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Joining Hands for Students
El Diario de Hoy
March 27, 2005
Translation by PADF
Banco Agrícola made it possible for the students of the school El Cacique, in La Unión, to have access to better technological tools for their academic preparation by providing equipment for a computer center.
El Piche, in La Unión, is one of the areas farthest away from the capital and therefore its schools have very little access to technology.
Precisely in the school Cacique, in El Piche, this reality is changing noticeably. Banco Agrícola, through its Program Manos Unidas por El Salvador and with the support of the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) installed and equipped a computer center that will benefit about 400 students.
“More than donating a computer center, we are opening doors to the student community, to a world of better opportunities in which they will be able to succeed at a personal level and help out their families”, said Mariela Franco, from Banco Agrícola, during the official inauguration ceremony.
“We are aware that the development of the department of La Unión as a result of the port (Cutuco), so we started from that, from the projection for development in the region, to be clear that what is learned by the children and young adults will be valuable and will make them part of the development in the future through their computer knowledge,” said thankfully the principal of the Cacique school, Edwin Antonio Garay.
More Activities of Solidarity
But this was not the only project implemented by Banco Agrícola and PADF, an NGO affiliated to the Organization of American States, since they signed an agreement in 2004.
On the contrary, according to Ernesto Magaña, the banks director of businesses abroad, there are five other projects which have already been implemented as a result of suggestions by the Salvadoran communities in the United States.
Among these is the completion of mobile training school in Cacaopera, Morazán, an initiative by the Comité pro Rescate de Cacaopera (COPRECA).
“With this training school the population of Cacaopera received sewing seminars, in an attempt to give them a tool to be able to work and in the long run be able to improve their lives,” mentioned Magaña.
In addition to this, in partnership with the Comunidad Unida de Chinameca, the bank and FUPAD created an environmental development project.
“Four classrooms were also constructed in a school in San Vicente, a project suggested by the Salvadoran Children Society in Los Angeles,” added Magaña.
Joint Effort
Manos Unidas por El Salvador is a program through which Banco Agrícola seeks to make remittances sent by Salvadorans abroad productive by implementing education, social, and economic development projects for communities in different areas of the country.
At the same time, the cooperation agreement establishes that for each remittance transaction, regardless of its size, the bank and PADF will provide a certain percentage which will be destined to projects in different communities in El Salvador.
This year, both institutions will open a new space so that more Salvadoran associations in the United States can create their own projects.
The only difference will be that this year the money donated by Banco Agrícola and PADF will increase to $175,000, with which, according to Magaña, they are planning to implement 10 more projects.
“We will be launching a call for proposals soon for the Salvadoran communities in the United States to present their initiatives in May,” invited Magaña. Out of all these initiatives, the bank and PADF will choose those to be implemented throughout the year, always seeking to benefit those Salvadorans facing the greatest need.
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