Marvelwood Provides Scholarships for Panamanian Students

Marvelwood School has deepened its connection with and commitment to its annual Panama Science Exchange program, conducted in association with the Panamanian organization Conservation through Research, Education and Action (CREA), by establishing a scholarship which has enabled three young girls from the remote Panamanian village of Las Zahinas to attend secondary school for one year.

According to CREA, the scholarship is the first of its kind to be given in the area. In rural villages, most young girls would leave school at age 12 and would often be married with a first child by 14. Science department chair Laurie Doss, who created the exchange program, is personally sponsoring one child for the duration of her high school experience; Marvelwood students have committed to sponsoring a second girl throughout her high school years. In addition to their high-school studies, these students will participate in scientific field research and community service projects with the Marvelwood group next winter. The school is also raising money to bring the girls to Marvelwood's Summer School next summer, where they will participate in summer bird banding.

The funds for the one-year scholarships were raised through a variety of on-campus efforts, including food concessions, redemption of aluminum cans, and the sale of prom CDs. During their visit to Las Zahinas in February, the Marvelwood group contributed $200 toward the purchase of paint and painting supplies, which were used to paint the exterior of the village schoolhouse. They also donated a variety of school supplies contributed by Marvelwood's students, faculty and staff. Other projects in the works include a pen pal program, creation of field guides in English and Spanish, a drive to stock the village's new health center with over-the-counter supplies, and the involvement of the Women of Marvelwood group in both fundraising and educational efforts.

“Aside from giving these girls a variety of educational opportunities,” says Ms. Doss, “the goal is to empower them and to help them to become environmental ambassadors for their communities.”

For more information about CREA, visit http://www.crea-panama.org/. To get involved with fundraising or other projects on campus, please contact Laurie Doss at laurie.doss@marvelwood.org.