Dream team (minus Carlos) checking the view
We then ventured an additional 40 minutes in another van to Chi Elias, with one of the schoolteachers, Napoleon, following us on a motorcycle. We were welcomed into the school with fresh oranges, then had a brief meeting with the teachers and a few community members about our expectations for the project. They had a few short requests:
Part of the exterior of Chi Elias school
- 2 new classrooms
- They currently have 6 classrooms, one for every grade. Two of the classrooms were poorly built and the moisture in the rooms is giving children respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.
- An office for the principal
- Currently the principal holds important meetings in the first grade classroom. This is where she teaches and it is also the nicest and safest room in the school.
- A fence completely surrounding the school
- The government started a project in the past to put a fence around the school. However, they only finished less than half of it. A fence would protect the students from wild animals and also dangerous terrain.
- An event location
- The school hosts many important community events, including Mothers' Day and Kids' Day celebrations. They would like a large venue to host these events.
We have quite a few tasks on our plate! However with the community's enthusiasm and their willingness to put some hard labor into the project, it definitely seems possible within the next few years. The teachers have such a dedication to their students that shows in the students' achievements. Napoleon told us that usually out of a Chi Elias graduating class 25 students, 8 will go on to secondary school for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade, compared to the local average of 1, if not 0, continuing with their education.
The school does not have much, but they do so much with what they do have. Napoleon packs classes in reading, math, natural sciences, social sciences, debate, physical education, English, and so much more into every week! The students are so smart, however, due to financial issues, very few have the opportunity to apply this knowledge. We're so excited to enhance their education and hopefully make this easier for students to succeed later in life.
After we got some background on the school, we toured the buildings and surveyed the land. Some of the classrooms were very well built, however some were somewhat improvised. It seems that in addition to adding new buildings, we may have to do some repair to the old ones. Chi Elias doesn't have much land, so adding four new buildings might be tight, but we're thinking of creative solutions to present to the community leaders tomorrow. The land, being in the mountains, is also very sloped and rocky. We will thus also have to be creative with how we level the land before building. There's some good engineering happening!
Tonight we ate dinner at a "pizza" restaurant, walked around Momostenango a little, and hopefully will go to sleep early to prepare for another early day tomorrow.
Until then, Buenas Noches!
Christina
Napoleon telling us a little about Chi Elias
The school does not have much, but they do so much with what they do have. Napoleon packs classes in reading, math, natural sciences, social sciences, debate, physical education, English, and so much more into every week! The students are so smart, however, due to financial issues, very few have the opportunity to apply this knowledge. We're so excited to enhance their education and hopefully make this easier for students to succeed later in life.
Observing the back of Chi Elias. There's a steep drop and no fence!
After we got some background on the school, we toured the buildings and surveyed the land. Some of the classrooms were very well built, however some were somewhat improvised. It seems that in addition to adding new buildings, we may have to do some repair to the old ones. Chi Elias doesn't have much land, so adding four new buildings might be tight, but we're thinking of creative solutions to present to the community leaders tomorrow. The land, being in the mountains, is also very sloped and rocky. We will thus also have to be creative with how we level the land before building. There's some good engineering happening!
Some of the students and parents of Chi Elias who came by to say hi to us today. Hopefully, they will benefit from new classrooms sometime in the near future!
These students know English, Spanish, and K'iche' (their native language) by 5th grade. Today, I forgot the word for "May" in Spanish.
After we finished our technical assessment, we were able to meet with the students of Chi Elias. They don't return from their holiday break until Monday, but we were so excited that they came by this afternoon anyway. We talked, exchanged vocabulary and songs in our different languages, and played soccer! Apparently Guatemalan children are very good at soccer. They beat us good: 2-0 before thankfully our van came to pick us up and we had to end the game early.
Tonight we ate dinner at a "pizza" restaurant, walked around Momostenango a little, and hopefully will go to sleep early to prepare for another early day tomorrow.
Until then, Buenas Noches!
Christina
Very cool! Will you guys be doing any educational programs at the school while you're there?
ReplyDeleteFutbol is definitely the way to friendship.
Unfortunately, the students are still on their winter break so we haven't gotten that much time with them. We definitely want to in the future!
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