Prior to the PoP build, students of El Rancho preschool and primary school did not have access to formal classrooms. Instead, some students studied inside a structure made of concrete blocks covered by a corrugated metal roof, while others sat beneath trees in the school courtyard. Outside, the students enjoyed fresh air; however, they were exposed to dust, debris and other distractions from the surrounding environment. When it rained, they would retreat into the already cramped school building. There, students had difficulty reading and writing due to dim lighting.
You recognized that these conditions were not conducive to learning and responded by helping PoP and the El Rancho community break ground on a new school. Teachers, parents and community members were dedicated and committed to the project, contributing up to 20 percent of resources and labor. After several months, we mounted the plaque and inaugurated the school, concluding tireless work to build a four-classroom school equipped with ceiling fans, blackboards, benches, desks, doors, walls and windows. You made this school build possible, creating a safe and strong structural foundation that will allow the students in El Rancho to learn and realize their potential and their promise.