By Diane Jennings
It took just six weeks for the Ometepe community of Moyogalpa to build a beautiful auditorium for graduations and other community events. The Parents Association of Juan Roberto Smith High School in Moyogalpa raised half of the money needed by selling food and plantains grown on school property and by collecting donations from parents. The Sister Islands Association also helped.
This group was strong willed and determined to complete this project within six weeks to accommodate the Dec. 13 graduation for the Class of 2012. Prior graduations and cultural performances had been performed under a large tree at the entrance to the school.
The parent association began setting aside money for the project in 2011, eventually collecting $2000. But for the first phase, they needed $4,983, including the cost of labor. The Sister Islands Association’s Projects Committee awarded another $2,000, and the Parents Association and the Moyogalpa community were able to complete the project before the graduation.
The Moyogalpa community is now working on the second phase, a tile floor. The Sister Islands Association is contributing $1,154.