BOLIVIA: School expands to serve growing number of students
Salesian Topater School has two new classrooms to meet the needs of a growing student population
(MissionNewswire) Two new classrooms and a corridor have been added through a construction project at the Topater School in the city of El Alto, Bolivia. The project was part of the “Strengthening the Topater Educational Unit” initiative launched by Salesian Father Luis Adolfo Tórrez Sanjinés, national director of the Don Bosco Popular Schools in the country.
The project was financed by the Dr. Werner and Helga Göppel Foundation, in cooperation with the Don Bosco Mission Bonn. The Topater School serves more than 1,000 students in kindergarten, elementary and middle school. The new classrooms will provide more space to meet the needs of a growing student population.
Dr. Omar Ramos Huayllani, director of the Topater School, thanked donors and supporters of the project for the new classrooms. During the event, a small group of first graders attended the handover ceremony in compliance with all COVID-19 safety measures.
“Many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks and lack the basic education they deserve,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian schools help level the playing field and ensure that all children have equal access to education. Expanding the Topater School ensures that more youth will be able to attend school and start on a solid path of achieving their goals.”
Bolivia is the poorest country in South America and has the most unequal income distribution on the continent. It is common for Bolivians to struggle to find adequate nutrition, shelter and other basic necessities. The geography of Bolivia contributes to the overwhelming poverty of its residents. Large swaths of the country remain undeveloped with a lack of roads and infrastructure.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
ANS – Bolivia – Two new classrooms for El Alto “Topater” Educational Unit
World Bank – Bolivia
Salesian Missions – Bolivia