2.2003 - Samuel

PRO SA
Publication of the Hedwig and Robert Samuel Foundation Number 2. 2003
Hedwig And Robert Samuel Foundation
düsseldorf managua new delhi san jose lampang

Hedwig and Robert Samuel
2
THE SAMUEL FOUNDATION AT A GLANCE
WHO WE ARE:
The Hedwig and Robert Samuel Foundation is a private charitable foundation with its head office in Düsseldorf, Germany. It
was established in the year 1932 as stated in the last will of the businessman Robert Samuel and his wife Hedwig.
OUR ASSIGNMENT:
According to the Foundation's statutes, our purpose is to help people in need world-wide. We focus our work on the support
of socially disadvantaged children and youths in the developing countries. We obtain the necessary financial means
through revenues from the foundation's assets, through co-financings and through donations.
OUR MISSION:
From the large group of the underprivileged, we promote those young people who by virtue of their intelligence and their
personality are able to live a life in dignity and self-determination with the basic support provided by the Samuel Foundation.
MAIN FOCUS OF OUR WORK:
The main focus of our work is the support of children and youths in the areas of education and vocational training. In our
own centres, we offer training programmes for craftsman and technical trades as well as for the service industry, to young
people from the social and economically disadvantaged levels of society. By this, they get the chance to obtain a job in their
respective profession and to master their life self-responsibly. Furthermore, the Samuel Foundation supports projects of
health promotion and health precaution as well as of humanitarian aid.
OUR PROJECTS:
■ In India, currently 100 young people per year, who come from the poor quarters of New Delhi, are being trained in dress
designing.
■ In Nicaragua, we offer trainings in car mechanics and construction as well as in administration and office communication
for 850 young people at the time.
■ In Costa Rica, we offer training in four different trades of refrigeration and air conditioning as well as the possibility of attaining
the high school diploma through evening classes, for actually 180 students per year.
■ In Cuba, we are supporting a vocational training centre in Havanna since 1998.
■ In Thailand, since the beginning of 2002 the Samuel Foundation cares for more than 70 pupils from the region of Lampang
in the north of the country, and supports them in their school education. In addition, we support the home for hilltribe
children.
■ In Germany, we provide help for violence-stricken children as co-founders and associates of the KID "Kind in Duesseldorf
gGmbH" (organisation "Child in Düsseldorf").
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRAINING:
■ The participants of the courses in our training centres are selected in a selection process which has been developed especially
for our needs.
■ The selection of trades is based on market surveys that reliably identify which practically-orientated professions provide
best opportunities on the local labour market.
■ The offered training programmes consist of fulltime courses with a maximum duration of at present 19 months, evening
classes for the already employed as well as Saturday courses for special retrainings.
■ Complementary activities to encourage the development of the students' personality are fixed components of our training.
These activities include seminars and round tables about youth-specific interests in co-operation with local institutions,
a comprehensive psychological support of students and parents, but also social work which takes place in public and private
complexes in the neighbourhood as well as on the Foundation's premises.
■ The diplomas are officially recognized, whenever possible and reasonable. Depending on the requirements of the training,
the graduates receive certificates which prove their qualification as workers, skilled workers or skilled workers with specific
know-how.
INTERNATIONAL FIELDS OF ACTION:
■ Developing and running of training centres for young people, with integrated workshops where it is possible and reasonable.
■ Promoting and operational support of local self-help groups and initiatives.
■ Placement of graduates of the Samuel Foundation in enterprises and companies.
■ Support of the social and productive infrastructure of the rural area.
NATIONAL FIELDS OF ACTION:
■ Protection, care and support of children and youths from socially and economically disadvantaged families.
■ Support for the integration and care of foreign children.

The year 2003 rushes very fast towards its end. At the latest when
in our training centers the preparations for the graduation ceremonies
enter into its final stage we do know that again one year has
past by. A year that for us at the Foundation was linked to a lot of
changes especially in the field of staff in our country offices. After
all, the positions of the country directors in Costa Rica, India and
Nicaragua had to be replaced on routine basis, what naturally
implies an increased need of tuning but on the other hand as well
gives way for a lot of new impulses.
In the meantime the integration period for the "new ones" has been
completed, and for Javier Berrocal in Costa Rica, Tapeshawar Kumar
Sood in India and Noel Robleto Falla in Nicaragua normality has
long begun. The change has brought along a lot of spirit and the
first harvest has been brought in. More courses, increase of quality
and the integration of additional education offers were included in
the program. A lot of it has been pushed ahead, some of it has even
been completely put into action.
In India we have again been able to increase the quality of our training
a good part ahead, especially in the areas of the development
of personal awareness and the strengthening of personality. In
MASTHEAD
Published by:
Foundation Hedwig and Robert Samuel
Editor: Martin Barth
Translation: Lenoschka Ramírez Dorticós,
Ivonne Schönberger, Ruth Erlemann
Layout: Martina Wallraf
Printing: D&S DRUCKSTUDIO GMBH, Düsseldorf
Photos: Archives of the Samuel Foundation
Cover: Student of construction work course,
Nicaragua
PROSA is published three times a year in
English, Spanish and German
PROSA Nr. 2/2003 has been elaborated in cooperation
with the following persons:
in Germany: Dr. Antonio Liepold
in Costa Rica: Javier Berrocal Domínguez
in Nicaragua: Noel Robleto Falla, Brigitte Torres
in India: Tapeshwar Kumar Sood,
in Thailand: Gerd Mathia
Dear colleagues,
students and
friends of the Samuel Foundation
CONTENT
Nicaragua we have won a financing through Spanish donors for
additional vocational training of 350 young people, which almost
doubles the number of students in our center there. To our training
program in Costa Rica we have added a course to pass high school.
And in Thailand this year we have increased the number of supported
children and young people to 74.
A lot more has been started and will be finalized next year. A challenge
we can only deal with through our qualified and motivated
staff. I have to thank them here for their tremendous work and for
what they have achieved this year again.
To all, colleagues, students and friends of the Samuel Foundation I
wish a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a good, sound and
successful year 2004.
Yours
Martin Barth
President
THE SAMUEL FOUNDATION AT A GLANCE 2
EDITORIAL 3
MASTHEAD 3
SAMUEL FOUNDATION WINS CALL FOR TENDER 4-6
CHANGE OF COUNTRY DIRECTORS
IN INDIA AND NICARAGUA 7
IN THE BEST COMPANY 7
COUNTRY DIRECTORS MEETING 2003
IN DÜSSELDORF 8-10
WEBSITE UPDATED 11
BUSY FOR CHARITY - SAMUEL FOUNDATION
AT THEBERLIN MARATHON 11
Editorial
OUR GRADUATES 2003 12-13
THAILAND ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE TOURIST ROUTES 14-16
NEW COURSES IN THAILAND 17
COOPERATION WITH CLIMA GROUP 18-19
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AT THE
SAMUEL FOUNDATION IN COSTA RICA 20
PROFESSIONALS GO BACK TO SCHOOL 21
A MASTERLY MODEL 22
"MISS BEST WESTERN" 2003 IN NICARAGUA 22
OUR BEST STUDENTS 23
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Samuel Foundation wins cal
Young people from the capital Managua, who live in the
districts of Mirna Ugarte, Edgard Munguía and in the
municipality of Ciudad Sandino, have recently been given the
opportunity to apply for scholarships for technical training
courses. This two-part project will be financed from Spain
through the following institutions: the two regional governments
in the autonomous Spanish regions of Castilla La Mancha
(Castille) and Navarra, the Spanish Trade Union Institute
for Development Cooperation (ISCOD), and in Nicaragua itself
the Association of the Patrons of Culture (APC), which will be
responsible for on-site coordination of the project. The initiative
has been given the title "Training for Employment".
The Hedwig and Robert Samuel Foundation was one of a
number of providers who submitted offers to carry out the
technically-oriented vocational training courses. It succeeded
in securing the contract following a selection procedure that
was supervised by Spanish government representatives,
ISCOD and APC. The young people were determined in a preselection
stage by these organisations and the Foundation
will now be able to offer them a choice of 11 different training
courses.
Spanish funding for vocational training
Scolarship holders of the project "Training for employment"
Ana Rodriguez, the ISCOD representative responsible for
projects to combat poverty in Central America, explained the
initiative: "The aim of this project is to provide support to a
total of 350 young people aged between 15 and 20 who come
from extremely poor families. These young people do not have
the means to pay for technical vocational training, but they do
wish to improve their social situation, their living conditions
and those of their families.

