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At 13,000 feet above sea level, with no electricity or heating, the schools of the Altiplano, Bolivia feel more like ice boxes than places of learning. How do you transform a freezing school in Bolivia into a warm, cozy environment to foster increased learning?

For the last several years the CHOICE Humanitarian team in Bolivia has been implementing a new architectural style of schools where one entire wall is a greenhouse allowing light and passive solar heating into the classroom. 20% of the floor is left as soil where the children can grow a garden and learn hands-on about agriculture, environment and nutrition in addition to their standard curriculum giving the children a warm, green, learning-enhanced environment.

The schools are showing great results: significant increase in national examination scores, enhanced nutrition for the students, and dramatically better school attendance.

CHOICE Humanitarian has built several of these greenhouse schools but there are more communities who desperately desire this opportunity for their children. It will cost $13,074 to build the next school (complete with community greenhouse and water well) and CHOICE Humanitarian has already secured $10,574  to fund this project. Just $2500 more will provide the funds needed to begin and complete this project.

 

The project is absolutely doable. CHOICE Humanitarian has already built many greenhouse schools. Our team in Boliva are experts in this technology and the communities are anxious to participate because they have seen its successes.

Our team on the ground is ready to begin construction as soon as the money is secured. There are many communities waiting for the opportunity to build one of these schools in their village. We have raised most of the funds through partnering with other organizations (see budget notes) and just need to raise the remaining $2500.

The curent greenhouse schools are already showing an incressse in test scores making them competative with the"city" schools. The construction of this school will also increase classroom space allowing more students to attend.  It is anticipated that the student attendamce will increase 20-40% within the first year.

Similarly, school children will be beneficiaries of vegetable production from the greenhouse to vary their diet throughout the year and be able to further improve their school through the sale of surplus production in the future.  

By training in the management of the greenhouse and planting different varieties of vegetables, indirectly the whole population will be receiving training for better nutrition and varieties of food supplies.

 

This project is a result of native Bolivians coming up with a solution to their own challenges. All of the technology is appropriate and wholly based on the needs of the students and community as a whole.

 

As observed with current greenhouse schools, once the school is built and the greenhouse is in operation the school will: 

Be eligible for additional teachers.

Be attractive to future students increasing class size.

Increase nutrition of the students due to the wide range of produce.

Be able to improve the condition of life and health of schoolchildren and indirectly the entire population through education and training.

Provide additional education in hygiene, nutrition and economics.

 

 

 

As the poorest country in South America, resources are limited. Willy Mendoza, our in-country director, believes “True poverty is the lack of options.” As a result, he has a strategy for his country that includes building schools, improving health and sanitation, and starting micro-credit programs. Willy has been working with CHOICE for 14 years. He is a dentist by trade and is a master at developing local village leaders to their potential. He works tirelessly and endlessly with local governments and municipalities encouraging collaboration and leveraging village, government, and other organization resources to maximize every donor dollar.

Maxima has been involved with CHOICE for many years, but was first employed by CHOICE when she accepted the Director position wither husband Willy. Maxi is also a practicing dentist by trade. Her primary responsibilities include the monthly reports, financial tracking and reporting, projects tracking and evaluation. She is a great example of leadership, especially to the women of the area and is a vital member of the team.