Cobre Panama presents achievements in its Integral Schools Program

– The Integral Schools Program has been implemented since 2009
– More than 5,000 students have benefited from this program.

Panama, July 28, 2023 – Cobre Panama, through the Foundation for Integral Sustainable Development (FUDIS), recently held an induction workshop for the Integral Schools Program, with the participation of teachers and parents who are part of this project.

During this activity, the results of the program in 2022 were presented and it was reported that 70 educational centers were attended, with a school population of 5,516 students; school production of vegetable gardens and chickens was developed in 40 schools; school fish production was carried out in 5 educational centers; and environmental education workshops were held in 15 schools, among other achievements.

In addition, the benefits achieved in 2022 with the funds acquired from the sale and use of the harvests from the school garden, tilapia and chicken breeding programs in each of the educational centers were announced.

Armando Espino, Executive Director of FUDIS, Cobre Panama’s partner in the development of the Integral Schools Program, stated that “we have reported on the activities carried out during 2022, presented the activities to be carried out this year and reflected on the actions of the program, with a view to achieving an integral learning process”.

For Jaime Torrero, coordinator of education programs at Cobre Panama, “the main objective of this program is to sow the seed of sustainability and together with school principals and parents, we are presenting the achievements of the program in the last year and demonstrating how, with their work and the support provided by the company with inputs and technical advice, they have produced food for consumption and for marketing, generating profits”.

Tobías Guevara, Regional Planner and Statistician of the Ministry of Education, Coclé Regional Directorate, said that “we value and appreciate these programs that help us to broaden our knowledge in these remote areas”.

This program has changed the quality of life of the members of these communities. According to the parents, previously they did not have access to these programs and the good nutrition of their children at school and at home was limited; however, now they are small producers thanks to the help of the technicians, who support them in the planting, care and harvesting of the products.

The teacher José Rudas, Director of the Nueva Lucha Petaquilla School, indicated that “these programs are very helpful in supplementing the students’ nutrition and the results obtained have been thanks to the integration between directors, teachers, students, parents and the company”.

Yolis Torres, from the Centro Educativo Básico General Santos Georges, stated that “this program has been a blessing. Our group of parents has been very dedicated and thanks to self-management, with the proceeds from the sale of chickens, we were able to build the shed so that the children do not get wet”.

The program is carried out in 70 schools located in the areas of La Pintada, Omar Torrijos Herrera, Donoso and Penonomé and has benefited more than 5,000 students.

Among the activities carried out by the program are the Agricultural Gardens, Poultry Production, Water Harvesting Workshops, Environmental Education Workshops and new components are included, for example, in 2022 Tilapia Production was carried out in 6 schools and this year it will be increased to 10 schools.