Where will I go if you don’t lead me?
What will I do if you don’t teach me?
What will say if you don’t speak through me?
I am your child.
Will you watch as my heart bleeds for attention?
Will you ignore the obvious signs of neglect?
Will you push me away when I ask too many questions?
I am your child.
When will you hold my hand?
When am I too old to cry?
When am I too young to die?
I am your child.
Who can I turn to?
Who will stand for me?
Who are the ones who fight on my behalf?
I am your child.
Why do you close your eyes to reality?
Why are you not concerned?
Why do you do nothing?
I am your child.
The voices of children ask these questions. Who will answer? If we make an effort to be the answer more of our children will become successful adults. Some of us may say that “All the children in the world don’t belong to me. I’ve got my own” or “I don’t have any at all.” Just think, what if no one ever supported you, took the time to teach you or spent a little extra time with you or even treated you the least bit special. What kind of person would you be? If no one has ever done these things what kind of issues are you dealing with today? We have to take care of our children. This care usually starts at home where the first stages of education take place. School is often a second home to many children. For this reason, school administration and staff should maintain good education for the mind and exceptional care for the soul.
How bad does a child feel when they know that their reading level is not up to par with their classmates? Not to mention if a student doesn’t even recognize letters in order to create words.
Here in Nicaragua, according to “Literacy in Nicaragua” by Juan Arrien, the illiteracy rate was 53% (for the population over the age of 10) until the end of the 1970’s. The year 1980 became known as the “Literacy Year”. This was a project of the Sandinista People’s Revolution. It “… considered literacy to be a human right…to his/ her freedom and self-affirmation…” How can we affirm our children when they don’t know how to read? This is a basic right and a basic teachable skill. Through the efforts of this project the illiteracy rate dropped 12% within the year.
No matter what the rate is now, I personally came in contact with too many children who are seriously underserved. Many children in the school that I volunteered didn’t know how to read or recognize colors, shapes and numbers.
But what do we do when children are kept home from school because their parents need them to work? What do we do when students don’t want to work with volunteers in their schools because they are too ashamed of what they don’t know?
I don’t have all the answers but I know that I take one day at a time, one student at time and I affirm them through instruction until that bright light is illuminated and they know more than they did before they met me.
Marcella
Sunday, August 16, 2009
No Conoces Hambre. You don’t KNOW hunger.
Have you ever been so hungry that you got a “hunger headache”? Have you ever been so hungry that you became irritable as you felt your blood sugar dropping? Have you ever felt the frustration of not being able to find a restaurant, in an unfamiliar area, that would suit your fancy? Can you relate to the utter disappointment and sometimes disgust felt when the plate of food that you just took out of the microwave was still a bit cool in the middle? Have you ever passed by a restaurant and just caught a whiff of the specially prepared delectables being plated for its customers?
I’m sure all of us have been hungry for one reason or another. Maybe it was because you were “too busy to eat”. Maybe some of you were fasting for medical or spiritual purposes. Maybe you’ve actually had no food in the house because money was “tight”. No matter what the reason is, not many of us have been so hungry that our only meal for the day would come from either the hand of stranger or a garbage bag.
As one of my classmates mentioned, the image of man sharing his meal with a dog out of the garbage is forever etched in my heart. My personal experience is another that I will not soon forget. As I ate dinner with my professor and her husband, we reviewed the happenings of the day and talked about how we couldn’t believe that we only have a little over a week left of our time here in Granada. We spoke to many of the vendors as they tried to sell us their wares, cigarettes, candies, earrings and hammocks, to name a few. Repeating, “No gracias, no gracias”, about 50 times, more for persistent ones. Then as I saw a young man approach our table with nothing to sell, my eyes widened in disbelief as he asked my professor for her tostone con queso (plantain with cheese). She gladly gave it to him and told him to be careful. My heart dropped to my toes. Wow… I had seen people beg for money on the sidewalk and even ask for leftovers after a catering event, but to see this young man so sincerely ask for what was on a stranger’s plate was a really surprising. Not only did he approach us but before the night was over all three of us had given away our dinner to various boys who asked. When all we had was the garnish left on our plates, a couple of the young men turned to say thank you.
I hope we think and take a different action when we leave our leftovers so long that they are no longer edible. I hope we hold our peace and reflect before we get agitated because we are “so hungry”. It’s a process to change our mind set but it is definitely possible. It takes a conscious effort; one thought at a time. Let’s not make our kids eat what they don’t want “because there are starving kids in Africa”. Teach and show them that there are poor, starving children everywhere dealing with more issues than they could imagine. Teach them and they will gain a greater appreciation for what they have while helping others.
In a docutmetry entitled La Nina a Madre there were thre great examples of hunger. Three young ladies, expectant mothers livedin very meager surroundings.Though they e were not educated and were unemployed they didin't seem to be to concerene with feedign thier children. They all seemed to be brave and had some sense of security knowing they would do whatever it took to take care of thier children. these young women seemed to have a hunger for survival. No matter how little help they had a or what obstacles they had to overcome...They knew that they were strong enough to take care of thier children.They would survive even through the sadest and roughest times.
