Hello All,
Here is the second update about the community that they JRF has formed and some of the long term benefits we hope to see from it.
In the last update I wrote about the community we have created, the principle glue that binds the community, jobs and the benefits the JRF provides the kids, and some of the ways in which the community benefits the JRF. This update is going to focus more on the long term benefits we are looking for from this community.
One of the biggest challenges the JRF has faced since its creation is the question of how we make the JRF sustainable for the long term. The steps needed to get the JRF to that point are both numerous and daunting. One of the biggest steps is going to be creating a community that we can, to some extent, trust and rely on. That community will hopefully provide the JRF with a level of stability and consistency. Considering the amount of workforce turnover that we have and will continue to have, the stability and consistency our community can provide will be vital to our long term success.
Catherine and I have been running the JRF for 4 years, and realistically we will be here for at least 2 more years, maybe up to 4. I have been claiming I will be here 3 more years for the last 4 years, so my 2-4 estimate is not exactly guaranteed. Regardless, we do one day hope to return to the US, but we are not ok with shutting down the JRF and abandoning our children. That means we need to get the JRF to the point that it can continue to function at a high level without our presence. As I have told many of you, I believe we need qualified, well paid, medium-term (3-5 years) managers. I also believe we need foundation employees, families and children in place who have been with the JRF for 7 or so years and have fully bought into our program.
These stable forces in our community can vet new entries, help new foreign employees adjust and work in Esperanza, and provide valuable information to Catherine and me about what is happening at the foundation. The JRF has 6 local full time employees. They are critical members of our community, and we hope to have them with us for years and years to come. We have about 30 families that have been with us for over 3 years, most of whom have matriarchs that work for Good Threads. These families and employees form the core of our community, they are in essence our shareholders, we work for them, are accountable to them and operate because of them.
In other news we had two children fully fill their savings cans last week. We went to the bank and counted their money. They had each saved a considerable amount, about 1 month’s rent for their household. Upon counting the money, I told them that they could have the money or they could choose to keep saving and the foundation would give them an extra 20%. Both chose to take the 20% and keep saving. One of the two is hoping to buy cool clothes for Christmas time and the other wants to save up for a tablet. The other children were wildly jealous at the amount of money those two had saved up and have renewed their efforts to fill their own cans.
As always thank you all for all of your support, without you none of this would be possible.