l for tender
The scholarships cover the monthly cost of the training,
the final examination, and transport costs to and from school.
The courses are offered in the following subject areas: PC user
skills, repair and maintenance of window air-conditioning
systems, car mechanics and construction skills. The lessons
are held during the day, in the evening, or on Saturdays.
The project will last for a maximum period of two years and
will be implemented in two separate phases. The first phase
will take up the first year and will be devoted to giving the
young people the necessary technical training. The second
phase is meant to prepare the most talented graduates from
the first year's training to be self employed. Subsidies will be
granted to help them set up small businesses of their own.
They will be taught the necessary skills needed to start a
business or to manage a small enterprise in their chosen field.
It is also planned to set up a kind of 'job placement service',
whose role will be to find jobs for those who have completed
the first year of training.
Alvaro Murilla Rocha, ISCOD representative in Nicaragua,
pointed out that in addition to the professional training given
The Spanish Ana Rodríguez and representatives of the district visiting the scholarship holders
Nicaragua
for 350 young people in the Foundation's training centre in Managua
to the young people, there will also be seminars and workshops
available on such subjects as legal regulations, leadership
and management, sexuality and health, and event organisation.
These seminars will be held at weekends and coordinated
and managed by the APC. The aim will be to give participants
practical tips and advice to prepare them for the challenges
of daily life and their personal and social development.
According to reactions from those responsible in the three
local authorities - Patricia Sánchez from the district of Mirna
Ugarte, Ernestina Balladares from Edgard Munguía and Filiberto
Rizo from Ciudad Sandino - the project will provide an
opportunity to improve the long-term standards of living of the
local people and to alleviate the effects of poverty that afflict
a large percentage of the population in the districts concerned.
Once they have acquired specific skills, and with support
from their families and local authorities, 350 young people
will then have an opportunity to find a job at a later stage.
Francisco Rios, who lives in the Mirna Ugarte district and
who has been awarded a grant for the training course on PC
user skills, and Juana Varela, both expressed their delight
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about the opportunities they will now have. "I will try to make
the most of this scolarship. I'll be very interested in the course
contents and work hard at it, because I don't have the
means to pay for a university education. That's why I just have
my high-school diploma."
Scolarship holder, Jenny Picado, who is also from Mirna
Ugarte, also seemed over the moon: "This will be a valuable
opportunity for me, because although I have taken my school
leaving certificate, I did not have the money to study at university.
I'm especially interested in engineering, so I'll be
taking the training course in construction skills."
Students of the Foundation
Nicaragua
Another scolarship holder, Marcos Velásquez Aguirre, who
lives in the Ciudad Sandino district, had this to say: "I was
always interested in car mechanics or in anything to do with
cars, but I never had a chance to study the subject. This scolarship
will help me realise my dream. I am also grateful to my
mother, who has always supported and encouraged me."
20-year-old, Marvín García Medina from the Edgard Munguía
district, explained that he had already assisted in construction
work - mostly with his father- helping to build paths
and roads. The scolarship would now give him the chance to
learn construction skills from the ground up. He said he had
every intention of making the most of the opportunity.
Getting the family involved is seen as a crucial factor in
successfully implementing the programme. This is needed to
ensure that the educational environment is supportive,
healthy, safe and fully integrated into the programme as a
whole. It is a vital criterion to ensure the young people can
derive maximum benefit from the project activities.
To further this goal, a parents' committee was set up in
each of the three urban areas. The members are currently
being trained and will be provided with important information
and current news about the courses and the trainees. This
means that they can monitor the project and support it with
proposals and suggestions for improvements.
Rosa Argentina Lacayo, the mother of a young scolarship
holder, told us: "I am really pleased at the chance my daughter
will now have, because I have never been able to pay for technical
training for her. I'm a widow, so I had to be both father
and mother to my children. I don't have a permanent job, so this
award is a huge help for people like myself with low incomes."
And finally José Ramón Hernández, the father of a young
scholarship holder: "This project is a source of great happiness
for me, because I could never afford to pay for a computer
course for my son. It would be very expensive and anyway I'm
unemployed."
As part of the project considerable investments have been
made in technical equipment for the training centre in Managua
to ensure that the yearly trainees, whose numbers have
almost doubled, can receive the best possible training.

Change of the country
directors of the Samuel
Foundation
in India and Nicaragua
Since July of this year Tapeshwar
Kumar Sood is country director of
the Foundation and Trust in India.
He is 62 years old, married, and
has a son and a daughter. The
skilled scientist made at first a
career as regular soldier at the
Indian Air Force and was there as
a lieutenant colonel responsible for the supply. After resigning
from the active service he assumed the management of a policlinic
in New Delhi for 10 years.
Since August of this year Noel
Robleto Falla is country director of
the Samuel Foundation in Nicaragua.
He is 52 years old, married
and has two sons. The expert in
business management with specialization in international trade,
gained more than 15 years of practical experience in the areas of
import, sales and commercialization of pharmaceutical products
in Nicaragua. In 1996 he created the Nicaraguan-Costarican
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was its President for
5 years. Afterwards, and until the beginning of his work for the
Foundation, he was director of a private university for industrial
sciences in Managua.
Photo from the daily press in Neu Delhi
In the best company
On the 30th of October, the Asiatic Summit for Youth Entrepreneurship
and Employment took place in New Delhi with highranking
international representatives. The Indian prime minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee as well as many other prominent figures
from politics, sports and culture participated in the meeting.
Also the British Crown Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, came as
an honour guest in the context of an India journey. He is commited
to educational and training programmes for young people
through the "Prince Charles Charitable Foundation" founded by
him.
To this meeting - the first of its kind in Asia - which took place
in the library of the Indian parliament, the Samuel Foundation
was invited, too. The Foundation was represented by our country
director in India, Mr. T.K. Sood, and two further co-workers.
Prime Minister Vajpayee made clear in his speech held in
front of representatives from politics, economics and NGO's,
that most of the young people in India without an appropriate
job possibility were chanceless. Therefore he assigned a key
position to the promotion of youth entrepreneurship, because
only by that an appropriate number of new jobs could be
created.
The Samuel Foundation, too, has been taking this aspect into
account for a long time, providing appropriate modules in our
training programmes of our centres. Especially our training in
dress designing in India gives best opportunities to make the
graduates independent as subcontractors or as owners of a
small fashion shop, so they get the chance to generate new jobs
for themselves and third persons.
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Country Directors Meeting 200
Actualizing contents and guid
Martin Barth
President
For 10 days on the whole, the country directors
of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Thailand were
our guests in Düsseldorf. They came together
on the occasion of this year's Country
Directors Meeting which took place from 25th
September to 4th October in the Düsseldorf
central office at Königsallee (King's Avenue).
Javier Berrocal from Costa Rica, Noel Robleto from Nicaragua
and Gerd Mathia from Thailand undertook the long journey.
The team of our German office was represented by Martin
Barth, Marita Baaske and Dr. Antonio Liepold. Unfortunately
our country director from India, Mr. T.K. Sood, could not attend
due to unexpected illness.
The main subject of the meeting was the common actualization
of the contents and guidelines of our project work, as
for example the specific definition of the target groups of our
Javier Berrocal Domínguez
Country Director Costa Rica
Dr. Antonio Liepold
Project Coordinator
help, a list of criteria for the selection of our students, the
naming of the basic conditions for co-operations or the organization
of public relations and fundraising activities - task
we have to deal with periodically because of the constantly
changing overall conditions. But this year it was especially
important due to the fact that 3 of our 4 country director positions
were to be filled in since our last meeting. Naturally this
required a lot more of tuning work.
After short lectures on the current work in our local offices
and the specific problems in each country - which naturally
affect our work a lot - we started to work on the most important
topics of our agenda.
The definition of the target group
One could think of that the definition of the target group
for our help is a quite simple thing. After all, we have a statute,
which must contain an appropriate instruction regarding
the denomination of our purpose. In practice however, it
looks a little bit different, if one would not want to distribute
the financial means available - at the Samuel Foundation an

