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Centro Educativo "La Obra de Dios", Pantoja
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While many of the residents in Pantoja live in poverty, they are healthier than they once were, due to the installation of a water purification system through a partnership with the Pantoja community including Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal M.I., Foundation for Peace (FFP) and Healing Waters International. Having access to affordable, clean water for drinking and washing has significantly reduced the number of water-borne illnesses, particularly parasitic infections, improving the overall quality of life for the people.
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For many years, children in Pantoja were either crowded into a small wooden shack (about 200 students per day), where they would stand for lack of space and furniture, or they were simply unable to attend school. It is obvious that these students are determined to get whatever education they can obtain.
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However, beginning with the 2004 school year, the town would have a new public school, more than five times the size of the old one. This new public school was built by members of the Pantoja community, of the Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal M.I. and FFP volunteers, working together, during the summer of 2004. It was further improved in 2005 and 2006. Despite its small size and ramshackle apprearance, the school leaders only agreed to have the old school knocked down if the new school could be finished by September.
By 2005, the community's new public school was able to provide education to more than 400 children in morning and afternoon sessions. During the summer of 2005, another FFP mission team, also working hand in hand with local people, did additional work on the school including enclosing the school yard to serve as a recess area. In the summer of 2006, FFP mission teams completed a second level addition, allowing the school to give classes up to 8th grade. It was in that year that the name of the school officially changed from Escuela de Educacion Basica to Centro Educativo Obra de Dios ("the Work of God") in recognition of the way God worked and blessed the community of Pantoja through the school.
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Before the new schools’ second level was constructed, there were so many children who weren't attending school, but wanted to attend, that the school has already overflowed into a nearby shack. It is narrow, crowded and dim, yet the children were happy for the chance to be there.
Improving education and opportunity for the students of Obra de Dios, Pantoja has been an on-going process. For a time, though the school is public, the government did not provide chairs and desks. The children had to sit in old desks or cheap plastic chairs, the kind found in many North American backyards.
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There were not even enough plastic chairs, so many willingly carried chairs from their home to school and back again each day. Their teacher instructs them orally and with chalkboards and chalk, and they copy the board work into their notebooks on a desk. Many without desks sat hunched over in chairs, yet they all wanted to learn.In the last few years people FFP trips members were touched by the situation in Pantoja and made generous efforts and donations of used classroom furniture. The classrooms for the first time have been outfitted with desks and chairs sufficient for the quantity of students.
Since it is a public school, the Dominican government has provided teachers and a few basic supplies (e.g. chalk), but they been unable to provide many necessities. From time to time specific groups donate and help supply materials. For example, at the beginning of school year 2005-2006 thanks to the donations from the Roseart Corporation and individuals in the US, every child in the school received basic school supplies. Donations like this would be useful every year for students and their parents who are unable to provide sometimes even their most basic supplies like pencils, erasers and theme books.
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The students and their families have received medical care annually when the FFP provides free clinics in the community. The FFP has hopes of initiating a year round clinic when funds become available. Health programs and the school building construction are extremely important steps in our comprehensive program to improve the overall living, education and economic opportunities for the children in this community.
Their current needs include:
- TV's
- DVD players
- Spanish educational videos
- Coloring books
- Reading books in Spanish
- Ceiling fans
- Teacher's desks and chairs
- Student desks
- Educational games (in Spanish)
- Chalkboards
- Blocks
- Maps of the Dominican Republic (political, geographic, relief)
- World map
- Globe
- Educational posters in Spanish
If you are interested in providing these items, please email Wendy Patchin at wendy@foundationforpeace.org. Monetary donations to help obtain these items for the school can be made at the Donate Now section of this website.