Chapala Technologia School Speakers at Aug.25 CSRC Meeting
Posted on Aug 30, 2016
The Director from the Chapala Technologia School (a public university on the Libramento) described their program to help handicapped children learn skills and become productive members of the community.
They have about 1,000 students from the area, plus some from the other side of the lake, from El Salto and a few from Guadalajara. The School was started in 2000 offering classes in electronics and computer science with just a few students from the lowest financial sector of the community, and they offer six majors now. They also offer classes for those with disabilities, which other schools do not.
On December 5-7 they’ll have a contest where the students will be making prototypes of their ideas on how to help people with disabilities, and some of the parts needed are very expensive. They will be offering prizes to the students, and are looking for help in raising about 15,000 pesos for the prizes. This is the first event of this type but they hope to do it every year in the future.
Tuition at the university is 2,000 pesos per semester (4,000 per year – about $225US), but if it is paid by a certain date they offer a 20% discount. Most of their graduates find jobs, particularly in engineering.
They have also requested of the Mayor of Chapala to build a sidewalk on the Libramento so that students can travel by bicycle to the school. They’ve requested more signs to make the traffic go slower and also – some day – to widen the road.
Their Patronato is Transformando Vidas de Chapala, and through this organization one can give money to help the students.