3 in Düsseldorf
elines of the Foundation work
Marita Baaske
Project Coordinator
Gerd Mathia
Country Director Thailand
average of about 1 to 1.5 million Euro per year - on a random
basis which, as well known, is of no avail to anybody.
In § 2 of our statute the purpose of the Foundation is
determined as "the support for socially needy persons worldwide".
To make this more restrictive, already years ago, the
board of trustees had decided to concentrate on education
and vocational training for young people as the principal purpose
of our doing. This also in view of the fact that already
today almost half of mankind is younger than 25, but in contradiction
to this fact worldwide education and vocational training
are being more and more neglected.
The inevitable consequences are poor job perspectives,
frustration, a general refusal and a slide down into crime. To
prevent this and to give young people a future again, is what
we have put up as our slogan.
Definitely this does not refer to all young people, but only
to those, who fulfil the criterion of beeing in need for help.
Whereas according to our definition one is only needy if one
derives from a family, in which the per capita income is below
the official poverty line of the respective country.
Noel Robleto Falla
Country Director Nicaragua
Germany
As second criterion for the determination of our target
group, we have defined a maximum accepted distance between
the families' centre of living and our training centres.
This for the only reason, that we can only be successful in our
work if we integrate the families and in particular the parents
in our efforts. Because without their support and participation
the desired success is so questionable, that we do not want to
take the risk in the interest of everybody. Where exactly this
radius around our training centres is to be drawn depends as
well on local conditions and is accordingly put up to the individual
judgement of the country directors.
Selection Criteria
Obviously we cannot help everybody of our target group.
The limited number of seats in our training centres does not
allow it. This makes it necessary to set up criteria for the selection
of the applicants who belong to our target group. Therefore
the objective is authoritative. Because we want to make
sure that the efforts of the graduates of our training really pay
off - at least they invest up to 19 months of daily presence - we
have to insist on quality in the training. This requires not only
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a quite expensive training apparatus on our part, but also a
minimum qualification on the part of the applicants.
We check very precisely their conditions, because each
dropout that happens later on denies the chance for a possibly
more suitable candidate. After only a short period of training
session, integration is not possible anymore, because of
the impossibility to catch up on the training backlogs.
In order to eliminate mistakes in the selection process as
far as possible, we have developed a masterminded system,
which enables us to a final assessment of each applicant.
For it we need information about:
_rational and emotional intelligence,
_talents and preferences,
_age,
_education degree,
_family background,
_number of relatives to be supported,
_problems with violence, drugs and alcohol,
_pregnancy,
_criminal record,
which we acquire through tests and interviews. Their results
lead us to the final selection of the candidates by a special
weightage, the so-called "selection key", which is the same
for all country offices. As such we have determined:
_the theoretical test with 20%,
_the practical test with 15%,
_the interview with the parents with 15%,
_the interview with the applicant with 20%
_and the psychological test with 30%.
It is obvious that by that we concentrate on the very best of
our target group. Those with less qualified conditions have
hardly a chance. This appears cruel, but cannot be changed
without endangering our goal. Only by maintaining a high
quality standard for our training we can almost guarantee an
employment after graduation. That is the only way we define
success. We cannot justify to ask for someone´s time, only for
that he or she is as unemployed after going through our training
as before. Neither for the young people, whose time we
would have wasted, nor for ourselves, because after all we are
obliged and want to use our financial means as efficiently as
possible.
Cooperations
In order to increase the efficiency of our work, we are open
in principle for all possible kinds of cooperation with governmental
and non-governmental organizations as well as with
private enterprises, always and as long as the cooperation
corresponds with the goals of the Samuel Foundation. That
can be in our main field of activity, the education and vocational
training sector, but can also concern projects of economic
and social development of rural areas and of strengthening
small entrepreneurship. In the past years we have
already been able to gain some positive experiences in this
field of cooperation, in the practical part as well as in co-fundings.
For that reason it makes a lot of sense to give this
aspect of our work more attention in future.
Public Relations and Fundraising
Similar to the expressed regarding the cooperation, we
have the ambition as well to concentrate more on fundraising
in the future, thus increasing our financial scope on that end.
Of course it is necessary therefore to rise the degree of publicity
of the Foundation and its work through a plan of public relations
activities in Germany as well as in the project countries.
A lot more has been talked over, discussed and decided.
For all participants it was a very fruitful and interesting meeting,
which beyond the pure work offered a lot of opportunities
for personal interchange; an aspect of importance which
cannot be estimated highly enough. Especially when due to
the large distances one communicates normally only via phone
and email, the quality of the work depends a lot on a good
communication between the team members.

