Centralight

The story for Gilbert, '72, began in 2003 as she hiked along a fi nger canyon in the Andes mountains. Her group got lost and came across a group of teenagers planting fava beans under the supervision of a local teacher. As two of the boys led the hikers in the right direction, Gilbert learned that the boys had to trek two hours to reach a school they attended on weekends. Six months after returning to Colorado, Gilbert, a retired math teacher, couldn't stop thinking of the boys she met and their diffi culty in getting to school. She had to do something. Gilbert fl ew back to Ecuador and found the boys in the village of Malingua Pamba. She spoke with community leaders and met with the local department of education. Then she proposed that if the village would undertake its construction, she would provide the materials for a classroom. When friends in the United States heard about her plans, they contributed $4,000 to the school, so the plan changed to a two-classroom school with living facilities for two teachers. Centro Educativo La Minga opened in September 2004. Since that initial trip, Gilbert has visited Malingua Pamba 14 times. She has helped link the village with volunteer groups from Rotary International and Engineers Without Borders, and she's helped the townspeople begin building an irrigation system and a potable water system. Gilbert is planning another trip in April, when they will be constructing a new 25-foot by 80-foot building to include a large classroom, cafeteria, vocational training room and meeting room. Next year the school will expand from six to seven grades. Making it happen Gilbert regards herself as head cheerleader and head fundraiser for the many projects completed, under way and yet to be planned in Malingua Pamba. She raises $1,000 per month for teacher salaries and $60 per child annually for books, supplies and uniforms for 100 children. The teenagers who helped Pamela Gilbert fi nd her way in 2003 are now all grown up, but Lautaro (left) and Pedro still stay in close touch. In fact, Pamela is the godmother of one of Pedro's children. "Anybody who will listen to me – anywhere – I pester them to pay $60 to sponsor a child or to help however they can," Gilbert says. "These are very special people, and everyone who gets involved has discovered that for themselves." In addition to the school funding, Gilbert tries to locate money for the village's other projects. The crop irrigation project is stalled, and the potable water project needs $12,000 for completion. But no matter. The always optimistic Gilbert knows the money will come in, and she is forging ahead, already thinking about her next project. Next year, she wants to begin to help the neighboring community, where families spend seven hours a day hauling water from the river to their village. Paying forward Gilbert graduated from CMU in 1972 with a mathematics degree, then spent the next 30 years teaching math all over the world, including Michigan, Colorado, Japan, Australia and Malaysia. At left: The school Pamela Gilbert helped build will expand from six to seven grades next year. Above: Pamela Gilbert visits Malingua Pamba, Ecuador, twice a year to deliver school supplies and see how else she can help. Here she plays a game with some of the villagers. She considers her CMU education an important turning point in her life. Throughout her adventures, Gilbert says she often thinks back to her CMU days and draws inspiration to help others from her own experience of being supported in gaining an exceptional college education. Get involved: • Follow the latest developments at escuelaminga.org and see how you can help. centralight spring '10 11 "CMU is in my heart," she says. "They did so much for me, and they made me a better person." The people of Malingua Pamba certainly are reaping the benefi ts. And what happened to those two boys who helped Gilbert fi nd her way in 2003? They're in their 20s now. Lautaro is studying tourism and is a teacher at the school. Pedro is married with two children and is taking online courses, planning to someday become a doctor. And Gilbert is living a full life. "You will not meet anybody happier than me," she says. "This all started with helping people fi nd education, but it has turned into so much more. It's very fulfi lling to be involved." •

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