Pencils 2 Africa

During my management class with Dr. Rosh we have to create and develop a project for the semester. The professor divided us in groups, our team is composed by Yohan Banon from Spain, Jonathan Kranzler from NY, Moshe Rosenfeld from Las Vegas, Gabriel Cooper from New Jersey, and myself from Venezuela. We have to take a problem and solve it only in the period that this semester lasts. The project has to be humanitarian. We will be evaluated on how we worked as a team, execute the plan, and reach the goal. 

After three projects disapproved by the professor, we end up helping the educational system in Africa, especially in Nigeria. Why Nigeria? How we will help? Well, it will be in Nigeria because it is the place I personally know more people in Africa, and for terms of efficiency and plans achievement we target Nigeria. Considering that there is a lack of pencils in public schools in Nigeria, and here in the US pencils are relatively cheap. We want to send pencils. We want to help kids to learn. How we will send the pencils? We are currently investigating how to send them or how to get funds to send them. In a private company such as FedEx or UPS will charge us around USD $700 for 20 Kg of pencils which is a lot amount of pencils. The Consulate of Nigeria in New York is helping us in our investigation.

Goal:

There is 3.000 students and faculty at Wilf campus of Yeshiva University. Our goal is to collect 3.000 pencils and send them to Nigeria at the end of December 2012.

How you can help?

During a period of one month you will find binds located in the main five buildings of Wilf campus of Yeshiva University. You can stop there and drop some pencils or pens. If you happen to not have extra pencils you could buy them in our website www.Pencils2Africa.com we at the end of the month will go to Staples and buy with all the money collected pencils.

Bin locations:

Morg, next to the lounge entrance

Rubin, in front of the elevator

Furst, next to the security guard

Gluck, entrance of “heights lounge” 

Belfer, next to the ATM first floor

Help us complete our goal! Be part of the change not the problem.

Check for more info at www.Pencils2Africa.com

Once again, I’m still alive!

Thursday October 11th 2012.

The reason I’m writing this article in English is because I want you to show what’s going on in Venezuela Internationally.

This year we built at my house in Caracas a Suca for the Jewish holiday (Google it). After 10 days we had to take it down. I called my uncle and asked if I can borrow his pick up truck for a couple of hours, so I could load the bamboos and palm tree leaves. My uncle sent me the 1998 Ford 150 truck with the driver Eduardo.

Both of us loaded up all the materials of the Suca to put it in the garbage. Once we reached the dump  we began  taking off all the cargo. It was at 3:30pm in front of a school called “Colegio Patria” and next to an

eldership. Two normal, average looking guys walked up the street where we were offloading the stuff. They saw us and kept walking  towards us. Once we finished our work they came at us aiming two very

powerful  guns at us. When they reached us, both pointed at me even though I wasn’t the driver. I gave them my wallet, watch, and my the phone.  My partner  Eduardo did the same. They took the SUV keys and left.

We hid ourselves behind the school’s door in case the robbers were going to start shooting. Then, a guy that saw everything, offered to take me home. Thankfully my home was only a couple blocks away.

Eduardo was shocked, and I had  to act and think quickly. I called 911 which didn’t work. Then I called my uncle to tell him that I lost his car. I took my other car which was parked at my house and drove to the Police Municipals. From a previous experience I had, I had became  friends with the Police Director. Once in his office he used the  police radio to notify the police in Caracas about the car. After all of this  Eduardo and I drove to other police and army departments. After eight hours, we finally found the car!

Today, Friday October 12th at 4:30pm I am sitting at my computer, reflecting and analyzing what happen. I can say one more time that God wants me here and isn't ready for me yet. But, I'm confused. It  is very sad that what I experienced yesterday thousands of Venezuelans experienced every day. In most of the cases the robbers kill the victims, or kidnap them. I was lucky.

I have met people around the world that says that Chavez, the Venezuela President, is a very good leader. If he is a great president why are there people robbing others to bring food to their house?  Somehow you have to feed your family I guess. Why is Chavez giving to other countries the money our country makes from the oil instead battling the delinquency and creating jobs?

If you know someone that works in your country’s International Relations Department, or in the UN, or in any International Court. Please help! Venezuela is falling down. This country needs international pressure on the government.