Website of the Samuel Foundation updated
Busy for Charity -
Samuel Foundation at Berlin Marathon
"Busy for Charity": Under this motto, four runners participated
for the Samuel Foundation in this year's Marathon of Berlin
at the end of September and carried the message over the historical
distance of 42,195 kilometres. The German office of the
Foundation, despite its clearly superior numerical presence -
with the two members of the Board of Directors Michael and Martin
Barth and the former co-worker Anja Becker - was not successful
in the internal competition. Javier Berrocal, country director of
the Costa Rican office who used his presence in Germany during
the meeting of country directors in order to participate in the
marathon, didn't leave them any chance.
Recently, the website of the Samuel Foundation has been
updated. It offers now much more of basic information to the
interested visitor about the history of the Foundation and its current
project work. Also the button "Your assistance" has been
added, which informs about the different possibilities of supporting
the work of the Foundation, for instance by donations,
trust foundations or active cooperation. As before, the information
is available in German, English and Spanish, the working
languages of the Samuel Foundation. www.samuel.de looks forward
to receiving your (renewed) visit.
Michael Barth, Anja Becker, Javier Berrocal and Martin Barth
After only 3 hours 42 minutes and 03 seconds he passed the
finishing line at the Brandenburg Gate and relegated Michael
Barth with 4:26:36, Anja Becker with 4:30:19 and Martin Barth
with 4:30:20 to their places. These were at least consoled by the
fact that they had the chance to carry the message on their shirts
much longer through the streets of Berlin which were lined by
hundred thousands of spectators.
For the Samuel Foundation from Düsseldorf this was a first
presence in the Federal capital, and for the four participants it
was a wonderful event and a respectable personal success.
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THE SAMUEL-FOUNDATION CONGRATULATES
THE 487 GRADUATES OF THE YEAR 2002/2003 AND WISHES THEM ALL THE
COSTA RICA
AUTOMOBILE AIR CONDITIONING
Alvarez Hernandez Carlos
Camacho Barboza Luis Carlos
Ceciliano Elizondo Cesar
Cerdas Orozco Freizel Andres
Cordero Vega Antony
Gonzalez Campbell Isaac
Jacamo Agüero Jeffry
Mena Gomez Wilberth
Solano Monge Antony
Solera Gonzalez Pablo
Soto Vargas Christian
Ugalde Ortiz Glendy Viviana
INDUSTRIAL AIR CONDITIONING
Arce Ovares Jonathan
Arguedas Ortiz Jose Manuel
Arriola Cruz Diego
Astorga Jimenez Luis
Ballon Bonilla Carmen
Barboza Rodriguez Javier
Brizuela Garcia Antony
Cano Godinez Nestor
Cisneros Cisneros Bryan
Cortes Nuñez Andres M.
Chavarria Langel Adriana
Edmond Blanco Jeffrey
Esquivel Rodriguez Michael
Montero Hernandez Carlos
Mora Madrigal Ismael
Pinto Ramirez Michael
Rodriguez Barrientos Carlos
Rodriguez Chacon Rolando
Rojas Mora Antony
Sanchez Solis Juan Pablo
Segura Soto Federico
Sequeira Valverde Pablo
Solis Chavarria Jose Andrei
INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION
Blanco Arroyo Bryan
Calderon Murillo Gerson
Carranza Blanco Cristian
Castillo Loria Luis Angel
Espinoza Campos Luis Diego
Espinoza Monge Vernor
Gonzalez Pastor Ana Raquel
Jimenez Chaves Berny
Jimenez Roman Jonathan
Mata Alpizar Alex Eduardo
Montero Hernandez Luis Fdo.
Morales Salazar Hans
Peña Sequeira Fabian
Pereira Sanchez Pablo
Piedra Chinchilla Wendy
Prado Matamoros Carlos Ignacio
Roman Solera Magda Carolina
Rugama Monge David
Sanchez Cortes Andres
Tejeda Arce Malacay
REFRIGERATION IN TRANSPORT
Aguilar Bermudez Esteban
Brenes Baltodano Jefrry
Calderon Zamora Jose
Flamenco Arbalza Javier Arturo
Hernandez Gomez Esteban
Madrigal Trejos Gerardo
Paizano Martinez Jonathan
Porras Torres Daniel
Solis Garcia Adrian
Zamora Salazar Gabriel
INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION
(EVENING COURSE)
Alvarado Perez Andres
Cháves Burgos Jimmy
Cordero Hernández Gustavo
Gaitan Ayales Alexander
Hernández Piedra Jesús
Matamoros González Carlos
Mena Torres Michael
Quiros Bolaños Jonathan
Serrano Quiros Lizandro J.
Solano Enrriquez Randall
Vega Arce Jorge
INDUSTRIAL AIR CONDITIONING
(EVENING COURSE)
Alfaro Benavides Maikel
Esteban Espinoza Blanco
Coto Román Erick
Chacón Benavides Edward
Díaz Martínez Norman
Quirós Arias Juan Carlos
Soto Araya Miguel Angel
NICARAGUA
PREPATORY COURSE FOR
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Aaron Alejandro Peña Miranda
Ariel Humberto Hernández Oviedo
Byron Alexander Zeledón Alvarado
Carlos Enrique Espino Rivas,
Darling Sugey Jimenez Pineda
Darwin Moisés Martínez Tijerino
Edom Magdiel Serapio Oviedo
Emilio José Benard Avendaño
Erick José Coca Zelaya,
Geovanny José González López
Gerardo Emilio Ugarte Polanco
Henry Omar Linares García
Jairo David Jirón Gutiérrez
Jairo Rodolfo Martínez Reyes
Jaqueline Vanessa Sanders Mckenci
Jonhy Arquimidez Moya Espinoza
Jorge Ulises Padilla Vega
Juan Carlos Dávila Cortez
Luis Alberto Urbina Zamora
Luis Manuel Muñoz López
Marvin Enrique Espinoza Roque
Mauricio José Montoya
Santiago Enoc Espino Rivas
CAR MECHANICS
Alejandro José Calero Hernández
Bayardo Israel Rosales Espinal
Eddy Geovanny Aguirre Mora
Eddy Samuel Crespo Peña
Efraín Ernesto Ramírez Corea
Élmer Isaac Cano Paíz
Franklin Javier Delgado Orozco
Gustavo Enrique Escobar García
Horacio José López Pineda
Jaime Franklin Muñoz Estrada
Javier Francisco López Vásquez
Juan Carlos Mayorga Maltez
Juan Lucas Blandón Portocarrero
Leiva García Domingo Hildebrando
Lester Danilo Cortez Salazar
López González José Clemente
Luis Alfonso Cajina Estrada
Manuel Salvador Rocha Mairena
Mauricio José López Ruíz
Melvin Danilo Cuestas Espinoza
Nixon Serapio Iribarne
Norlan Isaac Mora Reyes
Orlando José González Álvarez
Pedro Ramón Hernández López
Yader José Montenegro Flores
AUTOMOBILE ELECTRICITY (SATUR-
DAY COURSE)
Augusto Cesar Arriola Silva
Augusto Chávez Cesar
Carlos Francisco Fuentes
Edwing Antonio Martínez
Galo Gabriel López Gradiz
José Manuel Sandoval Sanabria
Juan Carlos Cruz Bravo
Juneth Antonio Mendoza Gutiérrez
Lesther Alberto Mairena Urbina
Mauricio López López
Moisés Abraham Rojas Mendoza
Silvio Zuñiga Valverde
Uriel Javier Rodríguez Zelaya
Victor Francisco Juárez Santana
FUEL INJECTION (EVENING COURSE)
Catalino Rugama Meneses
Enrique Francisco Martínez Centeno
Héctor Alberto Méndez Gómez
José Ángel Membreño Rivera
Luis Francisco Chong Arrechavala
Luis Ramón Ruíz Paisano
Pablo Antonio Avellán Centeno
Reynaldo José Rodriguez López
Santiago Méndez Sánchez
Walter Francisco Montes Barrera
FUEL INJECTION (SATURDAY
COURSE)
Aaron Sánchez
Álvaro David Pineda Soza
Dayton Rocha
Domingo Hildebrando Leiva García
Donald Zelaya
Eddy Samuel Crespo Peña
Francisco Rafael Osorio Rugama
Freddy A. Ruíz Bermudez
Humberto Rodríguez Saballos
Jonhy Sobalvarro
Jorge Agustin Borges García
José Alejandro Calero Hernandez
Luis Alfonso Cajina Estrada
Manuel Salvador Rocha Mairena
Marcelino Díaz Balmaceda
Maximo F. Ríos Oviedo
Pedro Ramón Hernández López
Raúl Antonio Blandón Arana
Ricardo José Matamoros García
Ricardo Rosales Valdivia
Ricardo Ruíz Bustos
Victor Ismael Chamorro Bravo
CONSTRUCTION WORK
Carlos Alberto González Ñamendiz
Carlos Humberto González Martínez
Franklin Noe Baltodano Zavala
Gerald Alberto Sieza Velásquez
Gerald Joan Somarriba Rodríguez
Harvey Vessie Guardado Canales
Isaac Danilo Suazo Mendez
Ismael Alemán Javier
Julio Alberto Obregon Hernández
Nelson Sergio Miranda Marenco
Oscar Danilo Guerrero Medina
Raúl Antonio Vega Aguirre
Victor Valentin Galeano Aviles
Yasser Iván López Contreras
ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICE
COMMUNICATION
Azucena del Carmen Montiel Tijerino
Bessy Elizabeth Ramos Sinclair
Carolina Dubón Molina
Cecian Mecelenian Chavarría Ruíz
Felipa del Carmen Castillo Sánchez
Gladys Yoychavel Pérez Alvarado
Guadalupe del Rosario Corea Gutiérrez
Ivania del Carmen López Pérez
Juana del Carmen Hernández Murillo
Lisseth del Carmen Puerto Lara
María Auxiliadora Cerda García
Marisol Elizabeth Mercado Vásquez
Meyling del Carmen Fuertes Gutiérrez
Meyling Odily Narváez Silva
Raquel del Socorro Corea Vega
Sara María Aleman Castillo
Tatiana Elizabeth Duarte Meneses
Thelma del Socorro Silva Pulido
Yurit del Carmen Gómez Díaz
Zenelia del Carmen Narváez Pichardo
COMPUTER HANDLING
(MORNING COURSE)
Aldana Maria Torrente Herrera
Asdrúbal Enrique Lacayo Urrutia
Blanca Adilia Parrales Ramos
Carlos Rodolfo Amador Castillo
Denis Reynaldo Delgado Taleno
Enoc Havid Medrano Aguado
Enrique Alberto Salazar Sotomayor
Ericka Masiel Meza
Gary Steven Zúniga Cuadra
Halima Teresa Aguilera Toruño
Henry José Alemán Montenegro
Lía Rebeca Corea Hernández
Luis Alberto Lopez Espinoza
Luis Alfonso Hernandez Cano
Maria Axuliadora Cerda Garcia
Medrano Aguado Meyling Solange
Saylí Yahoska Salazar Rojas
Walter Herrera Zelaya
COMPUTER HANDLING
(SATURDAY COURSE)
Bismara Jamileth Sanchez Guerrero
Hermes Francisco Chavez Cortez
Karen Alexandra Blandon Vargas
Osmar Javier Lopez Moreno
Silma Yahoska Narváes Bonilla
Teresa Isabel Castillo Moreno
Wendy Joseph Rodriguez Lara
Yorleni del Socorrro Guadamuz Medina

