day 3: Belorado - San Juan de Ortega, 25 km

2011-05-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

The first part of todays hike led me through endless cornfields passing a few small villages. The landscape was really beautiful. For the first time it was really hot today, the sun was constantly burning on my head and there wasn't much shadow. I quickly felt exhausted. But worst of all was still had to come.
When I had passed the last village the mountains of Oca started, 12 km through lonely woods. I had to climb in the enormous heat. Nothing for me. For 2 km I was fighting against my exhaustion and poured several bottles of water into my body. Fortunately the paths got more and more flat. After a hike of more than 6,5 hours I arrived at the ancient Roman Monastry of San Juan de Ortega. In the evening I attended a service for pilgrims and lit a candle for a Dutch member of the big NPH family who is seriously ill and will be operated tomorrow. Good luck to you and God bless you!!!

Exhausted!!

Day 2: Santo Domingo de la Calzada - Belorardo, 24 km

2011-05-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

Today's hike was special: it led me through a landscape that I remember very well from my childhood. Endless cornfields, potato fields, passing small villages that looked absolutely deserted.
It was so quiet in the beginning, the only sounds that accompanied me were the sounds of different birds. Great experience for someone who lives in a big city. All the stress of the past few months fell off me and I felt new energy arising.
Unfortunately all the churches were closed; I had loved to visit a Roman church which is very famous of its ancient baptismal font.
The last 7 km led me along a main road. Thanks to Konsti´s old iPod I did not hear the noise of hundreds of lorries any more, I had my private disco with songs from my youth. Willem, you will probably remember my first pop star.
I was far away from other pilgrims so I started singing in the countryside. Gives you lots of energy, I must say!!
That´s it for today.
Saludos desde Castilla la Mancha, that´s the province I entered today.

Being back on the Camino feels a bit like coming home.

2011-05-16T00:54:00.000-07:00

Day 1:To Santo Domingo de la Calzada

21 km through vinyards and cornfields in La Rioja. Due to a longer period of rainfall nature is very beautiful at the moment. It is still cold and windy, but by midday the sun came out and I had a nice coffee break in a small bar next to a village church.
I met two British pilgrims, former doctors who wanted to do the whole Camino up to Santiago because "now we have time". It was so sweet, one of them was teaching the other Spanish with a computer program on his mobile phone while climbing up a steep hill. They were complaining about the big number of pilgrims getting up at 5 o´clock in the morning to get a sleeping place in one of the hostals. Indeed; compared to last year the Camino is really crowded at the moment, big groups of tourists from Germany in particular.
Santo Domingo is famous because of its Roman cathedral. There was a big procession in the village to celebrate San Isidorus, people wearing traditional clothes, unfortunately I missed that.

Saludos desde la Rioja!

2011-05-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

hike4education 2011 has started. Flight from Amsterdam to Bilbao and then by bus to Logroño. Rainy weather in Holland, nice weather awaiting me in Spain.
So many heart-warming mails, phone-calls and donations coming in these days - I'm overwhelmed. Needless to say this is an enormous motivation ! BUEN CAMINO !!!!!!!!!

Camino 2011

2011-03-30T15:01:00.001-07:00

These are Jayron, José, Javier and Yonder from Guatemala. They live in an orphanage of the international foundation NPH. During my last visit in January I took this photo of José wearing the tie of his sponsor, a Dutch student group.
These kids attended the Montessori preschool class, now they are in their second year of primary school. They manage to get excellent results (between 81 and 95%) and are on the way to create a stable basis for a better life in Guatemala. They love going to school.

To give more children the chance of good education NPH Guatemala wants to build a new preschool centre with 2 classrooms for 50 children. The aim is to accommodate both orphans and poor local children from the neighboring villages. The centre will also provide facilities to work with the disabled children and other important facilities such as rooms for psychologists, physiotherapists, a speech therapist.

