In October 2005 the Muskoka Montessori School held a special assembly in which Marta Bonelli and Keith Uhrig – individuals we know very well through the Buddhist community in Huntsville – came to speak about their experiences in community building in a small village in Nicaragua. As a way of supporting and promoting their work, the Muskoka Montessori School agreed to become a “sister school” with a small school in the community of Corozal.

Our sister school has approximately 90 students and is located in a very rural and economically challenged area. The great majority of families involved with the school are subsistence farmers. In 1996 much of the village was wiped out by a mudslide, and the school and many of the homes were relocated. Soon after relocation, the water system failed, depriving the students of drinking water as well as the ability to wash after using the latrines. There had been no funds available to rectify this problem.

Recognizing the great difficulties faced by this community, we decided to begin a fundraising program for our friends in Corozal. In the spring of 2006 we hosted our first family barbeque, where 100% of the money made went directly to purchase the necessary pipes and equipment to hook up our sister school (as well as about 20 other families) to a clean water supply.

In the fall of 2006, we gave 100% of the profits made from the “Shades of Autumn” bake sale and donated them to our sister school, where they repaired the latrines behind the school. Now they have toilets with doors!

In the fall 2007, we gave 100% of all the profits made from the “Shades of Autumn” bake sale and donated them to our sister school, where they made a washing area for the staff and students.

During the 2008-2009 school year, funds raised accomplished the following: bought the materials necessary to repair all of the students' desks at school; provided school supplies and uniform shirts to every student; bought the materials necessary to build a rat proof bookcase for the school's books; and fixed the school's playground equipment.

During 2009-2010 school year, funds raised were used to build a new library adjacent to the school. In addition, our efforts enables every student in the village of Corozal to attend school as we provided uniforms and school supplies to everyone. We also helped bring electricity!

During the 2010-2011 school year, funds raised by the Muskoka Montessori School were used to build a 110 metre cement walkway from the school to the schoolyard where the children play and do their phys-ed classes. Due to the heavy and long rainy season, this path is usually a mess of mud and water, making it impassable. With the new walkway, the children will always be able to play outside!