School Visits

Today I was asked to visit a foundation that supplies libraries to public schools in Ecuador. Met some very dedicated people. I went to a girl’s school that has 10,000 students. They have two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It was amazing. The students all wear uniforms. They do regular studies but have special things they concentrate on; right now it is violence at school and home.
I was amazed to see that they had no computers. They had an antique typewriter they were using in the library. One of the students was doing some repairs on it. All the books they get are donated from various sources and the foundation purchases some as well for the various schools.
We went to another school that the children were from very low income families. The library there was very small. In this small neighborhood the students leave this school when they reach high school age. They can go to high school if they are chosen by a committee. Of course they have to have good grades and other qualifications.
The one constant in all the schools I visited is that they want children to have a better education. They need their teachers to be brought up to date on new teaching methods. Of course they need better books, computers, etc. but we can help with investing the time to help these teachers reach their goal. We have the ability to get grants to bring us here to help and there isn’t a good reason that I can see not to invest a small amount of time for these children who might someday, with the right education, be the leaders in their country. In America we have the resources to get an education, these children do not.
I went to lunch with several of the officers of this foundation and had a great time and made some new friends.
Came home and Patricia and I went to join members of Partners at a final meeting to sum up what we all learned and what we hope to accomplish in the next year.
After that meeting we all went to a very nice restraint. The food was typical Ecuadorian. Talked for hours and saying goodbye to all the team was very difficult. Don’t know who was more upset about me leaving, them or me. The tears flowed freely and emotions ran high. People I had not known for long are in my heart forever.
Got back to the casa and started packing. Finally got it organized. Had to take something to help me sleep so I wouldn’t be awake all night.
More tomorrow