I saw the excellent work they are doing in the preschool class and I want to help fund this project. From 14 - 25 May, 2011 I’m going to hike 200 km through the Spanish mountains - a big challenge. If you wish to support me funding this fantastic educational project, please make a donation. For more information about us, the hike, the project, donations and the Hike 2010: see the buttons on the right.

With my godson Javier in Casa San Andres, January 2011.

Hike 2010

2011-03-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

unday, july 4, 2010

Dear family and friends,

So many thanks for your generous donations during our hike4education, which will entirely be fowarded to Guatemala and Honduras according to your specifications.

So far our joint effort has raised an amazing € 22.600, a fantastic amount for which we are very grateful.

Of this amount, € 9.500 has been destined for the Montessori pre-school of the NPH orphanage in Guatemala, which will serve both the NPH orphans and poor children from the nearby village who previously did not have access to pre-school education.

A further € 13.100 has been donated for the three NPH students in Honduras, ensuring that Osman and Augusto will be able to complete their studies and that a substantial amount is already gathered for Elsy’s study. Of course we will be looking for ways to cover her full study period.

So together we are really making a difference!

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, both for your very generous donations and for all your interest and support during our hike4education.

A big hug to all of you,

Beate, Carla, Julienne and Marie Louise.

PS: Beate will keep you informed on the projects’ progress.

friday, june 11, 2010

Last stage: Los Arcos - Logroño 30 km

Today Beate and Marie Louise had to keep up for all of us. And they did a great job!!!!
They did not only enjoy today's walk, they even wanted to continue with another leg of the Camino. Indeed they are in great shape!!!
Again vineyards, olives, crossing the border of Navarra and Rioja. After one week of travelling Beate and Marie Louise experienced and enjoyed once again the kind attention of the local Spanish people in every village they passed. This region is into pilgrims, not so much into ordinary tourists.

Carla and Julienne actually had a fine day. Logroño celebrated the Fiesta de Santo Bartolomeo. Thousands of people walking through narrow streets, lining up for free rioja and fish and chips. All the shops and museums were closed, but all the churches had opened their doors and they did not miss one church.

Meanwhile, one of our children Elsy (graduating in Social Studies this autumn) was sending us mails. Not only to learn about our walk, but also to inform us about her UN project, which focuses on communities in one of the poorest regions in the northern part of Honduras.

Dear friends, it makes all the difference doing this together. We supported each other, we encouraged each other, we took care of each other and we never forgot the purpose of this trip: study finance and preschool for orphans in Honduras and Guatemala.
We sincerely hope that the donors who have been so generous so far, will be an inspiration to new donors.

thursday, june 10, 2010

Day 5: Estella - Los Arcos 21,7km

Beate, Carla en Marie Louise hit the road expecting another tough day.
But this part of the Camino turned out to be nice and easy and so much fun.
Visions of fountains of wine, olive trees, well maintained hilly farmland became reality. Only Carla had a swollen leg. Upon arrival in Los Arcos a doctor advised her not to try the last long day's hike. We all feel sorry, but you have to take it as it comes.
Meanwhile, a new driver took Julienne to Los Arcos. A sleepy small village at the foot of one of the most beautiful medieval churches of the Camino. Santa Maria is situated at a convenient distance of 50 meters from the hotel, just perfect for a not-walking pilgrim.
Finally we all got the pilgrims' blessing
In the Santa Maria from a engaged vicor..
Due to technical problems we are not able to produce our pictures. Tomorrow is another day.

