By Mick Quinn and Debora Prieto | Co-Founders
The school year began and with it all our bright students came back to our class. School holidays in Guatemala last for three months and we wanted to make sure that they used, at least some of their time, in deep questioning, reading and thinking.
To do this we assigned our students a homework assignment for the holidays.They were asked to read “Philosophy Is Not A Luxury” but Jeff Carreira and to write a one-page report on each of its short 12 chapters. This book is based on the philosophy of the American Pragmatists and has many deep points that stetch the mind and imagination.
We were really surprised when over 65% of the returned with extensive reports on the book. They loved it and many of them asked us to keep the book so that they could read it again.
The most amazing story was that of Emily, whose face, attitude, smile and self-confidence had improved so much that we hardly recognized her from the previous year. In her own words: “This book to me was like talking one on one with a therapist. I learned that I am not who I always thought I was because other convinced me that I was a different person. Now I want to work in knowing myself and I know I that with my actions and choices I can choose to be whoever I want to be.”
Two of our favorite students, Dinora and Yessica, graduated high-school last year and have re-joined our CT program this year even though they are both now studying for careers and working part-time. We are most proud of them also.
The Integral Heart Foundation in deeply grateful to all of you, our donors, who make this work possible and as always, we are open to all your suggestions, comments and ideas.
We are very excited about this New Year and all the new possibilities that it opens. As part of this program we are already working with our Speakers for the Wisdom Speakers Series, and expanding the curriculum and the books that we will give to our dear students.
Much love to all of you,
The Integral Heart Foundation Team.
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