Fund a teacher and support more than 250 students

2020 has been a tough year for Guatemala. Like many other countries, Guatemala has been affected severely by the negative effects of COVID-19. The pandemic took people's daily lives by surprise and forced them to adopt to new ways of life. The already fragile Guatemalan education system suffered a great impact, forcing teachers and students to switch to online classes. Due to the consequences of the pandemic, CasaSito had to analyze and evaluate the best strategy in order to continue with its program.

CasaSito’s Teacher Development Program, which aims to awaken the teachers’ spirit of critical thinking and leadership, was supposed to be launched in April 2020. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Guatemalan government in the wake of COVID-19, the actual operational part of the program had to be suspended. The group of 11 teachers participating in the program received an online pre-qualification course during the last quarter of 2020 that introduced them to tools of debating techniques and motivated them and prepared them for the actual program. In addition, the teachers participated in various circles of emotional and mental care online that have helped them to manage stress and their feelings in a better way which in turn will help them to support their students and families.

The actual program will be kicked off in January 2021. From January to May, the teachers will be taught in different debating techniques that will help them to develop various skills and abilities in order to improve their teaching process. Between May and August, the teachers will replicate the program in their classrooms and thus stimulate critical thinking, assertive communication, argumentation and research in their students. The Program is expected to culminate with a final debate festival between all students of the participating schools.