Growth
2009-2010
Soloy Kindergarten Plan of Activities
They are planning to build two more classrooms for the School as they wish to add other groups and also for kindergarten; the new classroom is used by Mrs. Maria Teresa to have classes for First and Second Grades and a rustic classroom was made for Pre-K and Kindergarten. The plan includes a training for the two teachers and four more as the need arises, to keep working on maintenance work for the school (clean and make a fence) for safety and to plant a garden with some products for the kids. Also, they appointed a Board of collaborators to work on the curriculum and to guide the vision on the quality of not only the academic subjects but also the administration affairs. They have already selected the teachers to be trained next year. There were a total of 50 students registered for the 2009-2010 school year. Recently, FUNDESCU received the official recognition to the School of Soloy, certificated by the Ministry of Education.
Molejon School
The school started in April with 62 students attending through 6th grade. The students attend class on a consistent basis, contrary to the general problem of desertion at the schools in the Ngäbe Bugle Reservation. The teachers have regular meetings with parents to consult and coordinate maintenance work for the school.
As in the last few years, the School in Quebrada Molejón finished the regular academic year with three teachers and the students. Six of the students, including one girl, finished elementary school. Last year $2,500 was assigned to the school to build a kitchen. When the project started the builder realize that some expenses were not included in the budget. The Regional Board of Institute assigned the necessary funds to conclude the works and pay 50% of the material costs (wood) provided by the local community. The schools are also receiving food now from the Ministry for the two schools in Molejón and Soloy.
2007
Mona Foundation Meets with Ngobe Bugle Teachers
After experiencing the necessary travel on Panama's rain-soaked, muddy hills for two hours and sharing a picnic lunch by a lovely waterfall in the warm rain, the Mona Foundation representatives finally arrived at the Soloy Center where our meeting with the Molejon teachers took place. When one thinks of the three teachers, a couple of parents and one very determined young boy of 12 crossing five mountains in the rain for nine hours and negotiating over three swollen rivers just to meet with us, our ride up the hill in a 4 X 4 was really nothing.
The rain beat on the metal roof as we settled in to consult. At times we had to shout to be heard over the din of the pounding water and as the dark clouds moved in; it was difficult to discern faces clearly as the afternoon wore on.
The teachers spoke after formal greetings of welcome. They listed several points, among them: 1) where will our children go to school when they finish grade 6? Is there a possibility of a high school at Molejon? 2) Will we ever be able to get a computer lab in Molejon? 3) Can the stipend we are receiving be increased at all? 4) Are we eligible for Social Security? 5) Is it possible to get a permanent kitchen and dining area in the school? 6) Are we ever going to be permanent employees with a guaranteed income?
The teachers brought up their concern about being a private school and not a public one; if they were a public school the children would be eligible to receive boots from the government during the rainy season, the teachers would receive more compensation and there would be an opportunity for more scholarships. These teachers felt if they were recognized by the government then their students would respect them more and they would be able to ask more of them in the way of performance.
Mona Foundation members listened intently. We thanked them for walking such a long distance to visit with us, and shared that some of their requests, e.g. scholarship to the University, additional stipend to cover social security and the budget for the kitchen had already been approved and funded. We then asked that they submit the rest of their requests to the Institute sponsoring their school. We committed that once the Institute had consulted with them and considered their request that they provide us with an updated proposal for our Board's review. We mentioned that we have been with them for the past seven years, and continue to be committed to supporting their educational initiatives in whatever way we could.
After the formal meeting, the teachers were presented with three boxes of student literature books which were brought from Washington. These included sets of 6 of many individual titles so that small groups of students can read together, as well as book ends for their small library and heavy plastic hangar-bags so students can carry them home. A plastic book shelf is waiting to be taken to the school too. Roberto Palacio, the head teacher for the school accepted them happily and said his students were truly beginning to read and enjoy it. Those books will now be taken by individual backpack or by horseback through the rain to the top of the mountains.
2006
Molejon School
This year the stipends varied due to the fact that the teachers did not get Social Security. At the beginning of the year their worker's contribution to Social Security was deducted. When it became clear that it was not going to be possible to enroll them in the program, they were given the entire salary without the deduction. Each teacher will receive $145 per month. In addition, each teacher will be given $50 to purchase the supplies he/she will need to move to Quebrada Molejón at the beginning of the school year.
This year the teachers have been particularly careful to have a substitute teacher available for times when health or administration requires them to be absent. Nevertheless, they cannot afford to pay these teachers from their own modest salaries. They are asking to add $300 to pay for these occasional absences, at the rate of $5 a day.
Mona Foundation Visits the Ngobe Bugle People
Three teachers and five others, Ngobe-Bugle natives who support the Molejon School, walked down the mountain for nine hours to meet with the Mona Foundation visitors. Among them was a 72 year old woman, thin, tired, and without shoes. "They humbly and gently welcomed us as we sat around the circle," writes Mahnaz Javid. "They did NOT ask for food or shoes, but for extending the Molejon School into a high school so that their children would not have to leave home and be homeless down the mountain and live in absolute shacks, bamboo huts on bare ground."
"It is truly remarkable and unbelievable to see that in an area where there is 95% poverty and malnutrition, people disregard all other needs and ask for the one thing they know will save the future of their children from the dire poverty they live in. This encounter with nobility, I think, ennobled all of us, not because we went there to support, but we were lucky to witness the depth of commitment of a good and capable people who deny themselves all to offer a better life to their children."
The people reported that they have not yet received the one meal a day for the school children promised by the government a year ago. Anita Jorgenson of FUNDESCU will go again to the Ministry with the Regional Chief to assure that food will get there. June and July are called the hungry months, for the coffee harvest begins in August and last year's earnings are all used up. Mona Foundation members have offered one meal a day as a stop gap until this situation is remedied correctly. With faces beaming with smiles, these beautiful people did not raise their heads, humbled by their extreme needs, but smiled knowing their children would get at least one meal a day. It will cost $295 for us to provide food for the children per month.
Mona Foundation has committed to FUNDESCU to support adding one class a year toward establishing a full high school. The government now requires that the teachers have at least 2 years of University, and we have promised scholarships to all the 13 teachers. Once the people heard that we were committed to support the effort once the teachers were certified, they said, one by one, "We are content with the consultation." This experience was deeply moving for those representing the Foundation
Ngabe Bukle Universidad
Following our March 2005 visit and meeting with the National Indigenous Council President, the Mona Foundation accepted a proposal from the Council to help support the establishment of a university. It will be the first of its kind on indigenous land. This is a landmark event for the area because you can count the university graduates in the area on the fingers of one hand.
Patterned after the Rural University in Cali, Columbia, the curriculum is relevant to the community issues and needs. Two "Centers of Learning" established at strategic locations in the area will enable 200 students to remain on their lands while attending the university. For the full story and ongoing developments of this amazing project, please see the Ngabe Bukle Universidad section of this website.