IGA provides an array of educational development programs

“We have a commitment to culture in Guatemala and want to make it accessible to all,” said Adriana Recinos Matheu, cultural director of IGA (Instituto Guatemalteco Americano). “We need to educate our audience and for that we have to start with the kids.”

Since 1945, IGA has been providing individuals of all ages, from all corners of the globe, with the largest array of educational development programs in Guatemala.
From teaching courses for international students, to middle and high school for local students, the center has seen thousands upon thousands of pupils graduate from its building in Guatemala City and branches throughout the country. This year the school is even working with Gallaudet University from the U.S. to implement a new course to teach English to deaf pupils.

However, there is more to IGA than providing its students with a strong bilingual syllabus; it’s also working on enriching its curriculum with an increased range of cultural programs too.

“We need to start viewing culture as a serious part of education. It’s important to be creative; kids are hungry for different things, and we want to give them a platform on which to discover themselves,” said Recinos Matheu.

In September IGA held a photography program, which featured award-winning Guatemalan photographer Andrés Asturias working with students to produce an exhibition within Foto >30.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen teenagers so enthused. They were desperate to stay behind on a Friday to work on their displays,” laughed Recinos Matheu.
“When students participate in these kinds of activities their self-esteem goes up and consequently they become better citizens,” which is essentially what IGA is working toward.

THEATER REFURBISHMENT

In the past, IGA’s theater has shone a light upon home-grown talent and January’s inauguration of the newly refurbished auditorium promises to showcase even more star performances.

“Many of the country’s artists have a piece of themselves in this theater—it’s almost a second home to them. We don’t have many theaters in Guatemala so we want to bring quality shows to this one,” stated Recinos Matheu.

As well as in-house photography exhibitions, theater productions and art displays, IGA is dedicated to opening up a selection of events to the public.

Plans are in progress for a live transmission of the MET Opera in HD, the free three-week-long International Jazz Festival returns to the central park in zone 1 of the capital next year, and the theater will open with a Dick Smith play in the New Year.

IGA, which started off with around 300 pupils and now boasts 1,300, prides itself on offering its students and the general public “the best of both cultures.” It wants to make a positive change to the lives of Guatemalans and allow them to develop a better standard of living – through a combination of academic and cultural programs.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Joselyn Aguilar: “I love English, it’s my favorite subject and this school opens doors. I want to study abroad, perhaps medicine at Cambridge University.”

Oscar Garanza: “We have the chance to go into great jobs from here. One day I’d like to be a teacher and work in public schools in Guatemala.”

Helen Ávila: “For me, the main reason to come here was for the English. My sister also studies here, and I heard how her English was improving. The classes are dynamic, and I love the U.S. culture. I want to be an accountant and work at the Bank of Guatemala.”

Visit their website at: www.iga.edu    

Antigua International School's Director Jim Pastore

Teaching kids how to think, not what to think

As the founding director of a new, international school in La Antigua Guatemala, longtime educator Jim Pastore is confident that the 21st century curriculum will launch kids on a lifetime of learning that will prepare them for the jobs of the future, those that may not even exist today.

“My concern is that our students will be over-prepared for the universities of the future—and that’s a nice worry to have,” said Pastore, who next month will welcome an initial 60 students to Antigua International School.

Eventually to enroll some 400 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, AIS caters to children of Antigua’s diverse cultural and socio-economic population of entrepreneurs, local Antigüeños, ex-pats and “internet warriors,” who can easily telecommute from Guatemala with clients worldwide, Pastore explained.

Among the new students will be the three children (ages 8, 11 and 13) of Ellen Mueller, a 15-year Antigua resident who expects AIS to deliver the same type of top-notch education she received growing up outside of Boston.

“I love their motto—‘teaching kids how to think, not what to think’—so they will strive to be creative, critical thinkers,” Mueller said. “I feel relieved that AIS is opening in Antigua, it’s the answer to my children’s needs.”

The new school also fills a void in the community, she added. “Antigua is so rich in culture, people and history, but what’s been missing is a high-quality education. AIS promises to offer a world-class educational experience with excellent teachers, challenging curriculum and an integrative learning process.”

It was the opportunity to launch an innovative, diverse school that lured Pastore back to Antigua—he taught at Colegio Maya in the 1990s. “One of the reasons I came here was because I already knew what Antigua was like,” he said. “No one’s really done a true 21st century school that’s student centered and focused on active learning.” With oversight from a well-traveled, highly educated and passionate board of directors, AIS will be a student-driven, bilingual learning center built on a foundation of robust communication among parents, teachers, students and staff, Pastore said.

“I’m built on the four ‘Fs’—fair, firm, flexible and fun,” he added.

Fluent in English, Spanish and Italian, Pastore amassed his expertise over the years as a teacher and administrator at international schools in the Americas and Europe. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and education from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in administration from the College of New Jersey. Pastore spent nine of the past 11 years in Italy as a headmaster and principal; he’s also been a school principal in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and most recently on the island of Antigua in the West Indies.