- update: photos! -

Day 4: Puente la Reina - Estella 21,5 km

Today had rain in store for all of us.
Julienne's chariot brought her to Estella, a monumental town with an endless list of artistic landmarks and built for and because of the Pilgrims' Way to Santiago. A visit is a must, but not with an injured leg.
Carla, Marie Louise and Beate set off along rocky Roman mountain paths and tiny ancient villages. The going was rough and the endurance test was going to take its toll.
But all of us arrived safely and the joy was all the greater to hear that again donations are coming in for the children.
It looks like what started as an adventurous way of realizing our targets - contributing to a Montessori preschool for orphans in Guatemala and study finance of three students in Honduras - is becoming reality, step by step.
Thank you donors, we are so grateful!

tuesday, june 8, 2010

Day 3: Pamplona - Punta la Reina, 27 km

Early start, facing a day of serious challenges of the mountain pass Alto de Perdon. Faith was with Beate, Carla and Marie Louise. Right after the start they discovered for the first time an open church and were able to light a candle, symbolic for this special day of pelgrimage.

They passed through inspiring open fields of grains, flowers, mountains, villages and the promise of great vineyards. A detour to the chapel of Santa Maria de Eunate (12th century) was worthwhile, not only because of its ultimate simplicity, but also because of its peaceful location.

In the meantime Julienne visited Puente la Reina and she was also lucky. The churches Saint Peter and Saint James could be visited and the famous Romanesque bridge was occupied by a group of cycling diehearts.

monday, june 7, 2010

Zubiri-Pamplona 24km: a sunny and hot day

The Spanish driver, who is taking care of the luggage and Julienne, arrived this morning in a bigger car. To the surprise of Julienne he brought her four English newspapers! She spent a great day sightseeing in Pamplona.

After an endearing goodbye to the lovely landlady, Beate, Carla and Marie Louise hiked along the river Agra.
They enjoyed bird concerts, crickets, the sound of water, roses and butterflies.

Welcomed by Julienne at the famous towngate Baluante Bajo de Pilar they entered beautiful Pamplona.
After a six hour walk, refreshed by juices and coffee, there was new energy to discover the beauty of Pamplona.

sunday, june 6, 2010

Day 1: Roncevalles-Zubiri 18.9 km

Camino situation: Julienne had a muscle rupture just before leaving, but decided to join anyway. She is being transported together with the luggage (3 maletas y una senora). With the optimism we're all familiar with, she turned it into a mini rally.

After 33 degrees upon arrival we are confronted with mist, thunderstorm and heavy rain. After an hour the sky is clear and we enjoyed beautiful Navarra (see pictures).
We meet pelgrims from all over the world and everybody is friendly.

We are now relaxing in a bar, watching the tennis final at Roland Garros.

2010-07-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

Dear family and friends,

So many thanks for your generous donations during our hike4education, which will entirely be fowarded to Guatemala and Honduras according to your specifications.

So far our joint effort has raised an amazing € 22.600, a fantastic amount for which we are very grateful.

So together we are really making a difference!

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, both for your very generous donations and for all your interest and support during our hike4education.

A big hug to all of you,

Beate, Carla, Julienne and Marie Louise.

PS: Beate will keep you informed on the projects’ progress.

Last stage: Los Arcos - Logroño 30 km

2010-06-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

Day 5: Estella - Los Arcos 21,7km

2010-06-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Day 4: Puente la Reina - Estella 21,5 km

2010-06-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

Day 3: Pamplona - Punta la Reina, 27 km

2010-06-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

2010-06-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

Zubiri-Pamplona 24km: a sunny and hot day

2010-06-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

After an endearing goodbye to the lovely landlady, Beate, Carla and Marie Louise hiked along the river Agra.
They enjoyed bird concerts, crickets, the sound of water, roses and butterflies.

Day 1: Roncevalles-Zubiri 18.9 km

2010-06-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

About us

2010-05-09T04:14:00.000-07:00

Beate Russell-Sass (55)

initiator of this project and ambassador for WereldOuders, the Dutch chapter of NPH since 9 years (raising funds for educational and medical projects in Guatemala, Haiti en Honduras)
godmother of Javier en Jayron, NPH Guatemala
visits NPH Guatemala once a year to check the projects and to visit children.

