Summary of Fall 2011

June 15th, 2012

After almost eight months of not posting any information on this blog, I have decided to come back to inform everyone that doesn't follow me on Facebook or Twitter about the campaign.  With work, going to school, and working so much on this great and prosperous campaign, my time is very limited; however, I think that it is important to keep everyone up to date with Beyond the Wall.

The last few posts of 2011 consist of working to build a park in El Talon, as well as having a distribution and medical mission- all in December 2011.  Even though the goal seemed very difficult to reach, in reality, it wasn't something difficult to do.  I flew to Colombia in mid-October 2011 to speak to the Mayor of the Municipality of Turbaco (where El Talon is located), Miguel Arnedo, and he promised to donate many acres of land in order to build a children's park in El Talon.  Beyond the Wall was responsible for paying for the actual construction of the park, but I was very happy about the Mayor's "donation."  When I came back to Orlando, we had car washes to raise funds for the park and ColSA-UCF organized a party and soccer tournament for us in order to pay for all of our costs.  In November 2011, the Mayor and the head of planning disappeared and never returned our phone calls, e-mails, letters, and my family went to their office many times and they only found themselves with lies from their secretaries.  The idea to build a park was scratched because without any permits, nothing can be done.  At that point, I was disappointed, but I had to complete my goals and mission in El Talon.

In December 2011, all of the donations were sent to Colombia, and Adriane Norman, Juan Esteban Cajigas, and I arrived to prepare for the project with the help of my family.  On December 22nd, 2011, I still had seven missing boxes, which made me panic.  I found out that the missing boxes were in Barranquilla, so I immediately had to go and pick them up.  After a day trying to go back to Cartagena/Turbaco with seven large boxes, I got back and began packing with my family.  A census was completed a few days before, so all we had to do was pack and have everything organized for the residents of El Talon.  Natalia Navarro Galvis (Miss Colombia 2010), the Colombian National Police in Turbaco, Samuel Alvarez from El Unviersal, coasts guards, and doctors from the Naval Hospital in Cartagena were among the guests invited to participate in the December 23rd, 2011 distribution/medical mission event in El Talon.  Luckily, everything went very well and I'm happy to announce that it was a successful event.  I'd really like to thank everyone that supported us with the campaign.

All in all, my view on politicians hasn't changed; I'm not surprised that the Mayor ran off that way, but it doesn't matter because I know that one day, El Talon will prosper with or without the help of politicians.

I invite you to follow me on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

1030 AM- Orlando

October 14th, 2011

The board of directors for Beyond the Wall were interviewed on Friday, October 14th, 2011 on La Grande 1030 AM by Fernando Negron and "el Guajiro."  Fernando Nunez Esquiaqui and Juan Esteban Cajigas poke about the projects that are currently being completed.  More than 60,000 people listened to the interview online.  The board would like to thank Fernando Negron and "el Guajiro" for all of the support; they were the first to interview Fernando in April 2009!  

We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

Awarded by Congresswoman Corrine Brown

October 14th, 2011

Fernando Nunez , Adriane Norman, and Juan Esteban Cajigas, members of the board of directors for the Beyond the Wall Campaign, were awarded by Congresswoman Corrine Brown.  The board oficially went to receive the recognition on Friday, October 14th, 2011.  Beyond the Wall would like to thank the Congresswoman for this award; it is an honor!  

We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

Packing for the 2011 December distribution

October 8, 2011

Beyond the Wall has officially completed packing the donations that will be sent to Colombia for the distribution event in El Talon on December 23rd, 2011.  Since August, most of the weekends for Fernando Nunez Esquiaqui, Adriane Norman, and Juan Esteban Cajigas (board of directors for Beyond the Wall) have consisted of packing and organizing all of the donations.  Throughout this difficult and tiring process, the board became closer as a group, and more plans were made in order to complete the mission in El Talon.  A special thanks goes out to Jennifer Parra, Senior Advisor for the ColSA-UCF group, who volunteered to pack the donations with the board of directors.

