We were blown away when we walked in and saw students two deep at each computer……
and that was less than half of the 62 students enrolled. They need more computers. I am grateful for CPI in Santa Cruz and Dave Hubert with Canadian Peacemakers as I think they will facilitate getting computers to the communities I work with.
This is less than half the students who will be studying at this satellite program
We picked up OSCAR (the minister of education) and headed for the hill up to Carizalito. 20 students are registered and we are thrilled to have the school open again this year. First….we stopped to buy some soccer balls and skipping ropes to take along.
The trick now is to keep these kids attending so we have come up with an incentive plan. As a reward for punctuality and good attendance, we planned a field trip to Copan. Although Copan is only about 40 minutes away, a lot of these kids have never been there. They will be treated to lunch in a restaurant…..also something most of these kids have never experienced. I sure wish I could be there to see the excitement.
Christiane always seems to garner lots of attention
Adios for now. Hasta Luego
A meeting was arranged with the parents and town leaders. It is humbling to be part of this process. We were met by a group of parents where we left the truck. They, and others that joined us long the way, escorted us up to the village. We could see the kids and parents at the top waiting to greet us. When the meeting was over “they had food” for us. That was what we heard everywhere we went to visit. So we sat down and were served chicken soup (the ultimate of meals here in Honduras) while everyone else watched. What a horrible feeling to be eating when we knew that the others would be getting tortillas maybe with beans for dinner (if they were lucky).
At the moment this is the school so when it rains (which is most of the year), there is a problem. The community and the Minister of Education put forth a request which Saul submitted. It was dependent on the commitment of the community to supply the labor, and the govt to supply the land. We received that commitment at the meeting yesterday. Today the mayor was visiting the community to look at two pieces of land and purchase land for the school site.
The school today
As soon as I have affirmation that the land is purchased they will send me a copy of the document and I will give the okay to buy the materials…….which will have to be carried on the backs of the people…..over the rickety bridge and up the hill. That includes over 1000 cement blocks, sand, bags of wall stucco, and roof materials.
The rickety bridge
My most wonderful photographer seemed to keep falling behind, taking pictures of the scenery
Saul said… “you need to meet the mayor at Cabañas”. Olman said “you have to meet the mayor at Cabañas”. People here respect the mayor and really like him. There really are very few politicians here known for being just and helpful. So… we went to meet with the mayor at Cabañas. I think Napoleon is one of the good guys.
Saul (Plan International), Napoleon (the Mayor) Carlos( Minister of Education) and me
After viewing the presentation that Saul has for the Computer Based Learning program, Napoleon and Carlos put in “a pitch” and justification for initiating a Computer Based Learning program in Cabañas. They will commit to visiting Santa Cruz to learn about the program, orientating a facilitator, paying the facilitator and supplying a facility and furniture… and I will commit to supplying them with with 6 computers for a start.
to visit all 4 of our projects in this area
Oscar, the Director of Education and I met this morning to discuss two projects:
We have a day of school visiting on Thursday. We will visit Carrizalito which is probably the favorite of my schools that we built (this community has had such a tough time with terrorism and poverty). My plan is to start a small incentive program for the students who are punctual and have good attendance. The first incentive will be footwear… most of these kids go barefoot. Last time I was there I noticed significant signs of parasites in the kids… maybe anti-parasitics for all. I will also speak to the Director of Casita Copan to see where they get vitamins for their kids and that may be a possibility for these kids also.
Carol and Oscar
The second area we will visit on Thursday is Vega Grande. We will meet with the parents and community leaders to discuss the construction of the school that A Better World will supply the materials for. All the labor to build the school will be done by the local people. There will be some logistical problems with the school in Vega Grande… the main one is getting the materials up to the site. There is no road… so the last KM or so is across rickety bridges and up a path on a hillside. The materials, sand and blocks will all have to be carried.