Hunger for Survival.
Marcella
I’m sure all of us have been hungry for one reason or another. Maybe it was because you were “too busy to eat”. Maybe some of you were fasting for medical or spiritual purposes. Maybe you’ve actually had no food in the house because money was “tight”. No matter what the reason is, not many of us have been so hungry that our only meal for the day would come from either the hand of stranger or a garbage bag.
As one of my classmates mentioned, the image of man sharing his meal with a dog out of the garbage is forever etched in my heart. My personal experience is another that I will not soon forget. As I ate dinner with my professor and her husband, we reviewed the happenings of the day and talked about how we couldn’t believe that we only have a little over a week left of our time here in Granada. We spoke to many of the vendors as they tried to sell us their wares, cigarettes, candies, earrings and hammocks, to name a few. Repeating, “No gracias, no gracias”, about 50 times, more for persistent ones. Then as I saw a young man approach our table with nothing to sell, my eyes widened in disbelief as he asked my professor for her tostone con queso (plantain with cheese). She gladly gave it to him and told him to be careful. My heart dropped to my toes. Wow… I had seen people beg for money on the sidewalk and even ask for leftovers after a catering event, but to see this young man so sincerely ask for what was on a stranger’s plate was a really surprising. Not only did he approach us but before the night was over all three of us had given away our dinner to various boys who asked. When all we had was the garnish left on our plates, a couple of the young men turned to say thank you.
I hope we think and take a different action when we leave our leftovers so long that they are no longer edible. I hope we hold our peace and reflect before we get agitated because we are “so hungry”. It’s a process to change our mind set but it is definitely possible. It takes a conscious effort; one thought at a time. Let’s not make our kids eat what they don’t want “because there are starving kids in Africa”. Teach and show them that there are poor, starving children everywhere dealing with more issues than they could imagine. Teach them and they will gain a greater appreciation for what they have while helping others.
In a docutmetry entitled La Nina a Madre there were thre great examples of hunger. Three young ladies, expectant mothers livedin very meager surroundings.Though they e were not educated and were unemployed they didin't seem to be to concerene with feedign thier children. They all seemed to be brave and had some sense of security knowing they would do whatever it took to take care of thier children. these young women seemed to have a hunger for survival. No matter how little help they had a or what obstacles they had to overcome...They knew that they were strong enough to take care of thier children.They would survive even through the sadest and roughest times.
Hunger for Survival.
Marcella
Photos / Fotos
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. But the words of reflection on this blog are more powerful than any photo taken here.
Dear readers... This is critical thinking in process. Here is our updated photo album to help you share our journey. I have never been more proud of any group of students than these. --Alba
PHOTOS/FOTOS(CLICK HERE)
http://picasaweb.google.com/AlbaSkarWCSU/Nicaragua200902#
Dear readers... This is critical thinking in process. Here is our updated photo album to help you share our journey. I have never been more proud of any group of students than these. --Alba
PHOTOS/FOTOS(CLICK HERE)
http://picasaweb.google.com/AlbaSkarWCSU/Nicaragua200902#
UNAN – Creator of memories and dreams…
Our visit to the Unan (Universidad Nacional de Nicaragua) was more than just informative, it was a revealing experience.
The University shows on its walls its commitment to the history of the country and to education. It is visibly committed in maintaining the memory of the revolution alive and the social-transforming power the Nicaraguan people had and still have on their hands.
Among the many murals I could observe and appreciate, there were some poems of Ruben Dario, quotations from Sandino, paintings of protests, and the Nicaraguan reverence and respect towards nature. A very interesting mural showed symbols of the Sandinista Revolution grouped inside a drawing of the country of Nicaragua. I could read the symbols as representations of: the proletariat (the campesino), the armed fight (the fist and weapons), the labor (tools) and the education (book). This last one was in the center of them all, and to me, it said that real freedom is just accomplished with education and critical thinking. This mural spoke without words about the restoration of human dignity and real Democracy.
Another mural represented the call from the FSLN party to the students with -proletariat conscious- for a crusade against illiteracy. I learned then, that although the fight for democracy during the revolution used communist ideas, it could not be considered Marxist, nor Lenist or Socialist, neither Communist! It was a movement of its own. It had singular characteristics, such as its intense consideration for education and its alliance with the Catholic Church.
The call for the Literacy Crusade meant a two way process of learning: one where the illiterate learned its words, another where the militant learned about the reality of its own surroundings, which cannot be taught with words, it has to be felt! According to the reading of Jose Luis Rocha (Revista Envio ) the militants learned to become conscious by experiencing different life conditions, by overcoming prejudices and discriminations, and by dealing with its human task open minded and open hearted. And Paulo Freire’s educational philosophy helped in this fight for basic human rights, where education becomes a fundamental weapon against repression.
