Archive for February 2007
“Hacia el Futuro,” or “Towards the Future,”
February 2, 2007, 4:29 pmDecember 31, 2006
In late December, the Morro Negrito Foundation led a trip from the island school to visit the national treasures of Panama City. With a theme of “Hacia el Futuro,” or “Towards the Future,” the trip was for many of the participants their first travel outside the province and their first visit to the capital of Panama City. 
Over a period of two days, the group of students and parents, led by Morro Negrito Surfguide Jeff Healion, traveled to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, the ruins of the first settlement of Panama, the Presidential Palace which included a surprise meeting with President Martin Torrijos, and the new continent-spanning Centenario Bridge. Along the way, the group enjoyed some out-of-the-ordinary treats of pizza, ice cream, and holiday shopping at the new Albrook Mall at the site of the former US Albrook Air Base.
The design of the trip was to bring the students in contact with the past, the present, and the future of their country through the ruins, the Canal, and the government buildings. The group enjoyed special presentations at each location. At the Canal, the group was treated to a private presentation of the Panama Canal movie and then witnessed two giant Panamax ships passing through the locks. Nothing could have been more surprising though than when Panama’s President pulled up just as the group was visiting his palace. With no one else around, he got out of his car to talk with the students. As he left for his office, he commanded his staff to give the group a special tour inside the palace.
Healion reported “the smiles, excitement and gratitude we saw during the trip were heartwarming reasons why we know the Foundation can do good work. “Hacia el Futuro” was a great success.”
The trip was the first of several projects the Morro Negrito Foundation will lead in an effort to bring social and environmental improvements to the island where the surf camp operates.
—Administrator | 3 comments
(posted in the Education Fund category)
