An appeal to our students.

Today an appeal was launched in school by one of our teachers, Profesora Pabla. This morning she gave a presentation before appealing to our children to help. (We try to educate our children to help those less fortunate than themselves.)

During our school holidays she went to visit a large school in the Chaco. It was started 45 years ago by a priest, Pai Puku. Nearly thirteen years ago I was invited to the founding of radio Pai Puku Christian radio station, (named after the priest) at a nearby site. I will never forget that visit, my first real introduction to life in the Chaco and to the lovely indigenous people there.

The school has developed well over the years and although it is a basic affair, it is very impressive. The priest helped the locals to build it, using local materials. The walls are made with palm tree trunks. There was an initial vision to give these underprivileged children a rounded education that will serve them for the future. The school now covers a huge area of land and it is like a large village with lots of buildings.

The teaching staff live on site in small houses made from local materials. They are extremely dedicated and they work very long hours, supervising work and studies.

The school has grown to cater for 600 pupils now. They are all from very poor, indigenous families and they stay on site as boarders, with only one school holiday per year. The school is basically self-sufficient and they require little help from outsiders. The students' families are away, working on cattle ranches for little remuneration.

The school is a fantastic enterprise. The Upper secondary pupils learn carpentry and they build and repair all the school furniture (which is basic, but strong, made from local hardwood). Younger members of the secondary department learn to bake and cook. Some of the lads rise at 5.30 a.m everyday and they bake the bread for the day, in a highly praised modern oven.

Girls rise early to do the laundry in a specially constructed washing area, with lots of stone sinks (no washing machines!!!). Primary pupils learn to iron with huge, heavy irons which are heated over wood burners. They too rise early to do this before the day's classes begin. Other girls learn how to sew and to repair clothes.

There is a kitchen area where they cook over wood fires in huge pots. All the serving saucepans are kept spotlessly clean and shiny and the dining room is also clean, well-organized and very simple. The children are very proud of their school and they are tidy and organized.

Part of the school is a beautifully kept farm. The students grow their own vegetables and they are virtually self-sufficient. Local ranchers give them meat for free. They have had problems with droughts but now they have a large water tank to catch and preserve rain water. They learn how to conserve water.

When asked how we could help them, the request was for milk, chocolate milk, aound 600 cartons for Childrens' Day, which is coming up soon. The appeal went out today for each of our students to bring a carton, which we will send up to the Chaco. Our children were extremely attentive as Profe Pabla spoke with passion. I am sure that our students will respond well to help the indigenous children to have a wonderful Childrens' day.