SCHOOL HISTORY

In the early 1980s, a small area of jungle was cleared and a staff housing unit was built across the highway from Puerto Aventuras.  It was a small village with schools and a church.  The poblado now has additional churches, a grocery store and a police station.  The growth of the poblado coincided with the growth of tourism in the Riviera Maya as well as the growth of Puerto Aventuras, providing job opportunities for the many of native Maya and the Mexicans who began to move into the area in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

 

By 1998 Puerto Aventuras was well established as a tourist and vacation home destination.  As more condos and homes were built, Puerto Aventuras became very popular with people from the United States and Canada as well as with vacationers from all over the world.

 

There were by this time 2,000 employees and their families living in the poblado.  A few permanent residents became aware that not all was well in the small village community that just grew with no plan, not much administration, not many services and was made up of vulnerable tarpaper and straw shacks.

Initially, a local union ("CROC") donated the use of a building and a local developer provided the funding for basic education programs.  As the programs became available to the people of the poblado, the more needs were identified and an organization was formed to provide more assistance to the community.

 

 

Friends of Puerto Aventuras (F.O.P.A.) was born and its aim was to provide educational opportunities in the poblado.  The initial focus was with English classes and working with Mexico's Adult Education Program.  The programs being offered were "Adult education for adults in Spanish from primary through secondary levels; nightly English classes, and a small children's English class in the afternoons.

In the first year of these programs, 30 adults enrolled in English classes of which 23 completed their work and received a diploma.  This was a seventy-seven percent (77%) success rate in the English class.  Also, 69 adults enrolled in Spanish and Mathematics classes of which 44 completed their work at a level entitling them to receive a certificate from the Mexican Department of Adult Education.  This was a sixty-four percent (64%) success rate in these classes.  Additionally, 24 children received instruction in English.

 

In 1999 a committee was developed to help support and expand the existing structure of the program and to identify further needs. At this point, after two years of work, the original instigators of the program had almost singlehandedly and willingly put in innumerable hours of labor.  Barb Pybass, Sally Evans, Paul Ramsey and Richard Coburn were wholly responsible for the beginnings of this organization.  But, let us not forget the enormous support of Oscar Constandse.

 

By Christmas 1999, F.O.P.A. was launched with a cocktail party at Jim and Liz McClure's home and a New Year's celebration letter was sent to supporters.

Within the next two years, F.O.P.A. publicized itself with those who visited Puerto Aventuras as well as with permanent residents.  Early in 2002, the organization began a publicity campaign using mailing lists and blanketing all the condos and homes with appeals.  Also in 2002, F.O.P.A. began mailing out twice-yearly newsletters with contributor lists included.

The newsletters provided a steady enough income, but with a new computer course being offered and plans for other programs in the works, a further influx of cash was necessary.  F.O.P.A. held a very successful silent auction and pool party in the spring of 2003.  It resulted in enough funds to move forward and added an additional boost to publicizing the organization.

By now, F.O.P.A. was advancing programs designed to bring the community together.  The children's soccer team had new uniforms. 

The children's mural was completed, with all the children participating.

A Spanish language public library was established with donated books and the computer literacy classes continued and flourished.

 

Through it all, the adult English classes continued to support workers for Puerto Aventuras' shops and restaurants.  A jobs list began weekly publication with available employment posted on the bulletin board. 

A twice yearly bazaar was held in the poblado with donations from Puerto Aventuras residents and the funds from this activity went to the people of the poblado. 

F.O.P.A. changed and expanded as new needs were recognized.  It is this dynamic ability that kept the organization able to continue to respond to the needs of the people.

And then in 2005 the hurricanes came.  Emily took the roof off the "CROC" building that F.O.P.A. had used for eight years, as well as the roofs of a lot of other buildings and homes in the poblado.  The blow was stunning, but F.O.P.A. was able to accept funds for rebuilding because of already established administrative channels for donations.  An all-out campaign was initiated for building funds to help a devastated population.  This resulted in a building fund earmarked for materials and distributed to the most needy residents.  Donations totaled more than $11,000.00.

 

 

The building fund had been closed and distribution of materials begun and F.O.P.A. was back to needing funds to continue its educational programs when hurricane Wilma hit and that blow nearly terminated F.O.P.A.'s ability to function.

Knowing how important F.O.P.A. is in the lives of the community, the decision was made to reorganize and also to take advantage of the unique abilities of F.O.P.A.'s administrator.  Through all of its existence as an organization, F.O.P.A. has been extremely fortunate to have a competent teacher, then administrator and coordinator in Fred Devos, who lives in the poblado, understands the people and continues to work constantly for their welfare.  Fred's flexibility is a major factor in the continuing work of this organization.

 

Recovery is still going on from the hurricanes in 2005.  The local union ("CROC") building has never been rebuilt and F.O.P.A. was forced to rent a small classroom in the Adult Education school building.  Prior to this, F.O.P.A. functioned rent free.

F.O.P.A. is very appreciative of the community's support for our programs.  This website will be updated throughout the year, so that you, our supporters, can share with us the results of your generous donations.