Carol in Honduras

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:

1. the building of a school in Vega Grande.
2. the re-opening of the school in Carrizalito.

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.

Today, I had to tell Adin the teacher that I was cancelling the computer based learning program in El Chilar. Over the 4 years of the program, it has shown no signs of growth, the community and parents seemed to take no responsibility for supporting the program and we were paying a teacher to monitor the students and submit marks to the main computer based learning centre

We have had small successes in this community.

This year:

• 11 students attended and will complete their year
• 4 students from previous years graduated from 12 th grade (two want to be policemen and one a physician assistant). Note: these are the first people ever to graduate from 12th grade

Since 2011

• 52 students attended the computer based program
• 8 of those students went on to Senior High

The “fruits” of this program have been few but I have no doubt that it was a worthwhile endeavour and hope that the students will see the impact of this education in their future lives.

The good news is that the municipalidad plans on starting a “Centro basico” in a village not far from El Chilar so the students will have access to Grade 7,8, and 9 if they wish. That made my decision easier and firm. The computers that are functioning will be relocated to our other programs in Cuchilla Zappa and Rosario.

…Would I like to go see a community where they need a school? My “yes” is always a little tentative. Where is it I asked?…. About 30 minutes from here and then a little walk.

So… down the road and down the road we went. Over and through three rivers (one was deep enough water seeped into the truck).

Over this footbridge.

Through cornfields.

And yes of course….. up a hill to Vega Grande (translated “big fertile plain”)

I learned the Mayan numbers today. The kids were very pleased to have company and with prompting, showed me what they were working on

Eye glasses are so much cheaper in the United States that Emily (the director of Casita Copan) asked if she could have them shipped to me, for me to bring down to Copan. This little boy was so nervous. But when he was allowed to open the package the nervousness grew into excitement.