Cisneros Foundation finishes renovation of la Mina de Oro School in Miches

The Cisneros Foundation announced the end of its renovation work being done at the Mina de Oro School in Miches where the Foundation is also installing air conditioning. The work is being carried out as part of the “Work Day in the Community” project undertaken by representatives from the Cisneros Foundation, the Ministry of State Education (SEE), the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL), the Dominican Banco Popular, authorities from Miches, El Cedro and La Gina, teachers and students from the school as well as members from the community. Necessary repair work on the school’s installations was done on the school grounds. And, with the support of the students, they painted a mural which formed part of the Cisneros Foundation’s Think About Art Program.

Necessary repair work on the school’s installations was done on the school grounds. And, with the support of the students, they painted a mural which formed part of the Cisneros Foundation’s Think About Art Program.

The Schools Recuperation Program of the Cisneros Foundation, inspired by the experience of the Rural Schools Reparation Program (PRER) of the Dominican Banco Popular, is directed at basic schools of the School District 12-04 and is being carried out jointly with the Cisneros Foundation’s educational program Think About Art. The program proposes to improve the schools’ infrastructure in order to give students a more stimulating learning atmosphere while calling on other institutions to contribute to this initiative.

This information was released by Mr. William Phelan, Executive Director of the Foundation. He added that the renovation of La Mina de Oro School was teamwork at its best with efforts from the private and public sector and civil society. “With the support of the Board of Directors of School Maintenance and Infrastructure and the Under Secretary for Community Participation of the Ministry of State Education, the Cisneros Foundation channeled the requests from the schools and education community which, from the outset, demonstrated its decision to contribute to its own development. This tripartite alliance is a model example that should be replicated in the rest of the schools in the district,” he said.

In only 68 days, from the first encounter with the community at the La Mina de Oro School, the Cisneros Foundation and the SEE, reached the goal they’d laid out for the bathrooms; repair and replacement of doors and awnings; finishing up the outer fence; repair of electrical cables; cleaning and refurbishing the sports field; beautifying the green areas and painting the outer and inner walls of the school. The community commitment was reflected throughout the entire project; in just two preparatory work days, more than 60 people participated. On the other hand, the Cisneros Foundation was able to train 10 teachers at the Mina de Oro School in the methodology involved in Think About Art – a new pedagogical program applied to the design of the mural painted by 30 students, chosen by their teachers under the supervision of Artemiches the local artist Coiscou.

Phelan stressed that the Foundation is proud and pleased with the schools recovery program in that it has been important to establish a solid work relationship with the community as well as with the SEE in order to achieve an improved educational atmosphere for the young people of Miches. He stressed that the alliance between the Ministry of State Education and the Cisneros Foundation Schools Recovery Program has been essential to deepen the support of the project. He added that because of the improved security resulting from the new infrastructure of the school, the Cisneros Foundation will support community efforts to facilitate the installation, by INDOTEL, of a Computer Training Center (CCI) in the Mina de Oro School. The objective is to meet the community’s demand for Internet access. “As soon as there is Internet connectivity in the zone, the AME (Updating of Teachers Program) will begin to function,” he said of the program that was developed in the Dominican Republic in 2005. “The program has trained more than 1,673 teachers, of which 77% have passed courses, leading the rest of Latin America in the culmination and pass rate of the course.”

The Cisneros Foundation is planning to continue its schools recovery program with buildings in El Cedro, La Gina and Sabana de Nisibón in 2009-2010. It will consolidate its agreements with important Dominican institutions such as the Ministry of Education, INDOTEL and Banco Popular.

Cisneros Foundation finishes renovation of la Mina de Oro School in Miches .

Cisneros Foundation finishes renovation of la Mina de Oro School in Miches .

Cisneros Foundation finishes renovation of la Mina de Oro School in Miches .