Badi School & University
San Miguelito, Panama

From a one room school to a University: Individuals do make a difference!

Increasing Capacity

In the fifteen years that Badi School has been in existence, it has grown from one class of 12 kindergarten students to a school of 350 students and 32 classes. This increased capacity is a result of perseverance and a dedication to offer the finest educational program possible to the families of the fast-growing San Miguelito area of Panama. Over 3,000 new homes have added 9,000 children. Here, poverty is the norm, 70% of children are born to single mothers and four out of ten children don't have access to education. Almost half of the students at Badi attend on partial scholarships and there are 1800 currently on the waiting list.

Proof of the high quality of education was again evident this year. The six Badi School 2007 graduates who took university entrance exams passed and one earned the highest national score out of 2,500 applicants. Director Oscar Torrez was invited to be a member of the Iberoamerican Council of Education. This organization is associated with 14 universities, 28 well known high schools and 400 educational institutions from Spain, USA and Latin America. In recognition of his outstanding achievements at Badi School, he was presented the honorary Doctorate Degree in Education by this organization.

University Plans

In 2007, the auditorium and stage were completed with all necessary furniture and fixtures to hold meetings, assemblies, plays and exhibits. Adjacent to this building, there are two new classrooms in use on the land planned for the university. The rest of the land has been cleared and is settling for a year before further construction begins. At that time, more classrooms and a gymnasium will be built with room to house a radio station. Badi plans to eventually create a university-level course in communications, the first of its kind in Panama.

Needs for 2008

• $2,500 Environmental Study to Complete the Leveling
• $10,000 Construction of 2 More Classrooms
• $12,000 Retaining Wall
• $3,000 Repairs to Current Fence
• $6,700 Updating Computer Lab
• $10,000 Scholarships for 20 Students

Mona Foundation has been enabled to provide the following during 2008 through its generous contributors: $2,500 for land excavation, $10,000 for two classrooms, $12,000 for a retaining wall, $3,000 for fence repairs, $6,700 for a computer lab update, and $10,000 for scholarships. Needs for 2009 to be announced soon.

How You Can Help

Please contact us or send your tax-deductible contributions to:

Mona Foundation
218 Main Street, Suite 404
Kirkland, WA 98033
(425) 743-4550
Email: monafoundation@monafoundation.org
Online: Contribute Online with your Credit Card Here

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