Arroyo Grande Hurricane Relief School Repair Project
Community Name: Arroyo Grande
Community Population: approx. 2000
PCV Name: Jennifer Courtney
Community Leader Responsible for Project: Tirso Felix Pontier Ramos
Type of Project: School Reparation
Project Request: US $2020
Total Project Cost: US $3261.55
Number of Beneficiaries: Direct: 320 Indirect: approx 2000
Project Description:
The school’s two roofs were blown away in the hurricane on September 16, 2004, and the school has not been in session since. To date, the students have missed 17 full school days since the hurricane. There is a pressing need to repair the roof and begin classes as soon as possible.
The local parents met with the school’s director on October 2nd and 6th to review the situation and to resolve the problem quickly, expressing willingness to do anything necessary to help restore the school. The seven teachers have already cleaned and repaired the school’s kitchen and office, and are ready to return to teaching.
Both the school director, Tirso Felix Pontier Ramos, and the district Specialist in Community Participation, Tirso Julio Patín, created the damage report and a subsequent request for funds from the Secretary of Education to repair the school. Both education workers have committed to this project, including meeting with the community of Arroyo Grande, organizing a timeline for completion, buying and transporting the materials, maintaining the project budget, overseeing construction, and seeing the project through to the school’s re-opening. They have obtained commitments from teachers, construction workers, parents, and other community members to complete this project successfully. I, Jennifer Courtney, a Peace Corps volunteer, am committed to managing the project and offering any other assistance needed.
Engineers from the Secretary of Education were unable to arrive at the actual site on September 28th because of bridge damage, but the engineers met with specialists at the district office and received a damage report on that same date. They have agreed to provide materials to complete the roof of the second building, but did not commit to a date for these repairs. There are three other schools in the area that are equally or more damaged, so there are overwhelming educational needs in the region. Funds received now through Fondo Quisqueya will allow the community to move ahead immediately and get one school building up and running without waiting for the Secretary of Education.
Click on the photo below to see more images of damage to the school.