BEST FOR THEIR FUTURE!
DRIVING COURSE
Alexis Arguello Laguna
Ángel José Ríos Borgen
Armando Antonio Rivera Bustos
Armando José Siva Bustamante
Aura Maria Soza Mena
Aurelio Quintanilla
Belkis María Sanchez Alegría
Bismarck Osorio Pérez
Candida Pereira Rosales
Carlos Alberto Urbina Pérez
Carlos José Madrigal Sánchez
Carlos Mauricio Guido Rizo
Carmen Irma Tórrez Malespin
Celia Xiomara Suarez Santos
Cesar Antonio Alvarado Sánchez
Claimer J. Lainez García
Claudia Vanessa Garmendía Valenzuela
Claudio Martín Saldaña Carvajal
Corina del Carmen Hurtado Orozco
Cruz Antonio Palacios
Denis Antonio Otero Riveras
Donald Antonio Amador Romero
Egner Elien Moreno López
Elvis Ulises Arauz Flores
Emil Damian Beteta Benavidez
Ericka Elizabeth Moreno Hernández
Milton Olivas
Ericka Leticia Chaves Jimenes
Ervin Chévez Carcamo
Francisco José Arteaga
Frank Alberto López Gaitan
Frank Leslie Navas Silva
Gladys Maria Vargas Abarcas
Gustavo José Bolaños Mora
Hector Jose Moya Loasiga
Helen Rebeca Orozco Castillo
Hermes Condega Ruiz
Hernán José Mairena
Ignacio Francisco González Murillo
Israel Emilio Morales Laguna
Ivania del Rosario Cisneros Alvarez
Ivania Lourdes Blandón Espinoza
Jairo Emilio Zelaya Tórrez
Jairo José Castellón
Javier Antonio Pavón Olivas
Jimmy Oscar Ubeda Baltodano
José Alfredo Rojas Bustos
José Jorge Aragón Sandoval
José Luis Torrez Perez
José Manuel Rivas Rivas
José Mercedes Díaz Obando
José Ramón Rocha Calero
Juan Gabriel Sanders López
Juana Rosa Ruiz Tórrez
Karla Ruiz Rosales
Kenia Alejandra Blandón Salinas
Leonel Antonio Navarro
Lesbia del Socorro Palma Córdoba
Lovania del Socorro Membreño
Luis Alberto Rocha Guzmán
Luis Carlos Salazar Sánchez
Luis Francisco Solorzano Rivas
Marcos Antonio Rocha Sanchez
María del Carmen Mendoza Estrada
María del Carmen Navarrete Espinoza
María Leonor Lanzas Salty
María Tomasa Sequeira González
Mario Fernando Sánchez García
Mauricio Antonio Obando Méndez
Mauricio González Mendoza
Melvin Antonio Moncada Molina
Milton Olivas
Miriam Campos Dademadys
Moisés Javier Guerrero Guzman
Neftalí Solís Pérez
Norma René García Navarro
Osmín Padilla Calderón
Pablo Sotelo Pedro
Rafael Salvador Ubeda Guevara
Ramón Corea Flores
Rogelio Jonathan Guillen Zepeda
Roger Antonio Flores Gimenez
Róger Rafael Videa Araica
Roldan Steve Nicaragua Díaz
Ronald Fonseca Suazo
Roy Oliver Vargas Murray
Santos Otero Claudia Marita
Sidar Francisco Morales Jiménez
Silvia Esther Dublón Gómez
Silvio Javier Andrade Zamora
Teresa Luna
Uriel Francisco Molina Alegría
Viviana Reyes Rivera
Yara Deli Cortez Salazar
Yarelis Inés Morales Laguna
Yuri Gabriel Calderón Ortiz
INDIEN
DRESS DESIGNING
GARHI CENTRE
Archana Gupta
Archana Tomar
Bharti Sachdeva
Bharti Panchal
Gangotri Sharma
Gurpreet Kaur
Kavita Kumari
Manju
Megha Kainth
Naveen Varma
Noor Jehan
Pooja Garg
Pooja Laxmi
Promila
Rajni
Rajshri
Rekha Migalani
Renu Gupta
Richa Sharma
Sangeeta Goyal
Sapna Gupta
Seema
Shalu Gupta
Sheetal Kapoor
Somna Mathur
Sonia Gupta
Suman Rai
Swarnima Singh
Yogita Mehra
DRESS DESIGNING
PAHAR GANJ CENTRE
Annu Rani
Barkha
Deepmala Aggarwal
Geetanjali Gupta
Gulshan
Hemlata
Jyoti Rajput
Monika
Naseem
Neeru Nirman
Phool Kumari
Poonam Rani
Priyanka Gupta
Rekha Kanwaria
Ritu Verma
Ruchi Sharma
Sajida
Shahnaz
Shweta
Sneha Bisht
Varsha
Yashoda
Yogeshwari
DRESS DESIGNING
RAGHUBIR NAGAR CENTRE
Alka Gupta
Amita Yadav
Anita Kumari
Basanti
Bharti Chaddha
Bhavana
Deepa
Gayatri
Gurpreet Kaur
Harpreet Kaur
Inderjeet Kaur
Inderjot Kaur
Jasleen Kaur Arora
Jaswinder Kaur
Jyoti Khetrapal
Karuna lal
Maya Rani
Monika Otwar
Neelam
Neetu
Parvinder Kaur
Pooja
Pooja Chitkara
Poonam
Pushpa
Ravinder Kaur
Rekha
Sapna
Saroj Gupta
Saurabh Kakkar
Seetu Mittal
Shalu Harjai
Shelly Chanana
Vijay Laxmi
THAILAND
ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY AND
VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Achom Wongtan
Adisak Duangsupa
Alisa Sanin
Arinun Kamwangjan
Athit Djanjon
Bdin Thepgaeo
Boonphitak Inpeea
Buncha Pinnuan
Buntida Tantatna
Chaiyan Pinnuan
Chajondate Thonggaew
Chalatan Jinaka
Ganda Munmuang
Gieatipum Muangtan
Golakot Wongtan
Jankae Jinawan
Janliya Srijan
Chantana Lapotha
Jinda Machae
Jotaka Djaija
Jotsai Nuanlaka
Kanchana Unmuang
Kasam Udtakham
Lachan Inthong
Malee Chiankam
Maneewan Inpandjai
Manlika Djaiwandee
Nakhon Jinawan
Namthip Jankham
Napa Permkruer
Nattikan Duangchu
Neeranuch Tawong
Netnapa Djaiwandee
Netnapa Djackwan
Nipa Normai
Nipa Duenchai
Nipaphan Intawong
Niti Sanin
Nuangruethai Suwanpokha
Nutchapon Luckason
Orathai Djaikamfu
Pakinai Jinawan
Panatda Thanoi
Patcharin Wongtan
Patpong Somwong
Paveena Jankham
Phairat Jumpoofoo
Pimphaka Pangnucha
Pongsak Unmuang
Pongsakhon Damuen
Prapaisee Wanjan
Rat Puttaw
Samran Yawpeng
Sirikhuan Luangpeng
Siripon Sanin
Somchay Nuankaew
Somying Kongpeea
Sopa Tantatha
Sumindra Udthakham
Suneenun Supin
Supaporn Teapsao
Sutathip Teapsaen
Thanakorn Muangma
Tippawan Wanjan
Tipprapha Pakamma
Ungkana Normai
Vichanee Wandu
Walaluck Machae
Wanlapa labota
Viwat Wandu
Wongtawan Petpanya
13

