Thank you in advance for helping us support Laura and the Building with Books school project in Malawi, Africa. Below is her letter.

I've had a chance to work with Laura over the past year. She's a young woman of immense heart and integrity. This project is being supported by her family of friends, students, the Seaside Center for Spirituality and many, many others. In the coming months we'll be posting updates and each purchase from this website will add to the success of the school.

In Gratitude, Elaine and the Drivetime Yoga team 

Laura's Letter

Dear Friend,
It is with excitement and immense joy I am writing you to share information on a project in which I am participating. I am currently the Youth Director at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, a non-profit spiritual center in Encinitas, California that teaches people about their power and ability to make a difference in themselves and the world. The youth I work with, along with youth and adults from other participating Spiritual Centers in Southern California, have decided we want to make a difference in the world through giving the gift of education to those who desperately want it.

Throughout this year, we have been raising money to build a school in Malawi, Africa. To fulfill this goal, we have partnered with Building with Books (www.buildingwithbooks.org), a non profit and non-religious affiliated organization which over the last 15 years has built more than 180 schools for children in developing countries.  Please visit their site and see what a significant impact they are having on the world’s youth.

Our school will cost approximately $23,000, which includes the cost of books and hiring teachers for 3 years, plus the guarantee that it will function optimally for 3 years with the support of the Malawi government and Building with Books. We are still raising money to meet this goal through donations and various fundraisers we will be hosting until mid May, 2008.

This summer, a group of 28 brave adults and youth will embark on a journey across the globe to Africa to help build our school in the Kusungu district of Malawi, just 58 Kilometers from Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital. We will be there to physically build our school, to learn from our African brothers and sisters, to share this experience with them, and to take what we have learned and bring it back to our communities here at home. We know that this experience will touch our lives deeply, and all those who we help. We hope our experience encourages other youth and adults to get involved once we return, and shows them how much a little bit of giving can make a profound difference to others in the world.  

I am writing to ask for your support in helping me get there. Each of us going must raise $4,500 for this journey by May 1^st, 2008. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation for my trip, please see the attached information, and thank you in advance for your consideration and support.  

Upon return, our group will put together a DVD and presentation to share our trip with other schools, churches, organizations, and also with those who helped us get there. We will be honored to share this presentation and/or DVD with you so you can see what your contribution has helped us do for others. You will see a place on the form attached where you can check “yes” if you’d like to be contacted in the future when we have our presentations.

I am deeply grateful and so blessed to have this opportunity. With the help of some extremely devoted youth and supportive friends, this work will touch thousands of people. I look forward to sharing our good experiences and our travels with you in the future.

With Love and Gratitude,

Laura Swan

Director of Youth and Family
Seaside  Center for Spiritual Living
1613 Lake Dr.
Encinitas, CA 92024

Drivetime Yoga is the original car yoga dedicated to relieving driving stress while increasing commuter health and car comfort.