Adopt-A-School is more than school supplies
We're gearing up for #GivingTuesday just one week from now! We have that $7500 donor match challenge ready to go, and in this issue we want to tell you how we work with the local education department.
Did you know that Adopt-A-School is more than school supplies? We have an partnership agreement with local education authorities.
CONAPAC’s founders were deeply concerned about education in rural river communities; the teachers and schools seemed to be forgotten by the government. Not only was there a lack of school supplies for students, not a single book, but the teachers seemed abandoned as well. They did not receive any support apart from a salary and a schoolhouse. Government budgets did not include logistics for transport by boat; officials and education supervisors could not get to the communities to actually see teachers and students in their schools. How could the people in charge know anything about the quality of education if they couldn’t even get there? Something needed to change!
top left: Education specialists Raquel Vásquez Armas and Rubí Vásquez Laulate visiting the community of Llachapa ~ top right: Specialist Lida Herlinda Garcia Murrieta meeting with community members at San Pedro de Manatí ~ bottom left: Education specialist Maria Cristina Arimuya Huayta visiting the community of Primero de Enero ~ bottom right: A meeting with specialist Claire Janelle Rosemarie Bardales Reategui in Timicurillo
Since 1995, CONAPAC has had an official partnership agreement with the State education department of the GREL, Gerencia Regional de Educación de Loreto, and with the local education authorities of the UGEL Maynas, Unidad de Gestión Educativa Local Maynas. We feel that our partnership with GREL and UGEL is vital to the success of schools in CONAPAC partner communities. We all have a role in this partnership.
• Representatives of GREL and UGEL join us on the Adopt-A-School supply deliveries at the beginning of each school year. They can look for immediate solutions for problems with teacher numbers, school buildings, and parent concerns. Without their presence in the community, these issues could take months to even identify.
• CONAPAC can help choose teachers for the GREL to contract in the communities. This provides another layer of interviews to help get the best teachers for these schools–-teachers committed to working in rural areas.
• CONAPAC can officially hold teacher workshops focused on environmental education and teachers can take work days to attend. UGEL representatives also attend to add teacher development and present government information about new school plans and regulations without the teachers having to miss days to go to Iquitos. See our August 2024 blog post.
• UGEL and GREL specialists can accompany CONAPAC during community visits throughout the school year, increasing their support for communities and teachers in the schools without affecting their transport budget.
• CONAPAC supplies logistics so UGEL and GREL specialists can participate in the end-of-year community and school evaluations. This allows all involved organizations to share findings and information that will improve plans for the following year (read last year’s blog post about evaluations).
Today, the status of education is much improved from when we started over 30 years ago. We feel it’s all about partnerships and working together. This week, we also want to express our great thanks for the partnership of all of our donors who make this great work possible.
About Giving Tuesday
Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in. This global day of giving harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.
Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on December 3 and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.
And here is a sneak peek at our end-of-year fundraiser. Further details next week!
Want to donate?
We have several long-time donors and partner organizations who work tirelessly for CONAPAC; with you, we can do so much for our communities.
Our work is only possible with the many other donations, big and small, that we receive throughout the year.
