By Mishell Guoz | Outreach Coordinator
Rural and low-income communities are the first to be seriously impacted by climate change and environmental degradation. Centro Educativo Técnico Chixot (CETC) student projects are tangible and relevant solutions to some of the infrastructure challenges in Comalapa households. This model’s curriculum satisfies national education requirements while also utilizing the green construction process to teach the principles of active community participation and environmental awareness.
With the permission of the community, students and teachers built stoves, latrines, and water tanks in Comalapa and presented these projects to a neighboring community. CETC students conducted a survey in Social Studies class to evaluate living conditions from home to home. In math class, they then designed their assigned project: stove, water tank or latrine. At the end of the school year, the students went to the chosen place to construct their project for a family identified in the survey. Students work with teachers, builders, and volunteers to actualize their projects. They graduate with tangible work experience relevant to bringing community development.
Since curriculum implementation in 2017, students have constructed 39 smoke-efficient stoves, 25 water tanks, 4 compost latrines, and 2 tire retaining walls.With these projects, students help to reduce respiratory illness; implement waste management systems to reduce gastrointestinal illness; and improve access to potable water.
Our students become educators when they share lessons learned at school with their families. They bring the eco-conscious concepts and methods that they learn on our campus to improve waste management practices and sustainable living approaches in their own homes. Content and learning are relevant to context and oriented towards progress through action. This ensures that students cultivate critical problem-posing and solving skills in order to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, economic injustice, and environmental degradation.
We look forward to continuing having your amazing support with donations. It is the base of our job, with those we plan to continue the building on Classroom 8 out of eco bricks, cob and plastic material. We are also starting on a tire retention wall to support the road going from comalapa to the school, for the goal of keeping a safe path for students and locals; plus, we are getting ready for graduation since thanks to you, the student projects were successfully completed.
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