Help Poor Rural Girls in Paraguay go to University

The students of the Mbaracayu School, winner of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, received recognition from the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC). The prize won by the students, in the category of Global High Schools of the competition, consisted of 100,000 USD for the implementation of the project "Renewable Energies and Sustainability in the Mbaracayu Educational Center". The winning proposal consists of the installation of a system of thermal solar panels that will provide electric power and hot water, providing a solution to the deficiency in the supply of electricity and hot water. In addition, they propose to plant trees of the native species Kupa`y, known as diesel tree, whose resin can be used for the production of biodiesel that will feed the generator and tractors of the school. The project also includes the assembly of gravity lights, which do not require an external power source. Finally, the elaboration and distribution of an educational kit containing a comic that, together with a puppet show, will be used for the dissemination of sustainability in its area of influence, is planned. Minister Raul Aguilera participated in the event, who mentioned "I send a strong message to the educational community to be encouraged to dream like you. When this project was born, you probably would not have imagined the impact it would have on other young people who are looking and are reviewing that an idea becomes a project, an activity, and today is an icon of the entire Republic of Paraguay." "If you and the people give us a little support I think we young people, and especially women, can make changes in the country and in the world, because what's bigger than starting to dream from a young age. For this I would also like to thank the school and the Moises Bertoni Foundation for giving us the opportunity to participate in this great project," said Pamela, a student at the school.

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The robotics team participated in the final of the National Robotics competition held on March 3 and 4, achieving the 3rd place in its category. In addition, they were awarded the prize for Excellence, also having won it in July 2017, a prize awarded at the end of each competition to the team that has scored better in terms of original and functional design of the robot, record of the Engineering Notebook, programming and compliance of safety instructions and rules during meetings. 

Two of the girls that make up the team, 3^rd years Mariana and Adriana were also invited during the event of a GRAMO space to share with the attendees at FESTECH their stories of how Robotics has changed their lives. The Mbaracayu team is the only team composed exclusively of girls, which generally produces astonishment among the participants and the public that attends the different events. This characteristic fills them with pride and encourages them to continue to improve. The continue to achieve good scores in competitions where they remain between the third and fourth place in their category. In addition, the team is very well cataloged by the judges for their good behavior, knowledge, teamwork, and adherence to the rules of the competition. The inauguration of the Robotics Academy at the School represents a qualitative leap in technology and inclusive education.

We are very pleased to inform you that Aymara, 2016 CEM Graduate, has been admitted to the EARTH University of Costa Rica, where she will prepare to become a future leader for sustainable rural development in our country. She was chosen from a large group of highly qualified candidates because she stood out for her academic preparation, her determination, her commitment to her community, her potential to become a leader in change and her commitment to the future of the planet we share. She will join a community of researchers and professors from more than forty countries in Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean, whose actions are aimed at building a future in which our communities will achieve their social, economic and environmental well-being. 

We are very proud of Aymara, in this way she becomes the 2nd “Daughter of the Forest” in obtaining this scholarship from the EARTH University of Costa Rica.

On September 16 at the Arambe Educational Center, the Second Date of the competitions of the National Robotics League 2017-2018 was held. With the support of NASA, the Robotics Academy of Carnegie Mellon University and Vex Robotics, students at all levels of education presented their robotics projects, designed, built and programmed by them, all in order to solve an engineering challenge that has been presented to them in game form during the academic cycle 2017-2018.

Among these students, students of the CEM have had an outstanding participation, winning 5th place of the General competition and 2nd place in its category. This is a great achievement for girls who just a few months ago started their training and participation in Robotics competitions.

In addition to building the robot, students actively learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics with a STEM-oriented research project (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). More than 60 teams made up of Paraguayan students, aged between 8 and 21, were evaluated for competencies such as; teamwork, programming skills, and robot management.

On May 20, 2017, the GRAMO Fest + FIIS took place in the Port of Asuncion. Two graduates from the Center of Education Mbaracayu (CEM), Bianca and Palmira, were present and sharing the experiences they had while at school at CEM. The two star graduates presented their stories on the main stage at GRAMO; this is the second time they have been invited. Both graduates are currently working as staff of the Moises Bertoni Foundation, which contributes to the protection and sustainable development of natural resources of Paraguay.

GRAMO is a conversation platform in which invited speakers from different areas share ideas of the “Paraguay of tomorrow being built today.”