Carla Houben (51)

mediator and counsellor
involved in various educational projects, including the United World College Maastricht

Julienne Straatman (62)

strategic consultant
involved in many cultural and educational projects, including supporting 2 NPH students

Marie-Louise de Hoog (63)

alumni coordinator at the Technical University of Eindhoven

Contact: hike4education@gmail.com

Last year we discovered finding an internet connection along the Camino can be quite a challenge. Beate will inform you of her progress by blog (if she has sufficient internet connection along the way).

The hike

2010-05-09T04:12:00.000-07:00

From May 14-25, 2011 I’m going to walk the second part of the Camino de Santiago in the Pyrenees (a total distance of 200 km), starting in Logroño, passing through Burgos and finishing in Calzadilla de la Cueza close to Leon. The average distance per day will be 20 km. This time I will hike on my own; Julienne, Carla and Marie-Louise cannot join me because of other obligations, but they will give me mental support.

As in 2010 I‘m combining the hike with a sponsoring effort, to raise money for an educational project for orphans of NPH Guatemala (the construction of a preschool centre for both orphans and local children).

IF YOU FEEL INSPIRED AND WISH TO CONTRIBUTE, I GLADLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME .

The project

2010-05-09T03:52:00.000-07:00

Construction of a Montessori-preschool centre of NPH Guatemala (GUA-09028)

Budget

Guatemala lies in a seismic zone. Frequent earthquakes require a high construction quality, which influences the costs.

Costs for construction, materials, worker’s salary:_ $_398.000,-

Donated up to now:*______________________ $ 335.000,-

Still needed (March 14th, 2011):________ _____ _ $ 63.000,- ( € 45.000,-)

*donated by hike4education 2010: nearly € 25.000,--

My son Konstantin reading Peter Pan to Pablo, Javier and Isaias.

NPH (Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos)International charity organization serving orphaned and abandoned children in Latin- and South America

9 homes in Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Peru and Bolivia; a children’s hospital in Haiti

currently takes care of nearly 4.000 children

financed by fundraising chapters in Western Europe, the US and Canada in Holland : Stichting WereldOuders www.wereldouders.nl in Germany: Stiftung Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern e.V. www.hilfefuerwaisenkinder.de

The children's playground in front of the girls' home.

For more information about NPH please visit www.NPH.org.

Get involved

2010-05-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

If you feel inspired to give an orphan the gift of education and thus the chance of a better life, please make a donation. I guarantee that 100% of the donations will be directly forwarded to the project. Of course, I will pay all my expenses for travelling, accommodation and food myself. I will gladly keep you informed about the progress of the project.

1. Donaties in Nederland
Zoals eerder gebruiken wij de speciale goede doelen rekening van Beate:
Rek.nr.: 47.88.67.387
t.n.v.: Beate Russell-Sass, Zuidelijke Wandelweg 3, 1079 RJ Amsterdam
o.v.v.: Donatie Stichting WereldOuders; hike4education
IBAN: NL84ABNA 0478867387 BIC: ABNANL2A

De gift is, indien gewenst, fiscaal aftrekbaar. U ontvangt van Beate een betalingsbewijs namens de Stichting WereldOuders, die een CBF keurmerk heeft. Zie ook: http://www.wereldouders.nl/

2. Spenden in Deutschland
Kontoinhaber: Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern e.V.
Kontonummer: 12000
Kreditinstitut: Sozialbank Karlsruhe, BLZ 66020500
Stichwort: hike4education

Die Spende ist steuerlich absetzbar. Sie erhalten eine Spendenbescheinigung vom deutschen Zweig von NPH, “Unsere kleinen Brüder und Schwestern e.V.”. http://www.hilfefuerwaisenkinder.de/

3. Donativos en España
Fundación NPH
Caja Madrid: 2038-9254-56-60000/41107
Ref.: hike4education http://www.nph-spain.org/

4. Donations in the US
see http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org/2011Hike .

For all other offices within Western Europe and Canada see http://www.nph.org/. contact us. Thank you for your support in providing NPH children the gift of education.