BESO is here to help kids get a better education!

BESO needs you!! 
 

Have you looked around our wonderful paradise called Bocas del Toro? Of course you have! That’s why you’ve chosen to build your home, your business, or even just to spend whatever amount of precious time you can in our little villages and islands, in a place where you can live your dreams. But let’s look a little deeper, look into the lives of the Bocatoreños whose islands we are forever changing. Do they have the means to keep pace with development here? Will their children have the skills needed to work and prosper in their changing society?  The answer is a resounding “Yes, but….”  

• Yes, but the kids need your help!
• Yes, but the teachers need your help!
• Yes, but the schools need your help!

BESO -- The Bocas Education Services Organization – is an organization of folks just like YOU who have banded together to offer some of that needed help. Together we DO make a difference in the future of Bocas children. BESO is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to improving educational services in Bocas del Toro – and we are making headway! 

In 2002, a small group of folks came up with the idea of having a dinner and auctioning off donated items to raise money to buy much-needed children’s books for the library. The idea caught like wildfire in the community and within a few days all 50 dinner tickets sold out. Participants enjoyed dinner and took home a dozen raffled prizes and one auction item. The evening netted $1000, all soon converted to 350 books for the library.  

With that delightful success, a tradition was born. Now BESO puts together an Annual Dinner/Auction as its primary fundraising event. Bocas area merchants and individuals have opened their hearts and purses to give generously for a live auction, a silent auction, prizes to raffle, and the dinner itself. Just look at how this event has grown: 

2002  $1,000.00

2003 $2,000.00

2004 $4,000.00

2005 $5,000.00

2006 $10,000.00

2007 $15,000.00

2008 $25,000.00

And the news gets even better: with these funds BESO now offers more services to help meet more of the educational needs for Bocas children. One hundred percent – that’s right 100%! -- of the money raised by BESO goes to our Bocas children and schools.  

It takes all of us – expats, visitors, and Panamanians – to assure our future.  And our future is our children!! Come join BESO with your contribution of time, money, materials, or talents for improving educational services in Bocas del Toro!

MISSION STATEMENT 
 

The Bocas Educational Services Organization (BESO) provides grants and services for the improvement of education for the youth of Bocas del Toro. 
 

BESO achieves this mission by: 

• providing scholarships and financial aid to individuals for the continuation of educational endeavors;
• funding projects and providing services which improve the health and safety of school environments;
• promoting volunteer educational programs and assistance to schools and individuals; and
• promoting the establishment of equal educational opportunities throughout the province.

Since 2001, the Bocas Educational Services Organization has: 

• granted high school and university scholarships;
• funded the construction of classrooms, school kitchen/dining facilities, and ancillary structures;
• facilitated the construction of water collection systems;
• provided desks, blackboards, books, teaching aids, medical kits, and other school supplies;
• supported continuation of Internet service and computer maintenance for the provincial high school;
• assisted in transportation to intramural academic events;
• supplied school uniforms as needed; and
• promoted music and athletic programs in the primary schools.