Engineering Student Builds Schools for a Sustainable Future in Nicaragua
Parker Armstrong, an Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering student, traded classes for concrete this summer as he traveled to Nicaragua to complete an internship with the NGO SchoolBOX. Parker worked alongside SchoolBOX鈥檚 construction crew to build three classrooms in impoverished Nicaraguan communities, and to evaluate the sustainability of the organization鈥檚 programs.
Parker first became involved with SchoolBOX as a high school student from North Gower, and became motivated to contribute to SchoolBOX鈥檚 mission of 鈥淢aking Education Possible鈥 in even bigger ways. Through his engineering internship this summer, he produced a report on the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of SchoolBOX鈥檚 programs, specifically their Tools 4 Schools program, which has constructed 80 classrooms in Nicaragua to date. Parker鈥檚 findings were that, 鈥淪choolBOX鈥檚 social, economic and environmentally conscious building process are meeting its goals towards encouraging sustainability within the communities it is working in, along with the organization itself.”
Parker credits his engineering studies for providing him with important technical expertise, which he put into practice in Nicaragua, where only 56% of children graduate primary school according to UNICEF. Parker designed the plans for a new bathroom built at the Mirna Martinez School, in the Valle de Las Americas, Nicaragua, that would conserve building materials, but provide spacious and clean facilities for the children and teachers to use.
He stressed the importance of having a humble attitude, and working alongside communities to empower them and give them hope. 鈥淎 lot of times, communities feel they can never break out of poverty, but I hope the work that SchoolBOX is doing helps them to know they can have a better future鈥.
Parker is also partnering with a group of friends and members of the North Gower and Stittsville area community to raise funds for SchoolBOX. The money they have raised so far will go towards the construction of another new bathroom using Parker鈥檚 design. Their larger goal is to raise enough money to build an entire classroom with SchoolBOX.
Parker and his friends are hosting a 鈥楶aint Night鈥 fundraiser for SchoolBOX in Ottawa this November. To learn more about this and other fundraising events, check the SchoolBOX Facebook page or visit the website at www.schoolbox.ca/events.
杏吧原创 SchoolBOX: SchoolBOX is committed to 鈥楳aking Education Possible鈥 for the children of Nicaragua. SchoolBOX implements cost effective programming by building schools, providing school supplies, libraries, and teacher training. SchoolBOX has built 80 classrooms, and 46 washrooms in Nicaragua and serves over 17,487 students and teachers in 96 communities on an annual basis.