Escuela Telesecundrai Leona Vicaro(Leona Vicaro Secondary School)

Playa de Boca - Mexico

Our Jungle Miracle

Quick facts

• Located in the Mexican village of Playa de Boca – population 1,000

• Boca school serves about 140 students• Most come by foot through the jungle – across a

swinging bridge• Some travel to school from remote areas by boat• Students are 12 – 17 years old• Divided into 2 sessions – morning and evening• Maestro (Principal) Geraldo Mejiah makes this

impoverished school thrive with his energy and love

Playa de Boca village street scene

A local streamside resident

Playa de Boca village water treatment plant

The swinging “bridge to knowledge”

Entering the “Jungle Miracle”

Ladies “futbol” team

One of three classrooms

Classroom before painting

The “original kitchen” in 2005

Serving lunch

The kitchen in 2005

Old building demolition – the miracle begins…

New kitchen construction – note disabled volunteer

Preparing a fiesta meal

Maestro Geraldo Mejiah and his wife with Kristina**whose guidance and energy see us through

Newly installed lavatory sinks

New appliance and utensils arrive – carried across the river

The new kitchen – a work in process

At last! Our new dining hall.

Can it get any better?

The old computer workshop

Building a new computer classroom / library

Classroom-learning TVs arrive

Our efforts are supported by

• Parents

• 10 Faculty members

• Playa de Boca village volunteers

• Winter visitors

• Generous matching-fund contributions from local government

Our accomplishments in just four years

• Raised funds to build and furnish sanitary, modern dining hall and kitchen – supporting a nutritious meal program

• Installed new lavatory sinks for better hygiene

• Installed new lighting in all classrooms

• Rewired entire school to 100 amp service

• Provided three new IBM computers

• Purchased and installed flat screen classroom TVs – allowing educational enrichment from Mexico City

And more…

• Upgraded sanitary and water systems

• Purchased and installed water pumps

• Built a new computer classroom/library to allow increased student enrollment

• Installed new roofs on all buildings – old materials were donated to local residents for their homes

• Painted all classrooms

• Purchased textbooks and school supplies

And, the list goes on…

Boca School Gaining Attention With Corporations

Contributions have a life-long payback

•Our “miracle” replaces lethargy with energy, despair with hope, and brings light where once there was a veil of darkness dimming unchallenged minds.

•We do a GREAT deal with very little.

•We waste no efforts or funds.

•And, each year new needs arise. Why? Because the kids and parents are learning that the little school in Playa de Boca matters a great deal to the world.

•Someday soon, these kids will help others as they have been helped. Someday soon!

Awards and honors

Escuela Secondaria de Boca received the prestigious “Outstanding Program” Award from the Governor of Jalisco State including a grant of 30.000 pesos

In recognition of this honor, banners adorn the school

6-Year old Alex believes in miracles He gave up his piggy bank and wrote

Dear FriendsI am sending you some money to buy stuff. I am doing it so you can be happy and have a nice place to learn like I do. Please study hard and play hard too. And try to get muddy when you play. It is fun.

Your friend, Alex

Please help

Make checks payable to Boca School Fund

Mail to: Boca School Fundc/o Lee Alber112 Oostagala DrLoudon, TN 37774

Thank you for yourgenerous support!