February, 18, 2008

Cory Ybarra
Founder/Director, Building for Generations
www.buildingforgenerations.com

A chance trip to Tanzania in 2005 changed the life of Santa Cruz resident Cory Ybarra and scores of children who now have access to education through the program she founded as a result of that trip. As she said during her presentation at the Pizza & Prose Art & Lit series in Capitola on February 18, she “went on vacation and came back with a job.”    After being hospitalized with a severe illness, Cory, who has a degree in health science with a focus on education, decided that it was finally time she realized a life-long dream to travel far and wide as well as do some kind of volunteer work. Her son Joaquin, who has Down’s syndrome, was at last an adult. He had moved into a group home and was being well cared for. Cory raised him single-handedly for much of his life. Now in her 50’s and fully recovered, it was finally her time.

   What she found in this east African country which is home to Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, was a desire, but barely enough money to provide education to the most able-minded and bodied, much less to any child with any kind of disability. This meant anything from a mild learning disability to a much more severe challenge. The government had actually designated a plot of land for a school, but without the funds, it just sat vacant. A woman Cory met who had a son with autism asked if she would help and if, by any chance, she knew Oprah. She did not have any connections to Ms. Winfrey, but after arriving back home she realized she did have some background in remodeling houses and a little bit of business sense. She decided to see if it was possible to raise some money for what she felt was a great cause. Through her first rummage sale, she raised $1,900 of the $18,000 needed. She was hooked and “Building for Generations was born”. A year later the first three classroom block was built. That block now teaches 54 students who also now have an auditorium and community room. They are provided with vocational training, including sewing, and brick making depending on the individual needs and interests of each child.

   Building for Generations has already seen the success of students with learning disabilities who had never left their home or had been left to beg for basic needs previously, integrate into the mainstream. Some students have had great success in Special Olympics, recently taking two gold medals in international soccer events.

   During a video presentation, the audience got to see the beautiful, smiling faces of the children who prior to attending this school would have been part of a population stigmatized as being “cursed.” According to the video, and Cory, more than 90% of these children have typically been left to beg while most are unable to feed, clothe, or provide other basic needs for themselves.  “The role of the teachers, the mission,” Cory told the crowd, “is to stop the stigma.”

   In 2007 Building for Generations raised $35,000 through rummage sales and small donations. They are looking to build future educational programs in Latin America and other places around the world where children, especially those with special needs, do not typically have access to education. There is a Peru project currently in the works. Thanks to local businesses, who did not hesitate when asked to contribute to a raffle fundraiser, Cory was able to raise awareness and funds for both of her projects. She was also generous with the time she had been allotted by introducing Dr. Wendy Leonard M.D. and Dr. Gabriel Constans PhD, each of whom are doing amazing work for the health and safety of children and families in Rwanda. Cory gave each of them a moment to introduce the projects they are working on. Dr Leonard is serving those infected with H.I.V and Dr. Constans is working with an orphanage that cares for children displaced by the horrific violence that region has experienced. These three remarkable people from our community have been brought together by their common dedication to make the world a better place. All are making a profound difference in the lives of children who might not have a chance to even the most basic quality of life if not for them.  

   For their generous donations to the raffle, I would like to thank Adam White Licensed Acupuncturist, Caress Day Spa, Bay Photo, Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine, Dharma’s Restaurant, and Pizza My Heart, Capitola, for off-setting the pizza costs each month.

   Special thanks to Cliff Livingston and Zach Worthington of Cava Wine Bar in Capitola Village for providing your cozy setting as our monthly venue and donating that lovely bottle of wine to the drawing.

   This event served as a build-up to a much bigger fundraiser at The Attic in downtown Santa Cruz . on March 8 with more prizes, a wine and appetizer reception, live Peruvian music, and salsa lessons. Visit www.theatticsantacruz.com for further details.