Ngabe-Bukle Universidad
Ngabe-Bukle Area, Chiriqui Province,
Republic of Panama

The will of a noble people makes the impossible possible.

La Universidad Ngabe-Bukle, founded by a group of educators from the Ngabe-Bukle Comarca (Homeland), is a new institution designed to meet the needs for higher education and social and economic development of the Ngabere and Buklere Indians living in the western part of the Republic of Panama. It operates under the umbrella of the Fundacion Cultural Ngabe-Bukle, an all-Native Foundation established under the laws of the Republic of Panama.

La Universidad Ngabe-Bukle emphasizes the teaching of applied math and sciences and strategies of appropriate technology in community development in the poverty-stricken rural environment of the Comarca to support sustainable, appropriate, citizen-led progress in the area. A major focus of the program of studies is the development of high school teachers who can offer an innovative style of education, based in great part on the tutorial learning system pioneered by FUNDAEC in Cali, Colombia, and considered to be most appropriate for youth in the Comarca's rural setting.

All programs enhance the cultural identity of the students through a detailed study of the elements of their maternal language and culture, to enable the graduate to be able to project these elements in a positive manner in the social, political, economic and educational development of the area.

The University has the total support of the traditional authorities: the caciques (chiefs) and the Congreso (Congress). At present the all documentation for accreditation is in the hands of the Ministry of Education and is in the review process.

The goal is to develop true professionals, capable of offering leadership and expertise for social and economic development, able to provide a quality education for the youth in the Comarca, and anxious to serve their community in a way that manifests respect for the values inherent in their cultural identity, graduates who have a firm commitment to building a creative, innovative society, and applying scientific method to everyday endeavor, which can in turn lead to sustainable development and conservation of the environment of their unique tropical homeland.

Special attention will be given to the inclusion of women in this course of study, since it is clear that without equal and full involvement of both men and women it will not be possible for the Comarca to reach its ideal state of development in the briefest possible time.

Degrees Offered

Technology in Sustainable Development
and Environmental Studies

Professor of Education in Applied Math and Science with Emphasis in Bilingual Multicultural Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education in Applied Math and Science with Emphasis in Bilingual Multicultural Education

The vast majority of the students living within the Comarca live in extreme poverty. The Minorities At Risk Project (University of Maryland, 2004) cites Panama's Ministry of Health statistics to show that 87.7 percent of the country's indigenous inhabitants fall into the category of extreme poverty. As a result, most students are unable to cover the cost of a university education. For that reason, the Fundacion Cultural Ngobe-Bugle actively solicits scholarships for its students.

The cost to study at the Universidad Ngabe-Bukle is $400 per semester, which includes registration, tuition, all texts and supplies. Additionally some students need $50 per month to cover personal expenses. Scholarships are usually given for an entire program of study.

Universidad Inaugurated 2007

On August 27, 2007, Universidád Ngäbe Bukle was inaugurated with members of the Ngäbe Bukle community, the president of the National Indigenous Congress, the regional chief, the Ngäbe professors who will teach the university classes, Microsoft Panama, eight representatives from Mona Foundation, the local press and many other guests on hand as witnesses. This event was highlighted by speeches from the rector of the University, Microsoft Panama, and Mona Foundation among others, the presentation of gifts and recognition of the all Ngäbe staff, as well as a poetry presentation by a young student and a native dance performed by the kindergarten.

The establishment of this fully accredited university, the first ever on indigenous Panamanian lands, has been accomplished by the people themselves with the approval of the Ministry of Education and official certification by the University of Panama. This truly is the result of years of sacrifice, determination and very hard work on the part of many local people. With this higher educational institution comes the opportunity for the heritage of the Ngäbe Bukle people to be sustained, to grow and to flourish as the leaders of the community are educated and have the opportunity to lead and develop their comarca socially and economically.

Rector of Universidád Ngäbe Bukle, Mr. Bernardino Sanchez, said in his speech, “Universidád Ngäbe Bukle has had many barriers and we have to recognize that one is bureaucracy. We were told that the Ngäbe Bukle community is not able to do it (become a university). We threw that model into the trash. Our new model is that the Ngäbe Bukle people ARE capable and only education can reveal their treasures within. This is the model of the university that is born on the comarca and not imposed from outside. The Ngäbe Bukle people are capable. We will succeed.”

Video Clips of the Inauguration

To play the video clips below, please Download Quicktime® Free Video Player. Then click on the video titles to play them.
Rector, Mr. Bernardino Sanchez, Welcome .MOV
Introduction of Professors .MOV
Children's Traditional Dance .MOV
Mona Foundation Welcome .MOV
Child's Poem .MOV
Ribbon Cutting .MOV
Plaque for Mr. Amanat .MOV
Computer Lab .MOV

Needs for 2007

• $129,000 Site, Software (provided)
• $3,600 Accreditation
• $10,000 CTLC furnishing & admin
• $8,000 Professor training
• $9,000 Printing textbooks
• $500 Inauguration
• $7,470 Rector’s Salary
• $16,000 Scholarships, 20/$800

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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