In November 2012 Carolyn, Lara’s mum journeyed  to Columbia to visit Colegio Agustin Parra, in the town of Simijaca, to continue talks with them about their teachers becoming the first to benefit from a Lara’s Foundation scholarship

Upon arrival at Colegio Agustin Parra Carolyn was greeted by the Pink Panther, The Beatles and James Bond as the school wanted to make sure she felt at home and had changed the day of the students’ annual English Day in her honour.

One of the teachers who Carolyn met whilst out in Columbia wrote Lara’s Foundation this lovely message:

Hola Lara’s Foundation
Un abrazo grande de mi parte y me despido no sin antes agradecerles la oportunidad que estan brindando a mi Colegio Agustin Parra, se y lo confirmo : Lara es un angel que desde el cielo esta apoyandolos a ustedes para hacer esta maravillosa obra, felicitaciones y abrazos.

Hello Lara’s Foundation,
A big hug from myself and I say goodbye for now, not without thanking you for the opportunity you are giving our school “Agustin Parra”. I know and I confirm this: Lara is an angel who is supporting you from heaven to do this wonderful work. Congratulations and hugs.

Dan Gair ran the Luton Marathon for Lara’s Foundation on Sunday November 18, 2012…..but just as a warm up for his entry into the London Marathon 2013!

Thank you Dan and keep us posted on your training for the London Marathon!!

Saturday 17th November saw the first of our planned social events.  Over 150 people packed into Mellor Village Hall which had been transformed into a sparkling, starry and pulsating Aladdin’s Cave. On stage were the enormously entertaining and energetic Blues Brothers Banned and the enigmatic and angelic Charlotte O Connor.

THE BLUES BROTHERS BANNED ARE A HIGH ENERGY TEN PIECE SHOW BAND WITH A TWIST PRESENTING A JAM PACKED NIGHT OF MUSIC AND MAYHEM.  HITS FROM THE CULT BLUES BROTHERS AND COMMITMENTS MOVIES FEATURE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVE PERFORMANCE, PUNCTUATED WITH R&B, SOUL, SWING AND SKA IN A QUIRKY MIX OF CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY TUNEAGE.

THIS IS A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED AND IT IS COMING TO MELLOR VILLAGE HALL FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY AND ALL IN AID OF LARA’S FOUNDATION. ADMISSION WILL BE STRICTLY LIMITED TO TICKETED GUESTS. DETAILS OF HOW TO SECURE YOUR TICKET CAN BE OBTAINED BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO LARA.GIG@HOTMAIL.CO.UK

The event raised an amazing £3000. A huge thank you to all involved.

For pics, see HERE

We are hugely pleased and proud to announce that Lara’s Foundation are funding two teachers from schools in Simijaca,  Colombia, to come to the UK and study on an intensive 24 week English Language course at EC London. Our scholars will start in January 2013!

Here is a letter from our two students:

Simijaca, Cundinamarca
Colombia
8 November 2012

Dear Carolyn Jones and all Lara’s friends and family at Lara’s foundation,

After having received the great news about our request for access to the scholarships that your foundationprovides, we want to thank you for your support for the development and progress of the education of ourchildren and youth.
When people like you intersect in our lives it is a reason to give thanks to God and to fight to fulfil the dream of giving the best that is in each of us to enrich this beautiful mission that was entrusted to us, to be teachers, teachers who through your efforts and your brilliant project will have the opportunity to start the process necessary for learning a foreign language, a process to which we are already committed.

The improvement in the teaching of English will improve the quality of education and thus help to bridge gaps and open doors to new generations, sharing significant experiences in the classroom and beyond.Thanks for your interest. Hugs and best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Ana Sanchez Leonor Peña
Ligia Urrego Rodriguez