{"id":1065,"date":"2017-01-19T08:31:22","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T14:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/?p=1065"},"modified":"2017-07-18T07:43:04","modified_gmt":"2017-07-18T13:43:04","slug":"1065","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/?p=1065","title":{"rendered":"Panama Report 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

2016 Summary<\/h2>\n

The number of students projected to be in the program in 2016 with a new textbook was 15,000.\u00a0 We did not reach that goal.\u00a0 There was a total of 41,043 students impacted by the school program either with a recycled textbook or through their teachers who were trained in the Biblical principles of the program with access the texts.\u00a0 An additional 20,115 students received a gospel presentation through the chaplain program (Some of these students were also participants in the school program).<\/p>\n

Thousands of students and the adults in their lives have given their hearts to Jesus this year by the combined efforts of the school program and the chaplain program.\u00a0 Their lives have been changed forever thanks to the support of Mission Generation partners.<\/p>\n

The school program did experience grievous delays and cost overruns due to government bureaucracy which was compounded by our team\u2019s lack of experience working with government. \u00a0A new legal team have been procured along with a lobbyist.\u00a0 With the new team, we do expect full accreditation this year allowing us to contract public and charter schools.\u00a0 We did have a major victory in October 2016 when the program was accredited for use in private schools.<\/p>\n

We could have given away the program for free since day one with little resistance BUT we have discovered that giving away scholastic material discourages use, degrades value, and robs the participants of dignity, none of which represents excellence.\u00a0 A judge of the value we add is the money people are willing to pay.\u00a0 With payment comes accountability, ownership and participation.\u00a0 It also leads to sustainability, allowing the program to grow and prosper on national resources, maturing past the need for continued US donations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

School Program 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

(The Panamanian school year is February \u2013 November)<\/p>\n

Students<\/strong><\/p>\n

0 – Students with new textbooks<\/p>\n

8,859 – Students with used textbooks\/5 years aver. duty cycle\u2020<\/sup><\/p>\n

32,184 – Students w\/o textbooks but whose teachers have been trained and have texts<\/u>\u2020\u2020 <\/sup><\/p>\n

41,043\u00a0\u00a0 Total Students<\/p>\n

\u2020 <\/sup>This number is confirmed<\/u> because schools contract for training to support the program even though they recycle textbooks.<\/p>\n

\u2020\u2020 <\/sup>This number is not confirmed<\/u> but an estimate, based on the number of teachers trained in the program whose schools could not purchase textbooks because government approval has not been received.\u00a0 In this case the teacher uses her copy as a guide for the class.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adults<\/strong><\/p>\n

813 – Teachers Certified<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 486 – Parents Trained<\/u><\/p>\n

1,299\u00a0 \u00a0Total Adults<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong> – The school program is Biblical world view curriculum that teaches ethics and morals as a means to open classroom discussion about faith.\u00a0 The program is a practical application of the Word of God in a culturally sensitive format, in a secular wrapper.\u00a0 The school program opens the minds and hearts of young people K-12th<\/sup> grade to the things of God (Mark 4:10-11) and has proven very effective at bringing students and the adults in their lives to Christ.<\/p>\n

The school program consists of a workbook for students, teacher lessons and training and parent conferences.\u00a0 It is an accredited program, used in school, to reach the entire student body and school staff for Christ<\/p>\n

History – <\/strong>The First Lady Marta Linares de Martinelli, wife of then President Ricardo Martinelli of Panama invited Mission Generation to work in her country several times between 2012 and 2013 – communicating through her staff.\u00a0 Thanks to a grant by the Green Family operations in Panama began in June of 2014.<\/p>\n

On July 1, 2014 Juan Carlos Varela was sworn in as president of Panama.\u00a0 The incoming administration of Juan Carlos made sweeping changes to the government which included disassembling the Department of Education.\u00a0 The administration of President Varela has replaced the heads of the Department of Education three times since taking office\u2026<\/p>\n

Massive changes in the Department of Education has made it very difficult to proceed along the path projected in 2014.\u00a0 There are 22 individual steps in the process of accreditation.\u00a0 Each step involves any number of original documents, certificates, data from other countries using our program and application analysis. \u00a0Documents had to be resubmitted with each new appointee.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Political appointments not familiar with policies and procedures in the Department of Education caused even further delays.<\/p>\n

In Oct 2016, the program was accredited for use in private schools.\u00a0 Unfortunately, permission to sell to private schools came so late in the year we missed the opportunities in 2016 to supply textbooks to private schools.\u00a0 We also missed the window for the 2017 school year because purchases for the 2017 school year by private schools close in September of 2016.\u00a0 The earliest date for entry into Panamanian private schools will be the 2018 school year.<\/p>\n

Accreditation for use in public and charter schools takes another legal path than private schools.<\/p>\n

We have completed all requirements for accreditation for the program use in public and charter schools and are expecting a response from the Ministry of Education within the following months.\u00a0 The Department of Education will resume full operations toward the end of January. Slugging through the bureaucracy has been frustrating for everyone.<\/p>\n

