dig deep - a call for help!

here is the blog where i ask you, dear readers, to dig deep and help me build this nursery! i'm going to be very very ambitious here - because i'd like to really kit this nursery out so they are ready to start and have what they need to run a fully functioning nursery. there's a difference, however, in what i would LIKE to do, and what we absolutely NEED to do. and what we need to do is a lot more than i thought it was going to be.

to give you an idea, we still NEED:

12 wooden windows and 4 wooden doors at approximately $22 each (approx $350)
more cement for the walls and floors at approximately $140
bits of the roof replaced so it won't fall in at approximately $150
toilet covered and cemented at approxmiately $50

to give you an idea of what i would LIKE:

an artist to paint the alphabet and numbers, a mural and a school sign - approx $200
60 child-sized stools for sitting at approx. $3/stool
4 child-sized tables for each classroom (2 classrooms) at approx. $15/table
enough material for 60 uniforms at $1.50 per uniform
funds to cover a 3-day teacher training (which is food/transport for hopefully 20 teachers) - approx $150-200

like i said, i'm going to be ambitious here and hope i can raise this money. a little gesture goes a long way here in africa. and for around $1500 - i think i can leave them in excellent shape to begin. i would be most grateful if you might help me make this happen.

i have set up a paypal account called 'help meagan build a nursery' and it's VERY easy and safe to donate. simply click HERE or go to http://www.paypal.com, click 'send money' and type in the following details in the box on the right.

to: helpmeaganbuildanursery@gmail.com
(that's 'help meagan build a nursery' (all one word) @gmail.com
from: your email
amount: as much as you can!
for: tick service/other

it will take you to the next page where you can either sign in (if you have a paypal account already) or fill in your credit card details for donation.

this money will be deposited into my paypal account where i've instructed paypal to send the money to my account so that i can use it immediately.

(i say 'i' but actually - jason set this up for me, so a big thank you to jason for helping me with this!)

i wish i could add a few pictures here to show you how far we've come in just three weeks of really working on this project, but also how far we still have to go! when i tell them what i am intending to do and how much i am trying to raise, the villagers are just amazed at the fact that there are people around the world who want to help make this nursery a reality for them. they just can't believe it.

i would be grateful if you'd pass this around to anyone you think might donate a dollar or two. i will keep everything transparent on this blog and let you know how i am coming along. any extra money (though there are always things to spend this on at the nursery, that was really only the beginning of my wish list above) will go to the organization that helps sponsor these kids to make sure families can afford to send their kids to school once it's built. i won't keep a cent of it!

and finally, those of you who know me well know i don't have any problems asking for things like this (i am my mother's daughter) so if i could insert a final clause into this plea that says 'if you're going to donate, it would be great if you could do it NOW' ... so that i am able to see how much money i have to work with as soon as possible. i am only here for 6 more weeks and i can only work as fast as i can provide the supplies!

thank you in advance for ANYTHING you can do - large or small - every bit helps!