In coordination with each country’s Ministry of Education, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently donated furniture and other supplies to preschools, primary schools and secondary schools across Panama and Guatemala.
Together, these donations — including desks, blackboards, chairs and preschool tables — will create “more productive learning environments” for more than 18,000 students in 425 schools.
“We do this because we believe in the power of education, in the value of every student as a child of God and in the duty we all have to serve others,” Elder Ryan K. Olsen, a member of the church’s Central America Area presidency, said in a news release.
Elder Olsen was part of a donation ceremony in Panama. Likewise, other church officials, volunteers, teachers and students attended delivery ceremonies in each area that received donations.
According to the release, donations were specifically delivered to schools in Darien, Panama; Retalhuleu, Guatemala; and Escuintla, Guatemala.
Having attended the donation ceremony held in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, Mara Judith Landaverde — the departmental director of education — said: “We express our most sincere and profound gratitude to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the generous donation of school furniture.
“Their support demonstrates their commitment to the well-being of the community, and it fills us with hope to know that we have their solidarity.”
Similarly reflecting on the joint effort, San Felipe Guatemala Stake President Rony Estuardo Estrada, said: “We deeply recognize and value the work of the public education system in Guatemala, as well as the daily efforts of its teachers, principals and authorities. We are honored to collaborate with you in the noble task of educating future generations.”
The Church News previously reported on similar donation efforts across the Philippines, Ghana and other countries in Central and South America.
