New wing of the National Institute of Ciudad Arce Inaugurated
LA LIBERTAD – The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Indufoam, through the Toruño Steiner Foundation; the Ministry of Education (MINED), and the Business Foundation for Educational Development (FEPADE), within the framework of the Education and Coexistence Project, inaugurated structural improvements at the National Institute of Ciudad Arce (INCA) to strengthen the educational community of Ciudad Arce.
The event was presided over by the Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Brendan O’Brien; the President of Indufoam, Oscar René Toruño; the Deputy Director of Educational Counseling and Learning Modalities of MINED, Edgard Ábrego; the Mayor of Ciudad Arce, Noé Rivera, and the Executive Director of FEPADE, Eugenia Suay de Castrillo.
This alliance represents an investment of $600,000 disbursed in equal parts by the Toruño Steiner Foundation and USAID. This investment has enabled the construction of three new classrooms on the second floor and the refurbishment of six classrooms on the second floor of the same module. In addition, a perimeter wall was built and there are plans to renovate the restrooms and access gates. The educational community will also be trained in peaceful coexistence.
For Indufoam, this effort exemplifies its commitment to education. Thanks to this investment, the Ciudad Arce educational corridor, comprising the Ciudad Arce School Center and INCA, with a combined population of 1,088 students and 38 teachers, was opened. The communities of the urban area and Cantón La Joyita are also part of this educational corridor.
“As a private company, we make an important contribution to the economic and social development of the country. This is not altruism; it is a way to make our operations sustainable by strengthening our people through education. If other countries have managed to get out of poverty by betting on their people, we can do the same and feel proud of our country. This vision has led us to contribute to the intervention of educational centers, provide scholarships, among other projects that benefit from the Toruño Steiner Foundation,” said Toruño.
The Education and Coexistence Project is an alliance between USAID and FEPADE that leverages the support of the private sector to generate safe schools and communities, prevent violence and reduce irregular migration to the United States, by modifying attitudes and developing skills to promote positive behavioral changes and improve the quality of life in communities.
Media contact:
John R. Keilhauer, FEPADE – Education and Coexistance
jkeilhauer@fepade.edu.sv