To compensate for the lack of text distribution, the team in Panama gave presentations in 412 schools, training 1192 teachers and had 2590 parents attending conferences between 2014 and 2016.\u00a0 Teachers armed with the power of Biblical principles began seeing a difference in the student\u2019s attitudes within the first weeks of application.\u00a0 As anticipated, school superintendents began requesting more training as well as textbooks.\u00a0 Without exception, every school that has received a presented the program has requested it for their school.\u00a0 Request government delays have prevented us from fulfilling.<\/p>\n

The Minister of Education has petitioned her government to purchase 100,000 texts and the accompanying teacher training.\u00a0 In 2016 over 90,000 students failed a grade and were required to repeat the entire year over again.\u00a0 It was a national scandal.\u00a0 Our textbooks are viewed as a solution.<\/p>\n

The 100,000 textbooks will also serve as a pilot.\u00a0 The government is slowly transitioning from a 4 hour a day school day to a 7 hour a day school day.\u00a0 As such they are looking for additional content and they like what we offer.<\/p>\n

Even though the Minister of Education has petitioned for the program, she is completely dependent on the bureaucracy to complete the process.\u00a0 We have pushed as hard as we can without crating further complications.<\/p>\n

Projected Participation in 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

100,000 – Students with new textbooks\u2020\u2020\u2020\u2020 – <\/sup>Distribution is at the government\u2019s discretion.<\/p>\n

\u2020\u2020\u2020\u2020 <\/sup>100,000 textbooks 1st<\/sup>-12th<\/sup> – pending accreditation<\/p>\n

Chaplain Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mission Trips<\/strong><\/p>\n

7 Short term mission teams<\/p>\n

78 Short term missionaries<\/p>\n

43 Number of schools served<\/p>\n

20,115 Number of students receiving a gospel presentation<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong> – For political reasons the school program and chaplain program work as two separate organizations.\u00a0 The chaplain program walks through the open door created by the school program and builds an ecclesia<\/i>, a Body of Christ where the consequences of sin and the rewards of righteousness are openly discussed on campus.\u00a0 Adult volunteer chaplains lead the school in spiritual matters and many times act as a pastor to that body.\u00a0 The first year of the program in Bolivia 23% of the schools (85 out of 288) actually transitioned into churches having services during and after school hours using the school building and resources without cost!<\/p>\n

Chaplains serve the role of school counselors.\u00a0 They are free to evangelize, pray with and counsel students, teachers and parents as per a signed contract.\u00a0 Student chaplains have done a very good job bringing positive peer pressure to schools.\u00a0 Their greatest asset is helping adult chaplains understand the unspoken needs of the students.\u00a0 In Bolivia, student chaplains helped the adults uncover a sex trafficking ring run by a vice principle of a middle school for example.<\/p>\n

History<\/strong> – 2016 was a pilot year for the Chaplain Program in Panama. The chaplain program was not in the original proposal.\u00a0 Even though we recognized a need for the chaplain program several years ago, we were unsure if a model using volunteer chaplains would work.\u00a0 The model has proven successful in Bolivia and will be employed full time in Panama starting this year. \u00a0School administrators welcome the idea of adult and student chaplains.\u00a0 The gospel is common in Panamanian politics and society, very unlike the other countries where we work.<\/p>\n

Mission trips have been very successful as a means of delivering the gospel and exposing school administrators to the hunger and need of spiritual mentorship on campus.<\/p>\n

Goals of the Chaplain Program in 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Participants\/Disciples <\/strong><\/p>\n

30,000 Students<\/p>\n

1,200 Teachers<\/p>\n

10,000 Parents and Guardians <\/u><\/p>\n

41,200 Total Participants<\/p>\n

Chaplains <\/strong><\/p>\n

100 Adults<\/p>\n

\u00a0400 Students<\/u><\/p>\n

500 Total Chaplains<\/p>\n

Schools <\/strong><\/p>\n

50 Total number of schools served by chaplains<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Schools transitioned to Churches<\/strong><\/p>\n

5 churches\/2,500 members<\/p>\n

Mission Trips<\/strong><\/p>\n

10 Short term mission teams<\/p>\n

120 Short term missionaries<\/p>\n

60 Number of schools served<\/p>\n

28,500 Number of students receiving a gospel presentation<\/p>\n

Special note: <\/strong>Supporting documentation available\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Your servant,<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rocky J. Malloy<\/p>\n

CEO<\/p>\n

Mark 4:10-11\u00a0(MSG) When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked about the stories. He told them, \u201cYou\u2019ve been given insight into God\u2019s kingdom – you know how it works. But to those who can\u2019t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight<\/u>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mission Generation Inc. is a Texas non-profit corporation and a qualified charitable organization under \u00c2\u00a7501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code established in 1990. Mission Generation is a member of the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability (ECFA) and recognized by Intelligent Philanthropist (IP) and Charitable Giving Foundation.\u00a0 EIN# 76-0324<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2016 Summary The number of students projected to be in the program in 2016 with a new textbook was 15,000.\u00a0 We did not reach that goal.\u00a0 There was a total of 41,043 students impacted by the school program either with a recycled textbook or through their teachers who were trained in the Biblical principles of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,94,79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-countries","category-school-program","category-testimonies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1065"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1130,"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1065\/revisions\/1130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forvidas.org\/blogmg\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}