The worst natural disasters often bring out the best in many people who are ready, willing and able to give their time, talents and resources to help repair what’s been broken and heal those who have been most affected.
That was certainly the case near Chiapas, Mexico, which in September 2017 was the site of one of the deadliest earthquakes in Mexican history, measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale. To make matters worse, a second earthquake, a 7.2, hit in central Mexico, killing 370 people, injuring more than 6,000 and creating widespread damage across Mexico City and its environs, including making many schools unsafe to enter.
“No child deserves to be forgotten about or left behind, and education should be our number one focus for the benefit of all in the future,” said Brian Paes-Braga, Vancouver executive and co-founder of Quiet Cove Foundation, which provides innovative solutions to large-scale social issues.
After the earthquakes took place in Mexico, Brian Paes-Braga and other executives knew they had to respond.
Quiet Cove Foundation joined with All Hands and Hearts, a nonprofit organization that helps communities affected by natural disasters. Combining their efforts, the two organizations engaged more than 300 volunteers who worked long hours to help 170 students in first through sixth grades back into their classrooms at Celso Muñoz Primary School in Oaxaca. In addition to rebuilding seven classrooms and adding four more, the volunteers rebuilt an office and a library.
“It took grit and a lot of hard work, but together, we were able to make it happen,” recalls Paes-Braga. “I can’t tell you how gratifying it was to attend the unveiling ceremony and see the smiles on the children’s faces.”
Over the past two years, nearly 2,000 students and 350 volunteers from around the world have rebuilt nearly a dozen schools destroyed by the earthquakes in Oaxaca. In addition to the work at Celso Muñoz Primary School, the program has also At the Jardin De Niños 13 De Septiembre Preschool, volunteers have also repainted the playground and have begun rebuilding classrooms and refurbishing the school’s fence.
“Thanks to the time, talents and hard work of so many people, children in Oaxaca will again have the opportunity to grow and thrive,” says Paes-Braga, who adds that Quiet Cove Foundation has pledged to continue working with All Hands and Hearts in the future to rebuild schools while ensuring a safer future for students.
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