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Escuela Caribe Students Show What They Can Do

Escuela Caribe's students are not just learning to read and write. Having dropped out of school years earlier, an important part of their education is learning how to work in a team. So Río Caribe's annual schools exhibition in July provided an ideal opportunity for the students to show what they can do.

The exhibition's theme was the rich variety of locally-grown fruit and vegetables. Escuela Caribe's tropical garden is a paradise of fruit trees and vegetables of almost every description including yucca, which the students chose for their exhibition display.

 

Yucca, also known as manioc or cassava, is a white, starchy tropical vegetable that was originally grown by the indigenous peoples who lived in what is now Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. They used yucca as a dietary staple, milling the yucca into flour or making a paste from it.

Yucca grows as a bush-like plant. Its fibrous root is the edible part.

It contains a high amount of vitamin C and carbohydrates. Yucca is also a good source of dietary fibre and can be boiled, fried or baked.

Coming at the end of the first school year for students and staff, the exhibition shows that the Free School has gained recognition within the community of Río Caribe. Our close links with other schools and the local education department further another of the school's goals besides literacy : to reintegrate our students into the state school system or find them training opportunities. The logo displayed on the school banner bears the Spanish name of the charity and the school's name, Escuela Caribe.

Since opening in October 2004, the students have not only been learning to read and write but have also:

Twelve year-old Paola, left, could neither read nor write when she started at La Escuela Caribe last November. Now she can correctly write a dictation of several sentences - thanks to the efforts of our literacy teachers (from left to right) María Madgalena, Robert and Adelaida.

A variety of yucca dishes created by Escuela Caribe's cooks, Cosmelina and Angela. Every day they prepare delicious, wholesome meals for our 24 students.

Lunchtime at La Escuela Caribe

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Florangel, our manager and school director, has led the school superbly through its first year. Responsible for administration and financial management as well as organising extra-curricular activities and managing the school's team of 14 employees, Florangel has overcome numerous teething problems.

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