14
Rat Puttaw between his
family members - the
new school uniform in
his luggage
Thailand beyond the Tourist Ro
Ivonne Schönberger and Kim, a boy
supported by the Foundation, at his home
Icould already see the rice fields from the plane, all in different
shades of green, and all combining to form a giant
mosaic. And then Chiang Mai. At first sight, the city seemed
very lively and colourful, with its rush-hour traffic an endless
stream of mopeds and three-wheeled "tuk-tuks" rattling past
countless advertising hoardings. So far there was little sign of the
20% of the Thai population who live below the poverty line.
After a drive of two-and-a-half hours that brought me 150
km further south-east, I had left modern city living far behind
me. The Samuel Foundation office is situated in the kind of village
that I have known only in documentaries on rice farming,
with mud roads, dogs and chickens running around, gaunt
oxen pulling wooden carts, and wooden huts built on stilts.
The landscape is characterised by banana plantations and
lush jungle vegetation surrounded by rice fields.
The Samuel Foundation office is made of wood too, and
currently cares for 70 children. The Foundation's basic assistance
consists of providing and organising school meals and
uniforms, transport costs to and from school, and looking
Former Student of the Foundation did a practical
I became familiar with the work of the Samuel Foundation when
I spent two years in the Foundation’s office in Düsseldorf, while
training to become an office communications clerk. Then, in the
middle of August, I was given the opportunity of experiencing the
Foundation's work first-hand by doing a month's practical training
in Thailand …
after the pupils in their day-to-day school life. Even though
education in the public school system is free, the children's
parents must pay for school clothing, food and teaching materials.
Unfortunately, there are still many families who cannot
afford these even basic necessities. The opportunity to give
the children a better school education is often lost for want of a
few extra baht for school meals. In remote rural areas, the school
may also be simply too far away for the children to reach.
As if these problems weren't enough, great importance is
also placed on the pupils' tidy appearance. Almost all boys
have their hair cut short to just a few millimetres in length. Girls,
if they wear their hair long, must have it tidily arranged in
plaits. School uniform is compulsory right up until the schoolleaving
examination. And just to make things even more difficult
for poor families, the children must have four different
uniforms: a traditional one (white blouse, dark skirt), a
"scout" uniform, sports gear and a work uniform (blue smock)
- the last of these for Fridays, when the school yard is swept
clean. All quite exasperating in a country where many people
don't even know where to find the money for their next meal.

utes
training in the Thailand Office
Pai, computer trainer with some of her students
Because word about the work of the Samuel Foundation is
spreading more and more to the surrounding villages, five
new applications for assistance had been received during the
previous week. Accompanied by the country director, Gerd
Mathia, and his wife Nok, who is indispensable as an interpreter,
we made a tour through the neighbouring villages and
visited the families concerned, in their homes, in order to get
an impression of the children's living conditions. We took the
opportunity to "measure up" the children - that means we took
note of their shoe and clothes sizes so that we could buy properly
fitting school uniforms on our next trip to the city. Unfortunately,
we didn't manage to see one particular girl, because
she just had gone to the school to fetch water. Her family is
unable to afford its own water connection.
Thailand
Computer training in the class rooms of the Samuel Foundation
15

16
Lawan Pomwongsak Children in the Home for Hilltribe Childen Mae Kachan
In addition to this kind of financial support, the Samuel
Foundation also provides computer courses as a direct training
scheme. There are currently 66 children benefiting from
this service, attending school once a week for one hour's tuition.
The training is geared to the child: the younger children
learn computer functions by means of play, while the older
ones practise at getting to grips with Word and Excel.
Even though no Thai family in the villages would have a PC
at home, the march of technology has already reached the
cities. That means it is essential for rural children to become
familiar with the technology so that they have any chance at
all in the labour market later on.
I generally had to use gestures and mime to make myself
understood to the villagers, since most of them hardly speak
any more than a few sentences of English. But a smile says
more than a thousand words, and thankfully I was also able to
make them understand that I'm not terribly keen on trying grilled
beetles and maggots!
McDonalds, souvenir shops and Internet cafés - just three
hours by car, and we were back in the tourist bustle of Chiang
Mai. We had decided to make a stop there on our way to the
children's home in Mae Kachan. On the one hand, it was very
nice to have a breath of city life again, but at the same time it
was incredible to think that the majority of our village children
know city life only from pictures, and that many of them don't
even know what a pizza tastes like.
The "Home for Hill-tribe Children" is situated roughly 70
km north of Chiang Mai, and is presently home to 57 children
from five different hill tribes. These tribes are treated as ethnic
minorities in Thailand, and it is not uncommon for the
children to be discriminated against or made fun of in schools
because of their tribal origin. The home gives them the opportunity
to attend regular schools - something they cannot do in
the remote mountain regions they come from. I was impressed
by the perseverance and determination that Lawan Pomwongsak,
the Head of the Children's Home, draws from her belief in
God - she leads a small Christian community in her predominantly
Buddhist village. Despite the fact that there is sometimes
nothing to eat for weeks except soup made from boiled
bones, she never gives up hope and somehow always manages
to put food on the table for the 57 children.
One month in Thailand - I've certainly taken back a different
set of memories and souvenirs from those of most tourists
in Thailand. In those four weeks, I was also able to
scratch a little beneath the surface. It's been an experience
that has given me some valuable impressions to take back to
Germany. It has also showed me that, in other parts of the
world, many things, such as education and having enough to
eat, aren't nearly such a matter of course as they often seem
to be in Germany.
Many, many thanks to the Samuel Foundation team in
Thailand, who did all honour to the Thai reputation of being
one of the most hospitable peoples in the world!

Samuel Foundation Thailand offers
new courses
The good co-operation between the Samuel Foundation in
Thailand and the primary school Sun Pong situated near our
office, is bearing first practical fruits. Since October, this school
has put at our disposal free of charge a small house located on
its campus with 3 classrooms for our new courses. In the last
weeks, we have reconditioned and furnished it for our purposes,
in order to offer there further educational courses with the
beginning of the second school half-year in November.
Divided in working groups, the children supported by us
shall elaborate projects, as for example developing and selling
a small village newspaper, drawing up studies about the reasons
for the unusually high number of deaths on the road in this
country or about the situation concerning AIDS and much more.
Reports about the work progress as well as final reports are to
be written in English language. Subsequently, each group shall
give a lecture about the group work and the result to the public,
also in English. On the weekends each group gets the opportunity
to consult an English-speaking teacher about the project
work, to get concrete advice or to continue the work together
with the teacher.
A group of foreign English instructors who teach at private
schools in Lampang, have already promised firmly their participation
and cooperation.
Nok Mathia with pupils in the new class rooms
The school house renovated by the Foundation
Thailand
Another plan for the near future is to open there a library as
well as a Media resource centre, both to be equipped with teaching
and information material which shall not only serve for
these courses but also be at the disposal of all other pupils of
the school.
A close co-operation with the school is to be developed, and
the contents and topics of our courses are expected to have
some influence also on the regular classes. At common activities,
those of "our" children who visit classes at this school
should act as mediators. A further plan is to realize once a week
or a month an open-air event on the campus with material from
the Media resource centre, for instructive entertainment to the
entire population of the village.
For the acquisition of materials for the library and the Media
resource centre as well as for the technical equipment, including
a Beamer, we urgently need further financial support.
Donation account:
Deutsche Bank, Account number: 390 80 50 05, Bank code
300 700 24
Contact:
Samuel Foundation Germany, Tel. +49-211-1386666
samuel@samuel.de
Samuel Foundation Thailand, Tel. +66-54239469
Samuel-thailand@samuel.de
17

