Instituto de Formacion Maritima Juan Sebastion Elcano
A school needing your help.
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Dr. Jorge Denis , Founder of the Instituto de Formacion Maritima Juan Sebastion Elcano.
leading Cal Hultquist, his wife and children on a tropical rainforest trail during the summer of 2009. The preserve is operated by the Smithsonian Institution in a remote part of Panama.
Many native species were observed including crocodiles, wild cats, many amazing bird species, an incredible collection of tree frogs, monkeys and more.
Dr. Denis, family and friends, saying goodbye to Cal and his family at the Panama City Airport, August 2009.
_________________________
Nuestra mission a la escuela
de Herva Buena.
Our mission to the school at
Hierva Buena.
The walk into the mountains to visit the school was long and difficult. Supplies were carried in by mules. Hierva Buena school is the only educational opportunity for the indigenous people of Panama living in the Hierva Buena area. Click photo above to watch a slideshow.
We brought the children backpacks. The children have very few possessions.
A student paints a marker honoring the 500th anniversary of the landing of Columbus.
Mules carried our supplies through the mountain.
Students paint the Hierva Buena school sign.
We painted the school inside and out.
As hot as it is in Panama, mountain nights can be very cool.
We repaired the concrete.
We cooked over open fires.
The children of Hierva Buena were very happy with the repairs to their school and the backpacks.
An introduction by Cal Hultquist:
Instituto de Formacion Maritima Juan Sebastion Elcano is located In Chorerra, Panama. Chorerra is about an hour from Panama City. Although Chorerra has much to be proud of, there are also many children living in poverty who need educational opportunities to better their lives.
Panama is in many ways prosperous. Panama City is a thriving international metropolis where the rich live next to the very poor. Like any big city, it has its share of crime but the police tend to be professional and the city is as safe as Chicago.
Many millionaire playgrounds and tourist resorts multiply annually in the cities, mountainous rainforests and beaches. Panama is rapidly becoming a place for Americans and Europeans to vacation and retire.
I spent five weeks in Panama this past summer. Most of the time I felt safe and welcomed to be there. Panamanians are very accustomed to Americans as our histories are so intertwined.
While in Panama, I spent a great deal of time with Dr. Jorge Denis, founder of the Instituto de Formacion Maritima Juan Sebastion Elcano.
Dr. Denis declined lucrative opportunities to instead work with the children of Panama. I was amazed at how many of his former students remained in contact with him, often visiting him at his office or the front porch of his home, still seeking his ideas and counsel.
When Panama regained control of the Canal (once the lease to the United States expired) part of the ensuing treaty required that all ships be piloted by Panamanian captains and crew. This created many valuable jobs for the people of Panama previously held by foreigners.
The Instituto trains children from an early age, not only typical school subjects, but also maritime subjects as well. Upon graduation, the students may continue their education or find employment on the Canal.
In Panama City, there exist several maritime schools and it is much easier for city children to pursue a maritime education. However, in rural communities, the poor too often remain poor, largely due to a lack of educational opportunities. These are the children in the care of Dr. Denis and the school. These are the children we are trying to help.
Due to the poverty in Chorerra where the school is located, very little funds are available to operate the school. The teachers are poorly paid. The library has about 50 books. The building is structurally very sound but has many problems including faulty electrical wiring, a leaky roof, bad plumbing and a very rough kitchen with no modern appliances. The classroom fans are broken down and the heat can be overbearing.
Nonetheless, despite these conditions, these children show up every day, impeccably clean in their one uniform, ready to learn. Panamanians take educational opportunities to heart. They value what we so often take for granted.
I was really touched by a mission trip the kids undertook as their class project, to a place deep in the mountains called Hierva Buena, occupied by the rural and native people of Panama.
What is touching is that these kids from the Insituto Elcano need so much, yet they traveled far through mountainous terrain on foot to do a kind deed for another school, even more unfortunate.
They carried supplies by mule and made repairs, painted the school and delivered backpacks to the impoverished children of Hierva Buena.
Website
Under
Construction
Instituto de Formacion Maritima Juan Sebastion Elcano is located In Chorerra, Panama. Chorerra is about an hour from Panama City. Although Chorerra has much to be proud of, there are also many children living in poverty who need educational opportunities to better their lives.
Panama is in many ways prosperous. Panama City is a thriving international metropolis where the rich live next to the very poor. Like any big city, it has its share of crime but the police tend to be professional and the city is as safe as Chicago.
Many millionaire playgrounds and tourist resorts multiply annually in the cities, mountainous rainforests and beaches. Panama is rapidly becoming a place for Americans and Europeans to vacation and retire.
I spent five weeks in Panama this past summer. Most of the time I felt safe and welcomed to be there. Panamanians are very accustomed to Americans as our histories are so intertwined.
While in Panama, I spent a great deal of time with Dr. Jorge Denis, founder of the Instituto de Formacion Maritima Juan Sebastion Elcano.
Dr. Denis declined lucrative opportunities to instead work with the children of Panama. I was amazed at how many of his former students remained in contact with him, often visiting him at his office or the front porch of his home, still seeking his ideas and counsel.
When Panama regained control of the Canal (once the lease to the United States expired) part of the ensuing treaty required that all ships be piloted by Panamanian captains and crew. This created many valuable jobs for the people of Panama previously held by foreigners.
The Instituto trains children from an early age, not only typical school subjects, but also maritime subjects as well. Upon graduation, the students may continue their education or find employment on the Canal.
In Panama City, there exist several maritime schools and it is much easier for city children to pursue a maritime education. However, in rural communities, the poor too often remain poor, largely due to a lack of educational opportunities. These are the children in the care of Dr. Denis and the school. These are the children we are trying to help.
Due to the poverty in Chorerra where the school is located, very little funds are available to operate the school. The teachers are poorly paid. The library has about 50 books. The building is structurally very sound but has many problems including faulty electrical wiring, a leaky roof, bad plumbing and a very rough kitchen with no modern appliances. The classroom fans are broken down and the heat can be overbearing.
Nonetheless, despite these conditions, these children show up every day, impeccably clean in their one uniform, ready to learn. Panamanians take educational opportunities to heart. They value what we so often take for granted.
I was really touched by a mission trip the kids undertook as their class project, to a place deep in the mountains called Hierva Buena, occupied by the rural and native people of Panama.
What is touching is that these kids from the Insituto Elcano need so much, yet they traveled far through mountainous terrain on foot to do a kind deed for another school, even more unfortunate.
They carried supplies by mule and made repairs, painted the school and delivered backpacks to the impoverished children of Hierva Buena.
Website
Under
Construction
