Close to you School (Colegio Cerca de Ti)
The first major project of Close to You, Inc. is to open a school in San Salvador, El Salvador
WHO will benefit?
Children: The school will include classes for grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It will be operated Monday through Friday and no activities will be held on Saturday. This will make the school a refuge for those children persecuted by the lack of religious freedom in educational facilities in El Salvador. Children will pay tuition based on their parents' incomes, and tuition will be free to many students from low-income families. It will be a private school, as thus not obligated to follow the federal education standards. Students will be able to receive a Christian-based education and moral training.
Adults: The school will offer job opportunities to dozens of unemployed parents and other adults. The first openings will be offered to parents of students. The remaining positions will be offered to members of the community. The unemployment rate is very high in El Salvador and the average salaries are very low. Poor parents have a difficult time providing a good education for their children so that the cycle of poverty can be broken. The goal of this school project is to help with both problems: to provide a low-cost, good education and to provide jobs for parents.
WHAT is the plan?
The school will be bilingual (English and Spanish), offer computer training, and have trained, professional teachers. Initially, the school will be housed in a rented building. The school will operate as a non-profit institution. Tuition and other fees that are collected will be used to pay for the costs of running the school, school supplies for poor children, teachers' salaries, security, rent, etc. All extra income will fund other projects of Close to You, Inc., particularly the Home for Children.
WHERE is this project going?
The goal is to own property outside of the city and build a new school complete with open spaces, sports fields, swimming pools, music rooms, and libraries, all free from the pollution of the city. Students who live in the city will have transportation provided for them. As the school grows, so will the job opportunities. More adults and more children will benefit. Also, Close to You, Inc. will be able to fund and operate more projects as the income of the school increases.
WHEN do we start?
We hope to open the school in 2004. The government has a complex registration process that has to be completed, and there are many things that need to be purchased before we can open (desks, chairs, white boards, office equipment, etc.). Teachers will have to be hired and a curriculum designed. And of course, we need the funds to start all this process.
WHY is this project important?
To change a child's life, you have to give them an opportunity to have a better future. Education is the key. For adults, employment is the key. This project will aid in both of these endeavors, while providing funding for other projects.
HOW can you help?
Currently, the greatest needs for this project are financial donations. Click here for more information. An abbreviated list of needs for this project are listed below: