By Karen Wilk Macario | Project Leader
Project has not been funded to date and still in need of funding – especially to employ a teacher for the project.
In anticipation: The staff at the Centro de Computación Swan Tinamit have taken on the extra responsibility of organizing a volunteer pilot program for the Children's Education Project at the Center despite funding. In June, staff welcomed a volunteer student from Ohio State University who, as a geography and Spanish major, is offering his summer teaching educators, staff and students at the Center. Staff have made efforts to accommodate this program through donations of minimal school supplies and extra time on their part without additional pay.
The volunteer, Jonathan Stillwell, has been invited into two local elementary schools to teach science projects and interactive education to 3 classrooms of fifth and sixth graders and one class of first graders (125 students). Now, an after-school program takes place weekday afternoons at the Center in which approximately 65 fifth and sixth graders participate in exploratory projects such geography, art, science and music. Jonathan is currently establishing an additional class of 45 students at the Center as well.
In addition, a group of teens has been formed to learn guitar and music and come to sessions scheduled on weekday evenings at the Center. There are 10 youth participating.
The result: A total of 245 students have been served in 2 ½ months (June '07-current) in this pilot project.
“Things are getting pretty established here at Swan Tinamit. There are more than enough kids to fill our capacity.” - Jonathan Stillwell-Current, current volunteer.
The key to success: The community's need and desire to achieve and participate in education is clearly evident in this pilot project. The volunteer leaves at the end of August and current staff at the Centro de Computación Swan Tinamit cannot extend their workdays to accommodate working this program. Salaried local staff members assigned to the Children's Education Center are imperative to keep the project going. This is included in our GlobalGiving project budget. A mere $2,369 pays the annual salary of a Youth Educator and an additional $1,263 pays an Educator Assistant to help with coordination. Salaries are based on wages of similar positions with similar education requirements and skill sets in the town.
Please click below to see a photo of Mayan girls constructing a volcano as part of a science enrichment activity.
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