Even
with scholarships, children attending school past
sixth grade often need extra help. The village elementary
school they previously attended is not generally
up to par with the private schools in Santa Cruz
del Quiché, so the first year for these students
is often difficult. Add to that the fact that most
of their parents have not attended schooling at
that level, and you begin to understand why they
might struggle.
In an effort to provide every possibility for
success, Pura Vida has implemented an after-school program to assist in tutoring
the children. The program provides 3-hour tutoring sessions twice weekly during
the school year. These sessions are mandatory for all scholarship
recipients. Since the program began in January, 2004 we have seen great improvements
in the grades of the children.
Children from Lemoa
Lemoa
Student Center As
the scholarship program grows, so too does the need for a better environment for
study. Lemoa has practically no resources to support students at the secondary
school level -- no library, no books, no typewriters, no resources of any kind.
What's more, the children really have no decent place to do their homework. They
often can be seen reading and writing sitting on the street corner. Finally, the
elementary school teachers in Lemoa have approached Pura Vida about the possibility
of providing some basic computer training for the children. They feel that this
is an area where their students are being left behind by their peers in the larger
towns.
All of these
issues have led Pura Vida to consider building a student center in Lemoa. The
new facility would:
Provide
basic scholastic resources to students pursuing advanced secondary school.
Provide
a secure, well-lit study environment for students.
Serve
as a facility for the weekly tutoring sessions.
House
a small library and a some computers.
We
are in the initial stages of funding this project. More information will be provided
here as things progress.
Eleazar
