MINERD, EDUCA and IONIC Sign Agreement to Remodel Manoguayabo School

MINERD, EDUCA and IONIC Sign Agreement to Remodel Manoguayabo School
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 06/13/13
The Ministry of Education (MINERD), IONIC, graduating high school seniors for the2012-2013school year at St. Michael’s High School, and Business Action for Education (EDUCA) have signed a cooperation agreementfor remodelingthe Miracle of Love school, located in the Hato NuevosectionofManoguayabo, municipality of SantoDomingo West, Santo Domingo province.

Attending the agreement signing ceremony were some students fromthe San Miguel primary school, people from the Manoguayabo community as well as parents, principals, teachers and MINERD officials.

The agreement was signedby Ministerof EducationLic. Josefina Pimentel, students PaolaContrerasandCarlosF.LangaResek, representingIONIC, and EDUCA’s President Elena Viyella de Palizaduringa ceremony heldin the Ercilia Pepin hall at MINERD.

The Minister of Education highlightedthe workat St.Michael’s high school.  She said theIONICstudentshave put into practice asense of service, solidarity and have evenreturned someof what was receivedfrom their parents,schoolsand from the opportunitiesthatlifehas given them.

“You also have looked with love at a group of children, and to a teacher who through hard work, dedication and sacrifice fills each day with an attitude deeply committed to the human development of those children who are under your responsibility. That look of love, and of service is what exalts them as young people,” she said.

Minister Pimentel was thankful that the project is oriented towards the community of Manoguayabo and congratulated the teachers, parents, support staff and student leaders.  She hopes that the project will serve as a model for other communities and to support other young people in schools.

Meanwhile, the president of EDUCA stressed that the project is innovative, efficient, and with it proof that young people are sensitive to the reality of their environment and are concerned about improving the conditions of those who have not had the same opportunities as them.

“The project would not be possible without the integration of the parents of these young people to youthful entrepreneurship, family who feel the need to contribute to their peers, to their fellow citizens and with Christian spirit to ensure that the fateof others means the initiative of these boys and girls does not remain just an idea,” she said.

Student Carlos F. Resek Langa added that: “Thanks to the incredible support of our parents and the great support of our school, we realized that this project is not just a building, but the progress of an entire generation.”

The school project plans to create nine classrooms to serve a population of approximately 300 students from kindergarten to the last grade of primary education, with a total investment of 9,545,179 pesos. Of that amount, IONIC has committed to raising 3,579,442 pesos and MINERD a total of 5,965,737 pesos.  So far IONIC has raised and contributed the sum of 2,600,513 pesos.

MINERD has shown interest in collaborating with the project, which seeks to offer a decent education to the children of the Hato Nuevo community. For that, it is committed to monitoring the quality of the work’s implementation, supply furniture, provide human resources, and suggest and/orcomplete any additional work that must be undertaken.

According to the accord IONIC is committed to making every effort to raise the sum of 978,929 pesos to complete its assigned total contribution.  EDUCA will receive and disburse the funds raised from various persons orlegalentities as well as monies that MINERD provides for the project, which will be deposited in a special bank account for the purpose, will oversee the project management and ensure compliance with the schedules completing the work and for the agreed-upon financial commitments.

On November 16, 2012 EDUCA and IONIC signed a collaboration agreement whereby the entrepreneurial institution committed to receive and administer the funds raised by the students for implementation of the project, which is located in an area of ??1228.58 square meters, in plot 131, Cadastral District No. 31, in the municipality of Santo Domingo West.

Theschool remodeling work will be carried out by the Constructora Primar, S.R.L. company, whose general manager is engineer Alberto Prida, father of one of the IONIC member students. The firm carries outits technical and/or corresponding field work for free.

Attending the agreement signing ceremony were some students fromthe San Miguel primary school, people from the Manoguayabo community as well as parents, principals, teachers and MINERD officials.

IONIC is a group of students from St. Michael’s High School who promote social work within their program of study as part of core school values. In this sense, IONIC students are committed to improving the Miracle of Love school’s physical structure through donations from different individuals and/or legal entities.