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marks for school
After
successfully using a previous ECLOF loan, a school in Peru
has applied for a second injection of cash to expand further.
The Niño Jesús de Praga (Baby Jesus of Prague)
Parochial School is run by the Niño de Praga Parochial
Missionary Order of nuns. The school is located in the town
of Tarma, high up in the Andes in the Huinco Valley and
about 240km from Lima, the Peruvian capital. Almost 90%
of the population of Tarma work in agriculture.
The school received its first ECLOF loan of US$50,000 in
1997 to complete construction of the school gym, playground
and science laboratories. New Horizons (No.21, June 1999)
previously reported on the school's achievements in science
and technology, which primarily related to agriculture in
the Tarma area.
The 1997 ECLOF loan was slightly less than one-third of
the total cost of a project to expand the school. Repayment
of the loan was by monthly instalments over four years.
The school's loan repayment record has matched its high
academic standards; all instalments were made either on
time or in advance.
The
Niño Jesús de Praga school is a prime example
of how an educational establishment, if run efficiently
and integrated into the life of the community, can win the
respect and support of parents, and achieve not only academic
success but also solvency and sustainability. ECLOF Peru
is now processing the school's application for a second
loan.
The Niño Jesús de Praga School has 370 students.
Almost half of the pupils receive either a full or partial
scholarship. Tuition costs US$18 per month.
Sister Hilda Morán (left) of the Niño de Jesús
de Praga Order and Director of the Niño de Jesús
school with Ms. Saturina Huamán, President of the
School Parents' Association. Ms. Huamán told ECLOF
Peru that the Parents' Association helped to raise funds
to repay the school's first ECLOF loan by running three
fund raising campaigns each year.
Students of the Niño de Jesús school have
won a number of scientific awards including one for using
fruit peel to make pectin, and another for a database project
to improve soil and crops in Andean Peru.
