We are passionate people from the Netherlands who, during a trip through the Yucatan in Mexico, accidentally came into contact with a small primary school in a village inhabited by the Mayan population. We were positively struck by the loving enthusiasm with which the school staff performed their duties, but also by the poor conditions under which they had to do their work.
However, we were only really affected when we learned that for many of these children there is no real follow-up after primary school. Although education in Mexico is free for everyone, the often poor parents have to provide their own transportation to a secondary school. In the village there is a so-called “Telesecundaria” where they can follow a kind of secondary primary education for a few years, but after that education is only possible in the city of Valladolid, about 45 km away. That’s the end of it for the children of San Francisco el Grande. All opportunities to study and work on the booming Riviera Maya, which is only about 150 km away, pass them by. They are therefore condemned to a life of poverty.
Piet Wagemaker is an education director in Amsterdam and for many years was part of the board of a foundation that supported an education project in Sri Lanka. That project was stopped because the support was no longer needed. Piet now wants to work for our Foundation in the capacity of chairman.
Adrie van Veenendaal is a retired school leader at a school for special education in Almere. It is he who, during his world trip in January 2019, came into contact with the primary school in San Francisco el Grande and was confronted with the needs of the school and the individual children in the village. He would like to use his spare time for this wonderful cause in the capacity of secretary.
Mrs. Dunja Sardi-ten Oort is the youngest member of the board and replaces Mr. Pieter Schroeders as Treasurer. Dunja is a very experienced (special) education woman with a passion for children who are having difficulties. We are very happy that she has decided to commit herself to our foundation.