Choose…Brothers and Sisters or Fools!

“We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.”  By Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Launching of “Distance Learning”!

We are in the final countdown to bringing to the Copey community a “distance learning” program designed to reach students in extraordinary ways using extraordinary teachers. Starting  today, the first  on-line educational classes will begin and will continue for the next 14 weeks. This past week was spent helping the volunteer teachers get lined up and orientated on the methodology and tools put in place to connect the teachers with the students.

The new “Page” located now on the menu titled “Dream Team” lists the volunteer teachers with brief resumes. This excellent mix of educators coming from a variety of classroom experiences will offer a rich and exciting experience for the students in Copey.

PLEASE!!!!  Take a moment to send a note of encouragement, thanks, and best wishes to these volunteer educators who have stepped up to provide Copey students a wonderful opportunity to continue their education for the balance of this school year. What these volunteer teachers have agreed to do is most remarkable.

We are still looking for a few more volunteers to complete the team. Do you have one or two hours a week to donate?

COVID-19 UPDATE..!

This week in the Costa Rican news I saw something very interesting. Because of the extreme impacts COVID-19 is having on businesses in the country, pay cuts amounting to 15% are being imposed on top government leaders. Public workers with monthly salaries greater than ~$2,500.00  will also be cut back 15%.

OMG!!!  Do you hear this US government politicians and workers…? Hint…Hint!

Costa Rican COVID-19 deaths now total 218 for the country according to official data released Friday afternoon by the Health Ministry. Total deaths was at 162 last Monday.

Past Recipients Continue Their Pursuits

This week we highlight another prior “Pathway Project” recipient. Ariana arrived on the Emory & Henry College campus in June 2017 to attend the college’s Summer Scholars Program. Coming to the United States was the result of Ariana earning top student honors along with her classmate Fatima. Both were selected by the Copey Board of Directors.

We recall Ariana’s great smile and fun personality which resulted in her being among the friendliest in her group of Summer Scholars. She obtained very valuable experience communicating with other students because she was not reluctant to engage and use the English she had acquired.

Ariana is still a high school student in Copey and is now in the 11th grade. She plans to attend college after graduation to become a teacher. This was Ariana’s first time traveling outside of her country. She says “much was very exciting and opened my eyes to new things”.  

We will continue to provide updates on the “Pathway Project” recipients to help demonstrate how students are changing directions in their future because of our support.

More Recognition for Katherine Johnson

The Bethel School Board, located near Spanaway, in Washington state, recently voted unanimously to name an elementary school after Katherine Johnson, famed mathematician who calculated rocket trajectories and earth orbits for NASA’s early space missions and was later portrayed in the 2016 hit film “Hidden Figures.”

Katherine Johnson passed away on February 24, 2020 at the age of 101. Jim Bridenstine, NASA’s administrator, described her as “a United States American hero and that her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten.”