18
Max Acosta, Director of the Managing Board, company brochure of the
Clima Group
Ing. Max Acosta and the top management of the Clima Group:
Oscar Esquetini MBA, Ing. Juan José Ugalde, Ing. Rafael A Ferraro,
Ing. Alejandro Gallegos, Alejandro Rojas, Max Alberto Acosta
In the training workshop of the Foundation
Clima Group
supports training
The Clima Group and the Samuel Foundation in Costa Rica have
agreed on a close, long-term cooperation to benefit young
people currently receiving training at the Samuel Foundation.
Both the organisation and management of the Clima Group
will contribute to this.
The Clima Group from Costa Rica consists of five separate
companies: IIMA, SOLTEC, CLIMA IDEAL, TRANSCLIMA and
ISA. It was founded in 1967 by the engineer Max Acosta, and
today employs a workforce of 315. It is currently market leader
in Costa Rica for installations, systems and services in the
cooling and climate technology sector.
The cooperation agreed involves the following aspects:
1. Revision of our training plans for the subject areas industrial
refrigeration, industrial air conditioning and refrigeration
in transport. The technicians and managers in the
various departments at the Clima Group will work together
with Samuel Foundation trainers, organisers and psychologists
to revise the design of each of our training schemes,
their components and academic weighting. Their goal is to
adapt the different topics to make the training as practical
as possible from a technical point of view. This phase is
already being implemented, and we hope to be able to
complete it before moving on to the specialisation phase
in January 2004.
2. Training of our trainers: this programme element has multiple
aims. The first of these is to integrate the Clima Group

of the Samuel Foundation
and its training schemes into a permanent advanced training
programme for our teachers and trainers. It is also
meant to facilitate joint discussion between the technicians
from the Clima Group and the trainees on special technical
subjects, with the aim of involving the young people
in the cooperation process between the two organisations.
At the same time, it will allow the trainees to recognise
future job opportunities and encourage them to believe
that they can achieve their goals. Finally, managers from
the Clima Group are to hold a series of talks on the economy
and how it operates. These will incorporate educational
elements and are intended to motivate the trainees
and the teaching and administrative staff at the Foundation,
and demonstrate the benefits of the courses. This phase
will begin in February 2004 after the conclusion of programme
phase 1.
3. Determinating a procedure for donating machinery: the Clima
Group is donating any used, obsolete or damaged
machinery to the Samuel Foundation that can be used for
teaching purposes in the practical training courses.
4. A number of proposals for two systematic donation programmes
which the management of the Clima Group is currently
examining and which are of special relevance in
view of the importance of personal development in the
educational process of young people who will be responsible
for customer contacts at their future employers:
Encouraging excellence: under this scheme, the Clima
Group would award scholarships for the best trainees in
each subject, and also guarantee them a job position at
Costa Rica
Training Center of the Foundation in San José
the end of their training. This form of support would greatly
increase trainee motivation and reward course graduates
for their good marks and performance. In turn, the Clima
Group would be able to use this group to fill any vacant
technician positions, thus safeguarding the future growth
of the company and its quality of service.
Assistance with psychological support: introduction of a
programme from the Clima Group to support socio-psychological
work. This would give the Samuel Foundation the
funding it needs to augment its team of social education
workers and psychologists who give workshops on selfconfidence,
sexuality and drug dependency, etc. Trainees
take part in these workshops and they are considered to
be of crucial importance in the education process, particularly
for the Foundation's target groups.
5. Use of facilities: in acknowledgement of the support it has
been offered, and in the hope that our ties of friendship
will be strengthened further, the Foundation is offering the
Clima Group the use of its facilities (classrooms, canteen,
sports field and training workshops) for evening training
courses. Our trainers and possibly also selected trainees
will also be involved in these courses.
The implementation of this programme will make the
Samuel Foundation more competitive in terms of the level of
technical and personal skills our graduates have to offer. The
Clima Group will have guaranteed access to new personnel
who have all the technical and personal qualities required for
integration into its team of technicians.
19

20
Preparation for the High School
Diploma
Since October of this year, the Samuel Foundation has been
using the rooms in its training centre in Costa Rica to offer
night school courses for people who wish to take the high school
diploma. In doing so, it is responding to a steady rise in demand
for this qualification. The background is that, as in other countries,
more and more Costa Rican companies now require the
high school diploma as a minimum standard of education for
new staff. This now applies not just to those pursuing admini-
strative careers, but also to technical staff in the production and
service sectors. The shift in attitude by more and more companies
appears to be in order to meet criteria for ISO certification,
as well as higher-quality requirements on the part of customers.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Education has responded to the
changes in requirements by launching a programme entitled
"Nuevas Oportunidades" (new opportunities). This programme
introduces a simplified procedure with little bureaucracy for those
who wish to take the high school diploma, and reduces the
time needed to obtain the qualification to two-and-a-half years.
Samuel Foundation Costa Rica with new course
programme
The ministry sets only the curriculum, which is divided into a
series of small modules, and offers examination dates at regular
intervals. When, where and how the course content is studied is
left to the programme participants themselves.
And this is precisely where the Samuel Foundation training
service comes in. In partnership with Grupo Genesis, a company
where two of our teachers, Roy Sandí and Allan Chavéz, teach
general education courses, we present the curriculum divided
into different teaching units, each of which is based on the individual
modules. The lessons can be taken as afternoon or evening
courses, or alternatively on Saturdays. This suits the 40 current
course participants, since the majority of them are working.
By obtaining the high-school diploma, they hope to improve
their career chances, or their chances of securing or holding a
particular job.
The Foundation and Grupo Genesis share the work involved,
with the Foundation assuming responsibility for the infrastructure,
administration and organisational aspects, while Grupo
Genesis, which has currently a staff of five teachers, is responsible
for teaching the course content. There is a charge for the
courses, but fees are kept to a minimum to ensure they do not
pose a deterrent to those who wish to take part. In providing this
programme, the Foundation perceives a further major benefit:
it is now able to offer trainees high-school as well as vocational
training.

Professionals as Teachers
Cooperation with Junior Achievement Inc.
What happens when experienced managers visit a school
class and tell the students about their experience? To
begin with, the students listen with rapt attention. Then the realisation
slowly begins to dawn on the audience of trainees in the
specialist subjects of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Technology:
"If I worked hard, I could do it too!"
But how did these visits come about? The country director of
the Samuel Foundation in Costa Rica, Javier Berrocal, got in
touch with Junior Achievement Inc. and agreed on an outline programme
for our trainees. Junior Achievement describes itself as
the world's largest and fastest-growing non-profit organisation
dedicated to encouraging business competence and self-reliance
among young people. The teachers in Junior Achievement programmes
are executives and managers from the fields of business
and science, politics and administration. The subjects for
the talks are adapted to the age of the students and include
explanations of micro- and macro-economic relationships, routine
work concerns and the basic principles of a free democratic
society. There are also lectures on the spirit of free enterprise
and on the importance of school and education for personal
development.
The crucial difference to the standard teaching set-up is that
the teachers are professionals who speak more or less directly
from personal experience and whose credibility acts as an incentive
to learning. What's more, they do the work on a voluntary
basis.
Julio Bonifacio with his
students
Costa Rica
Julio Bonifacio
(Director Financiera
Miravalles),
Adrian Alonso
(Director 0f Operations
Automercado),
Javier Berrocal
(Country Director Samuel
Foundation Costa Rica),
Sylvia Homberger
(Chairwoman of Young
Entrepreneurs Ass.
Costa Rica)
Studies have already shown that basic knowledge of business
matters is 27% higher among sixth-class pupils who have
taken part in these classes than among peers who have not
attended the courses.
Under the terms of the agreement with Junior Achievement,
different modules, suitably adapted to the requirements of our
training programme, are integrated into the curriculum. Each of
the modules consists of six 50-minute units that are held once a
week. The first topic in the programme, "The Advantages of
going to school", went down very well with our trainees. The
young people are, of course, impressed by the fact that their teachers
are successful and experienced managers. The professionals
also act as role models and accordingly have very high credibility.
Learning in this way really seems to be fun. At any rate,
there has certainly been a noticeable improvement in the motivation
of our trainees.
21