At AIS, the core curriculum consists of math, science, social studies and language arts taught in English with a strong emphasis on Spanish language for 25% of the academic day. Community service will be emphasized, and the arts and athletics will be incorporated directly into the curriculum.

“We also want to make sure the children know where they live and appreciate all the good things about Guatemala,” Pastore said. “Kids may hear a lot of negatives, but there’s a lot of good. … As they get older they can apply Guatemala as the base for the rest of the world.”

In short, Pastore and the international team of teachers want to create memories—the good kind that will last long after a pyrotechnic science experiment, a role in a school play or an amazing field trip.

“We want to see the kindergartners and first-graders lined up wearing big rubber boots and planting trees and shrubs and then watching them grow, taking data over 12 to 13 years, and showing them off after graduation,” Pastore said.

During its opening year, Antigua International School—a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) institution—will be housed in El Cortijo de las Flores, five minutes from Antigua on the road to Ciudad Vieja. Opening day, Nov. 7, will begin with a festive welcome for students, parents and visitors before students file into their classrooms.

The permanent campus will be built at Finca Medina on the outskirts of Antigua, in time for the 2012-2013 school year.

For more information: www.antiguais.org, email info@antiguais.org or call 7832-0168

Supervised exhibits include paper making, recycling, giant bubbles and even a micro city. (Emmy Powell)

El Museo de los Niños, Zone 13, Guatemala City

If the motto of most museums seems to be: “Look but don’t touch,” el Museo de los Niños in Guatemala City is the other extreme.

Located in Zone 13, the center opened in February 2000 and has since welcomed more than 1.5 million schoolchildren from all over Guatemala. Through an assortment of dynamic games and interactive puzzles, the museum teaches kids a variety of academic subjects while informing them about their country’s culture and how to be a good citizen.

Want to teach a 4-year-old about the fragility of the Earth’s ozone layer or the importance of collecting rain water? El Museo de los Niños has all the answers and takes you on a journey through space, the human body and a coffee plantation to find them.

From a life-size version of the popular board game Operation, to a giant aerial photo of the city where children race to see who can locate famous monuments first, everything is educational and designed to make learning fun. Even the outside climbing wall depicts several of the country’s volcanoes so that as children climb the rope they “ascend” Pacaya, Fuego and Acatenango and discover which has the highest peak.

The enthusiastic guides believe that if you can teach core values and environmental responsibilities at an early age, you will secure a better future for Guatemala. Eco-friendly messages are reinforced throughout, with paper-making activities and material-separating stations to show that recycling can be fun.

Among recent visitors were more than 100 children from Niños de Guatemala, an NGO which provides access to education for the poorest children of Ciudad Vieja.

“I was completely blown away,” said Emmy Powell, volunteer coordinator with NDG who accompanied the children. “The building itself is bright and welcoming. The staffers are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and well-organized. The topics covered by the museum’s activities are interesting and diverse. Our kids had an absolute blast while learning!”

As well as containing more than 45 exhibits for children aged 8 months to 12 years, el Museo de los Niños also boasts a ball pit, a mini-football pitch and a theater, which is available to rent for birthday parties and family reunions.

They keep technology to a minimum—demonstrating that children don’t just learn through computers but also by using their imagination, exploring and interacting with objects around them.

“Chiquitenango,” the museum’s very own micro city, gives children the opportunity to “drive” around its streets, navigate traffic lights and greet pretend firefighters, gas station workers and pedestrians playing in the park. It really opens their eyes to the world around them and teaches them to respect others and abide by the highway code.

The museum collaborates with businesses and institutions to raise money so that orphans and children from public schools and NGOs can visit free of charge rather than pay the usual price of Q35 per person.

Open from 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 2:30-6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, el Museo de los Niños is a giant game for children of any age that proves learning is fun.

Since the museum is near the zoo, why not make a day of it and visit both attractions? Just don’t forget to bring your inner child—as well as your real ones, too.

Guests met with blue-shirted staff and volunteers and viewed a series of photographs depicting children and teachers at NDG’s school, Nuestro Futuro, which offers quality education during the morning and artistic programs in the afternoon. The fundraiser was held at the rooftop terrace of Mesón Panza Verde, 5a av. sur #19, La Antigua Guatemala.

To volunteer, donate or learn more, visit www.ninosdeguatemala.org or call 7832-8033. NDG’s office is at 4a calle oriente #41, La Antigua (inside the Casa Convento Concepción).

VIPs & children

Built with an outpouring of support from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, a modern new school has just opened for over 500 Guatemalan children, many of whom might not get an education otherwise.

Located in Jocotenango, just three kilometers from La Antigua, the spacious Escuela Proyecto La Esperanza has 20 classrooms, a computer lab, an audio-visual room, library, kitchen, psychology room and more. It also has access to playing fields and green space, thanks to the generosity of Finca La Azotea, which donated most of the 3,000 square meters of land on which the new school stands.

