Retired OPP officer off to build a new school in Nicaragua
A Peterborough native living in Ottawa is donating his time and money towards a new school that’s desperately needed in Nicaragua.
Mark Radke is working with Schoolbox – a Canadian charity – to build a classroom in Las Nubes, Nicaragua.
The new build will replace the village’s existing structure, a one-room shack that has no foundation or flooring.
Radke has already invested $23,000 in the project and in the new year, he’ll be heading to Las Nubes to help finish the build.
The Adam Scott Collegiate graduate retired from the Ottawa OPP detachment at the end of May, after 30 years on the job at various detachments.
He’s now ready to spend more time with his mom in Peterborough, at his sister’s cottage in Havelock and volunteering abroad and at home.
Before his retirement, Radke spend many years travelling, where he saw varying degrees of poverty and a lack of education.
“Seeing that made me realize, education is the key,” he said.
As he neared retirement, Radke started researching organizations linked to helping children. He knew he wanted to volunteer, but needed to find the right fit.
“I wanted to build something…when I’m long gone there’ll still be something around,” he said.
Then he stumbled across Schoolbox’s website and knew he’d found his match. He connected with their humble beginnings, lean operation costs and the impact the organization has had empowering kids to go to school.
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere after Haiti and has an elementary graduation rate of 56 per cent.
Since launching in 2006, Schoolbox has constructed 99 classrooms, 75 libraries and 59 washrooms. The organization also provides more than 20,000 kids in 108 communities in Nicaragua with school supplies on an annual basis.
“If you give a child a chance to get educated, it opens all sorts of doors.”
Another classroom in Las Nubes is being funded by an organization in Ottawa in tandem with Radke’s. The two classrooms will be attached, providing separate spaces for younger and older children.
Radke has also started a fundraising initiative, Mark’s Missi-
on, to raise money to create a library at the school. That’ll cost about $3,500.
Construction is slated to start on the classrooms in November and Radke plans to travel to Las Nubes for about 10 days in the new year to help finish the build and attend the opening ceremony.
The retired cop said he’s looking forward to seeing the expression on kids’ faces when they see the school for the first time.
“For me, there’d be intense satisfaction and simple happiness… just the fact that I’m fortunate enough to be able to help children – I’m lucky that I’m in a position to be able to do that, to give back.”
NOTE: To donate to Mark’s Mission, go to www.schoolbox.ca/marksmission ... To contact Mark Radke, email him at marksmission@hotmail.com
jessica.nyznik@peterboroughdaily.com