22
A masterly model
"Men at times are masters of their fates", Shakespeare said
nearly five hundred years ago. The sentence is still valid today
despite overburdening national welfare services, and especially
now, in times of empty treasuries, it experiences everywhere a
kind of renaissance, born from the necessity. It could be also
understood as a motto of the Samuel Foundation, because all
our efforts are focussed on making young people those means
available which they need, in order to be able to master their life
themselves.
So it is also with Nungruethai Suwanpokha who has been
supported by the Samuel Foundation in Thailand for one year.
She is 17 years old and attends the 11th Class at the high school
in Sermngam. Both parents don't live anymore, her mother died
recently from AIDS. Since that time Nungruethai has been living
with her grandmother in a poorly constructed timber building.
Apart from the support by the Samuel Foundation she and her
grandmother don't receive any auxiliary or maintenance benefits,
and in such a way each day represents a new challenge. In order
to ease her necessity she uses her joy in the traditional Thai dance
and her corresponding talent to earn some extra money. Taking
advantage of every opportunity, at family celebrations, school
treats and religious holidays, like for example the important Loi
Krathong, she pleases the people with her graceful dance arts.
Despite the daily problems around the most basic needs she
doesn't neglect her school studies, which is proved by her
marks, because her most ardent desire is to become a police
woman. She subordinates everything to this goal and already
now - parallel to school - she is participating in training courses
at the police academy.
Student of the Samuel
Foundation in Nicaragua
elected
"Miss Best Western" 2003
Tatiana Duarte Meneses, student of the course Administration
and Office Communication of the Samuel Foundation, is not
only pursuing her vocational training. At the same time, she has
been studying in the model school "Siluetta" for more than half
a year now. And her efforts have been worth it: Recently, she has
been elected "Miss Best Western Nicaragua" in a beauty contest
organised by the hotel chain of the same name. She asserted
herself successfully against 40 competitors. And not enough
with that: Already now she is qualified as one of 12 participants
for next year's elections of "Miss Nicaragua". Tatiana is 19 years
old, comes from Estelí and is the oldest of 5 brothers and sisters.
We wish her a lot of success for now and the future!

OUR BEST STUDENTS:
Like always, we present here the best students (of the last term of 2003), wishing them luck and
success also in the future.
Nicaragua
Harvey Vessie Guardado Canales,
20 years, Construction Work,
Samuel Foundation Nicaragua
Dear Readers of Prosa,
I send you a warm greeting. I am 20
years old and student of the course
Construction Work of the Samuel
Foundation Nicaragua. Thanks to
the Samuel Foundation I have been
able to evolve in the field of Construction
Work.
I am very grateful that I have learned
in the Foundation to do my first
steps in this area. Besides this, I
could improve in the social area, as
the Foundation teaches us how to
relate better with other people, and
it encourages us to meet them without
prejudices. In addition to the
teaching of construction work, the
Foundation gave us a training which
helps us to achieve a better financial
position later. For example they
demonstrated us how to establish a
small enterprise. As well, I participated
in a reporter club training, so
that I know now how to write good
articles. Before I finished my training
at the Samuel Foundation, we - the
students of the Foundation - carried
out some renovation work in two
schools of Managua. The Foundation
has put the needed materials at
our disposal. I use this opportunity
to inform you, that here in Nicaragua,
there are many people who
need support for visiting the school.
But here are good-hearted people,
too, who can help the Samuel Foundation
with small donations, and
thus enable needy people to participate
in a professional training. I say
good-bye to you and wish you luck,
peace and harmony with all who are
close to you.
Costa Rica
Carlos Quesada Quirós, 19 years,
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning,
Samuel Foundation Costa Rica
My name is Carlos Quesada Quirós.
I am 19 years old and live in Agua
Caliente de Cártago. Before I came
to the Samuel Foundation, I went to
college. But due to financial problems
I had to stop going to the college
and had to begin working to
help at home.
Then I decided to keep on learning
without giving up working. That is
why I started going to the night
school, where I finished the 9th
class.
My brother-in-law, graduate of the
foundation, told me about this institution.
After thinking a while and
speaking with my mother, who has
always supported me, I decided to
participate in the entrance exams.
Thank God I was admitted by the
Foundation, and now I can confirm
that the training of the Foundation
is even better than I have been told
before. Here I get much a lot of support
from the instructors and my fellow
students.
Since the beginning, my aim has
been to finish my technical education,
to work in order to support my
family and to finish my studies.
Today I would like to recommend to
all young people to continue with
their studies and train themselves
at this institution. They should look
after possibilities to benefit from
the training and the big help the
Samuel Foundation offers.
India
ZIAUL HASSAN, 19 years,
Dress Designing, Centre Pahar Ganj
Samuel Foundation India
My name is Ziaul Hassan and I am
doing training in Dress Designing
and Quality Supervision at the
Samuel Foundation Charitable India
Trust at the training centre Pahar
Ganj.
I come from a very small township
which is located in a very backward
region of India. After leaving school
I continue some technical education
but my family's social and economic
situation was not good. My dream to
make my career and continue my
studies fell into oblivion.
I learned about the Samuel Foundation
through a poster, I applied and
was happy to be selected. Here I
learned that the Foundation does
not only teach vocational trainings
for dress designing but they also
endeavour to convert us into good
human beings. After two months of
training I realised that the training
in the Foundation is unique. We
have English classes and personality
training, receive career related
information and participate in social
activities. Furthermore, the Foundation
provides us the opportunity
to make contacts by visiting markets
and companies.
The training I receive here has
increased my self-confidence and
now I believe that one day my dreams
will be fulfilled. I will become
independent and will be able to
help and cater the needs of my family
and parents. I believe that hard,
sincere and focussed work can certainly
help one to achieve his goals.
I wish to give this message to my fellow
students of the Foundation in
India and the other countries.
Ungkana Normai,
13 years,
Samuel Foundation Thailand
Thailand
Hello, dear readers of PROSA, my
name is Ungkana Normai and I am
13 years old. Together with my
parents and my younger brother I
live in the village Lauyao in the
North of Thailand. Here are only
forests and fields, the next city is 50
km far away and the people here
live on cultivating rice and on what
the nature offers.
Many of them are very poor as they
only have little land or even none on
which they could cultivate something
- like my family. In March I
finished primary school with the
best possible mark, but to continue
learning my parents didn't have the
financial means to pay the costs for
it. The school is 18 km away and we
couldn't even pay the costs for
transportation. We asked the Samuel
Foundation for support, because I
would like to learn as much as possible
to find an employment in the
city later, so that I can contribute to
the living expenses of my family.
With the support of the Samuel
Foundation I'm now visiting the first
class of the middle school. I have
just received my certificate for the
first half year: I achieved 88,64 %
and I was the best student of my
class. I would like to thank the
Samuel Foundation and its team in
Thailand for the great support.
23

Cash Donation
_free gift
_child sponsorship
_project sponsorship
_testamentary regulation
Donation in Kind
_tools
_machines
_consumable materials
_computers and electronical accessories
Assistance
_honorary collaboration in the Düsseldorf office
_practical training in Germany or in one of the
foreign offices
Trust Foundation
_in the name of the Samuel Foundation
_in your own name
Donation account:
Deutsche Bank - Account No.: 390 80 50 05
Bank code: 300 700 24
Contact :
Phone: +49 211 13866 66
e-mail: samuel@samuel.de
Headoffice Germany
Königsallee 14
40212 Düsseldorf
Tel: +49-211-1386666
Fax: +49-211-1386677
samuel@samuel.de
Hedwig and Robert Samuel Foundation
You would like to support us in our work? Several possibilities are
open for you:
Office in Costa Rica
Calle Blancos
Frente a Durman Esquivel
Goicoechea · Apartado Postal 5275
1000 San José
Tel: +506-258-4080
Fax: +506-222-5242
samuel-costarica@samuel.de
Training Center of the Samuel Foundation in Managua, Nicaragua
Training Center of the Samuel Foundation in San José, Costa Rica
Further information under: www.samuel.de
Office in India
MCD Community Centre
Raghubir Nagar
Vishal Enclave
New Delhi 110027
Tel: +91-11-25168862
Fax: +91-11-25454021
samuel-india@samuel.de
Children's home of the Samuel Foundation in San Isidro, Costa Rica
Training Center of the Samuel Foundation in New Delhi, India
Office and Training Center of the Samuel Foundation near Lampang, Thailand
Office in Nicaragua
Contiguo a la terminal de buses 105
Colonia Unidad de Propósito
Apartado Postal 5317
Managua
Tel: +505-2-631243
Fax: +505-2-631935
samuel-nicaragua@samuel.de
Office in Thailand
20 M.3 T. Sermklang
A. Sermngam
Lampang 52210
Tel: +66-54-239469
Fax: +66-53-225834
samuel-thailand@samuel.de