Adopt-a-school + Conapac
Jordan Rivenburgh & Lena Armijo
Adopt-a-School is a program started by CONAPAC (an NGO started by Explorama) that is focused on getting school supplies to 55 communities in the amazon rainforest. Through donations, Adopt-a-School purchases school supplies and is able to deliver them to these 55 communities. Our Project Term group had the pleasure of partnering with this program and the Detroit Zoo to help deliver school supplies.
The village we delivered them to is called Palmeras ll. It is situated down the Amazon River from Explorama Lodges. At Palmeras ll,
we delivered school supplies to the community but when we first got there, we met with many different people. We saw so many children and were led to their school area. Once at the school area, we sat down and were introduced to the school children and teachers. They sang us a welcome song in Spanish and some of the kids were dressed in traditional clothes. Next we
went outside to watch three traditional dance performances done by toddlers, elementary schoolers, and highschoolers. After that we started handing out school supplies one by one to all the children. It was a very humbling moment for everyone because it made us appreciate all that we had.
We made friends with a little girl named Anna. She was fascinated by my zip off pants and we slowly started talking. I used what Spanish skills I had to communicate with her as well as motions. Anna is the first person I met in the Amazon that truly changed my life.