Santa Marta Students Change the World

Slide 1: 

My name is Tova Plashkes and I’m a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (Hon. BSc, Kinesiology ’07). After graduation, I spent 5 months volunteering at a physical rehabilitation centre... (I’m the tall one in the middle, by the way!)

Slide 2: 

In Santa Marta, El Salvador! El Salvador Honduras Nicaragua Mexico Guatemala

Slide 3: 

resulting in 30% of the population being between 10 and 24 years old. suffering through over 30 years of civil war, government coups and gang violence - A small country of 7 million people, El Salvador's recent history has been bloody El Salvador Honduras Nicaragua Mexico Guatemala and violent

Slide 4: 

in the northern part of the country, near the Honduran border, Santa Marta Santa Marta, is a community of 2700 people surviving on farming of corn and beans.

Slide 5: 

In 1981, civil war gripped El Salvador, and the entire community of Santa Marta was forced into exile for six years.

Slide 6: 

they survived in refugee camps in southern Honduras. Exiled… They founded schools for their children. Sometimes with international help, and even sometimes in spite of it. They valued their children's education, and against the odds... they founded schools for their children.

Slide 7: 

Those who can, even if not qualified, teach others and raise the level of education. Most community teachers had been killed, had fled before exile, or became guerrilla fighters in the civil war. Without teachers, children taught children, peers taught peers. Teens taught others to read and to write. POPULAR EDUCATION This is known as

Slide 8: 

POPULAR EDUCATION The people of Santa Marta understood that their children's education would help to ensure a brighter future for the community. EDUCATION

Slide 9: 

The community organized within the refugee camp. Facing heavy persecution, the community established 1st & 2nd grade. They taught each other - children and adults alike - to read and write. The community developed and recruited teachers. The community persevered. And with a little international help… The eventually had schooling up to the 6th grade. COMMUNITY

Slide 10: 

Attempting to regain a sense of normalcy, the people of Santa Marta began rebuilding their homes and rebuilding their farms. As fighting intensified throughout the country, young, unpaid teachers from the community, and students alike, left to fight for the guerrilla forces. Returning from exile, but with the civil war still waging, the town of Santa Marta had been completely destroyed. “In 1988 we started school and had our classes under a tree because while the school was still standing, it had no roof…and couldn’t hold us all… we all sat on rocks in front of a half of a chalk board that our teacher would put into a tree. 1988 was an unforgettable year for me because that was the year I learned to read and write.” * But the civil war was still being waged; at odds with the army and the politicians, this leftist community was deprived of international aid tortured imprisoned murdered bombed AND YET… They continued fighting for their education. * - From “Systemization of Popular Education in the Village of Santa Marta, Cabañas, El Salvador. 1990-2001”

Slide 11: 

The Santa Marta community had worked to establish 6 grades...but felt it was important to have more. When the El Salvadoran civil war ended in 1992, and the people of Santa Marta began to rebuild their lives in peace for the first time in 12 years, school enrollment TRIPLED from 300 students to 1000 students in just four years. AND STILL… The community fought for their education. So they took up the fight for education once again.

Slide 12: 

Teachers and parents worked to improve their school, petitioned the government, and got 7th grade. The next year, they did it again, and got 8th grade. And then, they did it again.

Slide 13: 

In a small community, nine grades of education was unusual. But still, the students were unable to continue on to university because there was no high school. So, Santa Marta continued to fight for its education. Last year’s graduation! The Santa Marta School had its FIRST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION less than five years ago.

Slide 14: 

I’d like you to meet the 32 Santa Marta High School Graduates that are studying at the national university right now!

Slide 15: 

They study mathematics and English, engineering and history. Determined Funny Smart They are smart, funny, and determined. Hardworking Eager Ambitious

Slide 16: 

Every day, they are proudly doing justice to the sacrifices their families made during the war.

Slide 17: 

On top of their school work, these full-time students run: Forums about community issues A study circle program for youth to talk about their future including global issues like economics and global warming Multiple weekly radio programs Commemorative events about the war

Slide 18: 

WORLD these children of war are LEADERS in their community, using their hard-fought EDUCATION to teach WORLD CITIZENSHIP to make the lives in their families community country BETTER. X our In other words,

Slide 19: 

But… Their education is expensive. In El Salvadoran terms, at least.

Slide 20: 

Canadian undergraduate Total = $15,100 Santa Marta student Total = $1515 Or 10% of Canadian costs. Average Yearly Cost Tuition and fees = $5000 Rent and utilities = $6000 Food = $2600 Books = $1500 Tuition and fees = $125 Rent and utilities = $360 Food = $830 Books = $200

Slide 21: 

Even with such a difficult circumstance, another 20 students from the community are committed to higher education and are waiting for your help to start their educational journey. Often, these kids are making choices between having enough food, and going to school. Making the choice between having enough food, and going to school.

Slide 22: 

I’m asking you, to take that belief to an international level. It is a fundamental BELIEF that higher education makes our nation better. WE can make our world a better place by supporting education. WE can stand beside these young men and women in their fight to change our world for the better. So I’m asking you, as a CANADIAN for your help .

Slide 23: 

and you can feed a Santa Marta student for a WEEK. Save $20 by carpooling on your next long drive, and you can supply a textbook for a year-long course. Save $60 by upgrading one light bulb to an efficient one, and you can fund a student’s tuition for an ENTIRE SEMESTER! Save $10 by bringing your snacks to work for few days, Save $30 each WEEK by taking your lunch to work, and you can fund a FULL YEAR of school for a Santa Marta University Student! It takes less effort than you'd have ever thought:

Slide 24: 

If you believe, as I do, that , then help me to help these kids. They’re not just working to make their lives better, they’re working towards a better world for ALL of us. Let’s give them a hand. Help once, help every month, help as much as you can. CLICK HERE! Please choose the “Santa Marta Students Fund” as your chosen “designation”. The Santa Marta Scholarship fund is working in conjunction with Salvaide, a registered Canadian charity (#119133627). All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE! Donations in the United States are also tax deductible and can be made here. education is the world’s most powerful tool ! education is the world’s most powerful tool

Slide 25: 

Want to learn MORE? Contact me at tova.e.p@gmail.com or visit www.santamartagoestocollege.com Help once, help every month, help as much as you can. The students of Santa Marta and their community invite you to visit them any time. I did. It changed my life. The Scholarship fund is also supported by : ADES Santa Marta (www.adessm.org) CoCoDA (www.cocoda.org) Doctors for Global Health (www.dghonline.org) Oberlin Students in Solidarity with El Salvador (www.oberlin.edu) Youth Catholic Organization of Austria (www.dka.at) Salvaide Canada (www.salvaide.ca)