In an unprecedented partnership, the Dole Food Company, Inc., Bama Gruppen (Norwegian Supermarket), Fenacle (Ecuadorian agricultural workers’ organization), the Marcelino Maridueña Municipality, UBESA (Dole’s subsidiary in Ecuador) the Dale Foundation (sponsored by Dole and banana growers) have constructed all together a new school in Ecuador.

The school has been constructed for the Río Viejo Community, in the Guayas Province in Ecuador under the slogan "Unidos por el Desarollo de Nuestra Niñez" ("United for the Development of our Children"). This joint project reflects the shared commitment towards CSR by all the partners involved and was fully and equally financed between Dole and Bama.

Talks about a common CSR project in Ecuador between Bama and Dole started in early 2006. The decision to build a school was made because of Dole’s prior experience in the country’s education sector, such as the construction of the Vicente Piedrahita School, and because of the great need to improve education throughout Ecuador particularly in the rural areas.

The goal was to provide ongoing basic education for children in an area where Dole has operated for over 50 years and where the previous school was too small and in dire condition.

Dole and Bama agreed at an early stage that this project would include both the local community and Fenacle, starting from the planning stage all the way through to the implementation.

The new "Ecuador País Amazónico" School is providing students with a modern building including well-ventilated classrooms, spaces for recreational activities, a teachers' room, a kitchen and a cafeteria. The school serves over 300 children from the Río Viejo Community and surrounding areas.

Timeline

• September 2006: Presentation of the project to BAMA and visit to the existing Vicente Piedrahita School constructed by Dole in 2000.

• November 2006: Bama/Bendit decided to support the Project.
• November 2006:  The Committee for the school’s construction was formed. 
• December 2006:  The Municipalities and local authorities became involved, and M. Maridueña participated in the second visit to the Vicente Piedrahita School.
• January 2007: The Committee decided to construct the School in Cantón Marcelino Maridueña.
• February 2007: BAMA visited the construction site for the País Amazónico School.   
• May 2007: The Marcelino Maridueña Municipality saw the future school’s model for the first time and the Dale Foundation signed an agreement for the maintenance and the good use of the School’s facilities.  During this May visit the Dale Foundation took advantage of the day to provide children and adults from the Region with an anti-flu vaccine.
• September 2007: First stone ceremony took place successfully.
• April 15 2008: Inauguration of the brand new school