“This is a very special day,” British Ambassador to Guatemala Julie Chappell told an assembly of children, parents, teachers and supporters seated in the broad courtyard on Monday, Jan. 17.

The bright, airy learning center is the centerpiece project of the Nottingham-based Education for the Children Foundation, whose chairman, David McKee, fought back tears as he addressed the audience.

“We have a beautiful building – but it’s just a building,” he said. “A school needs children who want to work hard and study. A school needs teachers with abilities but who also understand the problems of the people of Jocotenango.

“A school needs leaders with vision. But most of all a school needs a heart and a soul. La Esperanza has those qualities that make it a school,” he said.

The top three learning priorities will be computer skills, English and extra-curricular activities, be they sports, arts or community service, McKee added. “With education, all things are possible.”

French architect Pierre Turlin, who worked at greatly reduced rates, was cited for working closely with materials supplier El Mastil to keep construction costs down (approximately Q3,440,000). El Mastil also discounted prices as its contribution to the project, McKee added.

Another of EFTC’s top benefactors locally, Ricardo Pokorny and Katie Cunningham of Finca La Azotea, provided a 75% discount on land costs and allowed the foundation to repay the balance over 15 years. Children can go out the back door, through rows of coffee plants, and enjoy sports on a wide playing field, among other educational features at the farm.

Not only are children of Azotea employees enrolled at the 2,000-square-meter school, it also plays a pivotal role in improving the future of the community, Pokorny explained.

“If education improves in Jocotenango, I improve, Azotea improves, tourism improves,” he said. “It reduces violence … the whole town improves and reduces its sleeper community characteristics.”

The school replaces a smaller, cramped center where children didn’t have the opportunity to play on green grass. La Esperanza also has capacity for 125 more children than the old location, which EFTC had been renting since 2008.

“This school has space to think and study – but also to play, to have access to real grass. The old school didn’t have space to play,” Ambassador Chappell said. “This is one dream fulfilled — and we’re waiting to hear what the next dreams are, and we’re here to support them.”

To donate or for more information, visit www.eftc.org.uk.

whitten by Christine K. Wilson photos: Santiago Albert Pons

Socrates once said “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” Teaching someone how to think instead of what to think is the hallmark of a good education. A student who thinks is capable of analyzing, of making decisions, and forming opinions—skills badly needed in today’s world. Fortunately for La Antigua, several teachers are following Socrates’ path. They are among more than 40 teachers from 13 public schools and organizations who have completed the workshop. “Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking” (RWCT) recently held at the Cooperación Española.

The workshops, held monthly for six months, provide teachers with strategies on how to help students incorporate logic to read carefully, discuss analytically and write clearly. Using this method, the children are first asked to consider their assumptions on a certain subject, then to research it thoroughly and finally to reflect on what they have learned and how to apply it. These extra steps go beyond the typical read-and-memorize approach used in most local schools. As Patty Rosales, workshop trainer explains, integrating the RWCT strategies “is the beginning of a deeper and more analytical learning.”

On a recent day, the laughs can be heard down the entire length of the corridors of the Cooperación Española. At the RWCT workshop, teachers are presenting a cartoon of their own creation to illustrate what they have read. The cartoon provides more than just a good laugh, it is a way to summarize and express opinions. Strategies like incorporating cartoons, games and current events in the classroom are some of the methods that teachers use to help their students take ownership of their learning. As Elix Estrada, from the Familia de Esperanza project, points out, “When I integrate activities in the classroom, the children not only enjoy it more but also learn more.”

The RWCT was developed by several leading American universities and is now used in more than 30 countries. In Guatemala, the RWCT program was initiated by the Consejo de Lectura or reading council. Experience has shown that the benefits of RWCT go beyond the classroom to help children become better citizens. As Mrs. Rosales explains, “Developing critical thinking in students is the key to fomenting positive change in Guatemala.” Mrs. Rosales would like to see more workshops take place to create a ripple effect on the country.

But as Olga Pérez de Girón, director of the San Cristóbal El Bajo grammar school, says: “We come here to better ourselves, but we could never afford to pay for this level of training.” Lack of government funds for training is a common problem. That is why this RWCT workshop is sponsored by Empresarios por la Educación, Entrepreneurs for Education. Empresarios por la Educación is a non-profit organization whose mission is to utilize the skills, energy and resources of the private sector for the good of public education.

Empresarios has recently established a chapter in Antigua and is developing several projects to improve the area’s schools in addition to the RWCT workshops. For example, Empresarios will coordinate English-speaking volunteers to help public school English teachers to improve their pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Over time, this and other projects will help develop a nation of thinkers who can build a better future for Guatemala.

Empresarios por la Educación: www.empresariosporlaeducacion.org  
Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking: www.ct-net.net