We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

Miss Colombia 2009-2010- Message of support

October 2, 2011


Miss Colombia 2009-2010, Natalia Navarro Galvis, continues to support Beyond the Wall even almost after one year of ending her title as the most beautiful woman in Colombia.  Natalia is currently finishing school at the University of Miami, where she is majoring in Economics.  Beyond the Wall is also very pleased to inform that Natalia will be present at the December 23rd, 2011 event in El Talon.  As always, we are very excited to continue with the support of Miss Colombia; she has seen the campaign grow since she was only Miss Bolivar 2009.  Beyond the Wall would like to thank Natalia Navarro for all of her continuing support!




We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

Telemundo Orlando

September 27th, 2011

Telemundo Orlando continues to support Beyond the Wall.  Ingrid Cotto, producer for Telenoticias Orlando, has supported Beyond the Wall since April 2009, and this year she has continued to show her passion for helping the campaign.  Adriane Norman and Juan Esteban Cajigas, board members of Beyond the Wall, were interviewed on the night of September 27th, and Fernando Nunez Esquiaqui was interviewed on the night of September 30th with his parents at his residence.  Beyond the Wall would like to thank Ingrid Cotto and camera operator Axel Figueroa for all of the support!

We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

Interview with Magda Ivette Torres- 1190 AM

September 21st, 2011

Magda Ivette Torres, an excellent Spanish talk show radio host in central Florida, interviewed the Beyond the Wall board of directors on September 20th, 2011.  The interview was broadcasted on 1190 AM- Orlando.  Magda and her husband, Elliot, were very supportive as always.  Beyond the Wall would like to thank them both for all of the continuing support!

The following is a link to watch the excellent interview:



We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

Global Peace Film Festival

September 20th, 2011

Beyond the Wall was present at the 2011 Global Peace Film Festival in Winter Park, Florida this past September 18th, 2011.  Mrs. Wendy Doromal, official sponsor of the Beyond the Wall Club at Timber Creek High School, gave the board of directors the idea of promoting the campaign at the festival's annual street fair.  Beyond the Wall managed to positively promote Beyond the Wall at this special event.  We would like to thank everyone for the continuing support!

We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).

Beyond the Wall Club

September 20, 2011

As mentioned in a previous post, Beyond the Wall has spent the beginning of the Fall season preparing partnerships/clubs/alliances in order to complete the El Talon mission for December 2011.  Another example of progress is the creation of the Beyond the Wall Club at Timber Creek High School.  This particular project is very important and interesting, since the club had to be created and club members had to be recruited.  In order to successfully start the club, Mrs. Wendy Doromal became the official sponsor of the Beyond the Wall Club.  Mr. John Wright, Principal of Timber Creek High School, approved the club at an instant.  "Club Rush," which is an event held in the school cafeteria and gives all of Timber Creek's clubs the opportunity to showcase what they do, was very successful, where we managed to get many signatures of support.  Mr. Wright also approved an official presentation to be done during school at the school's performing arts center.  Beyond the Wall has support from the Hispanic Club and Student Government at Timber Creek High School as well.

• President:  Juan Esteban Cajigas
• Sponsor:  Mrs. Wendy Doromal
• Support:  Hispanic Club and Student Government at Timber Creek High School
• Car washes and an official presentation will be completed by the end of November 2011
• Community service hours will be provided to all students that become members of the club

With the creation of this club, we are now officially allowed to receive funds for the construction of the park and distribution event/medical mission in El Talon, Colombia on December 23rd, 2011.

Beyond the Wall would like to thank Mrs. Wendy Doromal, Mr. John Wright, the Hispanic Club, and student government for all of the continuing support at Timber Creek High School.  This school is where Beyond the Wall began!

We invite you to follow us on Facebook (Beyond the Wall Campaign-Colombia) and through Twitter (@BeyondTheWallCO).