School Rio Pachijal “Marco Nahuel”
General Objective:
Location: Pachijal, Pichincha, Ecuador
To build the school in the community of Pachijal and improve the quality of life of the children and their families.
The Río Pachijal “Marco Nahuel” is an educational institution located in the community of Pachijal in the sector of Pacto, canton Quito, province of Pichincha, Ecuadoration.
The Nahuel Foundation he has played a crucial crucial role in the development of this school and in supporting its students.
Specific objective:
- Provide the opportunity for the school to provide classes normally every day to children who attend classes only on weekends and thus improve the quality of the education they receive.
- Provide the opportunity to continue with the education of the children of the 3 nearby communities, 101 children, who are currently studying in the existing primary schools.
- Eradicate or reduce the rate of child labor in these communities.
- To avoid the migration of young people to the cities and the dislocation of families in this rural area.
- Train the community in the preparation, use, management, preservation and sustainable conservation of bamboo with the strategy ACTION – LEARNING, so that they can subsequently improve their homes.
Contribution from the Nahuel Foundation
The Nahuel Foundation has been instrumental in the development of Colegio Pachijal through several key initiatives:
The foundation financed and promoted the construction of the school with a comprehensive approach to human development in harmony with the environment. The project included:
- Remodeling and reconstruction of three classrooms for the “Río Pachijal” school.
- Construction of a kitchen, dining room and food storage area
- Construction of the school with 1,016 m² of infrastructure
- Complete equipment of the school, including a computer lab.
The architectural design incorporated local materials and construction techniques, with community participation being a key aspect of the project. The design includes:
- A pillar-based construction system
- A central courtyard connecting four blocks designed on two levels
- A total project area of 595 m² integrated with outdoor gardens, pedestrian and vehicular accesses, and bamboo planting areas.
Educational Support Programs
Beyond infrastructure, Fundación Nahuel has implemented several educational support programs:
- Since 2009, the foundation has provided educational scholarships to children from economically disadvantaged families who are unable to afford educational expenses
- These scholarships provide everything necessary for children to study and prevent child labor.
- From 2009 to 2017, the project benefited 1,020 children and youth from 11 communities with access to education
- The foundation finances some annual scholarships dependent on private donations.
- Since 2013, teacher training has been conducted to improve the quality of education.
Project results:
The project has had a significant positive impact on the community:
- In 2017, the school celebrated its first graduating class, with young people from approximately twelve communities in the area
- Some graduates receive continuous support from Nahuel to access the higher education system in Ecuador.
- The project has reduced child labor rates and youth migration to the cities, preventing family disintegration in this rural area.
- Community members learned how to properly use and manage bamboo to improve their homes.
- The project fostered a strong sense of ownership that ensures the preservation and maintenance of infrastructure
- At the individual level, it improved self-esteem, especially generating enthusiasm and hope for the future among young people.
The project has benefited more than 1,020 children and youth from 11 communities between 2009 and 2017. In addition to improving formal education, it has contributed to reducing the rate of child labor and the migration of young people to the cities.
The project represents a successful model of sustainable community development through education, with the support of the Nahuel Foundation being crucial for its implementation and continued success.
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Year of completion
2014
Total cost
$ 214,175.46
Beneficiaries
300 per year
Starting year
2009
