EGMONT BAY -- When Fr. Eloi Arsenault appealed to the public in mid October for donations for a project he is involved with in Mexico, he was hoping to raise $3,000. That would be enough to pay the salary of one teacher at the Volcanes School, near Puerto Vallarta, for one year.
Volcanes School is in the poorest part of Mexico and, although the government provided a school facility, there were no supplies, like pencils, paper or even toilet paper, and there was no money to pay for teachers.
When Fr. Arsenault arrived back in Mexico from his home in Egmont Bay at the end of October, he brought to the Volcanes Community Education Project $11,036, almost enough money to pay the salaries of four teachers
The Community Education Project covers the salaries of eight teacher, so, this year, almost half of those costs are being furnished by 71 groups and individuals, primarily in the Evangeline and Summerside areas, who responded to Fr. Arsenault’s appeal for assistance.
“This will make a huge difference in allowing the teaching of English and computer skills to these young and poor children, as this teaching is becoming the main tool to eradicate the cycle of poverty amongst these poor families,” Fr. Arsenault reported from Mexico. “These are the skills these children need, beside the regular government curriculum, in order to have a better paying job in Puerto Vallarta where 80 percent of the people live off the tourist industry. With such skills, these young men and women will be able to come down from their remote poor areas in the mountains and hopefully find work in the city of Puerto Vallarta.”
Information on the Volcanes project is available at the following website: volcanesproject.com.