I believe that to a certain extent we, Westconn students, are doing something similar to that. We came to Nicaragua to learn not only from words but also from experiences. While we are teaching words and numbers when volunteering, we are learning firsthand about the kids’ lives, needs and dreams. We are learning to dream with them. We are dreaming of a better world. We are learning to become conscious.
Y todo comienza con un sueño...
Congratulations: your are "ambassadors" of Western Connecticut State University.
Here is the Diploma given to all of you yesterday, August 15, 2009, students and Professor Dr. Alba Skar of Global Academy in Nicaragua for the great contribution of a musical instrument you donated to this Foundation "Luisa Mercado" in Masatepe, Nicaragua. Congratulations because you are "ambassadors" of your University, Western Connecticut State University. (Javier)
(click on the picture to read it better)
Teacher of the Year, Nicaragua, 2009,by Darla Shaw
Taking part in the Teacher of the Year Program in Masatepe was definately one of the highlights of my stay in Nicaragua. Instead of going to an expensive chicken banquet at a banquet hall as we do in the U.S., here there was a lot of pomp and circumstance for the teacher of the year.
Here the ceremony was in a beautiful cathedral with the whole town and all the students invited to attend. At the given time the Teacher of the Year, Marcia Martínez Solórzano, walked down the aisle to the official national Nicaraguan hymn for teachers played by a classical orchestra made up of young musicians. The blue and white Nicaraguan flag led with procession, followed by the teacher and the top ranking students in the town. Everyone rose to stand and applaud and congratulate the teacher.
The elementary school teacher from Chinandega then sat at a long table with all the political dignitaries, including the president of the Fundacion Luisa Mercado, Dr. Sergio Ramirez Mercado. He is a former Vice-President of Nicaragua, and he is currently one of the most important novelists in Latin America. He established this annual award for the best teacher in the nation. After several speeches talking about her merits and why she had won over 30 other nominees, she was given a check for $10,000, a medal to wear around her neck, a proclamation, and a beautiful statue designed by the famous Nicaraguan poet and priest, Ernesto Cardenal, who also attended to congratulate the winner. Local students also came to the stage with their cards and words of celebration.
The teacher of the year then gave her own speech and everyone stood and applauded. At the end of her speech she recited a poem dedicated to teachers. The Luisa Mercado Foundation band played instruments donated by the French Embassy, and the French ambassador was recognized for that gift. The US ambassador to Nicaragua, Mr. Robert Callahan, was also recognized in the audience for his support.
The Luisa Mercado Foundation offers free classical music lessons and a library for local young people to develop a knowledge of culture. The band played several lovely pieces along with a group of children singers and a very talented soloist. The songs were mostly written by the Ramirez family in Masatepe.
The foundation president invited a student representative from the Global Academy from Western Connecticut State University to present their donation of a viola, and the group was recognized with a diploma.
When the ceremony was over the teacher came down to embrace all of her friends, family and students. She was very moved by the occasion and wanted everyone to sign her special book. We all did and were so pleased to meet her.
After the ceremony we went back to the foundation building, Dr. Ramirez's family home that is now a public cultural center. Here we saw the unveiling of the teacher's photo on the wall. This was a very emotional moment as she had now become a part of history. Students were able to learn about the foundation, and they took photos with Dr. Ramirez and Mr. Callahan, who both thanked them for representing the US and their university as volunteers in Nicaraguan schools and in their donation to the foundation.
What I liked so much about this ceremony as opposed to what we do in the U.S. is the involvement of all of the students and their families. These people get to play a major role in the ceremony and these are the people who helped to make her the person that she is.
Students in the program were also able to participate in traditional Nicaraguan culture in a small town, so different from Granada's tourism and Managua's paradoxes. They were able to see young people perform classical music, be recognized for their academic achievements, and enjoy a cultural event to celebrate education with their families. It was a beautiful evening to participate in the dignity and generosity of the Nicaraguan people and culture.
PS. Some details were added by Alba. :)
Here the ceremony was in a beautiful cathedral with the whole town and all the students invited to attend. At the given time the Teacher of the Year, Marcia Martínez Solórzano, walked down the aisle to the official national Nicaraguan hymn for teachers played by a classical orchestra made up of young musicians. The blue and white Nicaraguan flag led with procession, followed by the teacher and the top ranking students in the town. Everyone rose to stand and applaud and congratulate the teacher.
The elementary school teacher from Chinandega then sat at a long table with all the political dignitaries, including the president of the Fundacion Luisa Mercado, Dr. Sergio Ramirez Mercado. He is a former Vice-President of Nicaragua, and he is currently one of the most important novelists in Latin America. He established this annual award for the best teacher in the nation. After several speeches talking about her merits and why she had won over 30 other nominees, she was given a check for $10,000, a medal to wear around her neck, a proclamation, and a beautiful statue designed by the famous Nicaraguan poet and priest, Ernesto Cardenal, who also attended to congratulate the winner. Local students also came to the stage with their cards and words of celebration.
The teacher of the year then gave her own speech and everyone stood and applauded. At the end of her speech she recited a poem dedicated to teachers. The Luisa Mercado Foundation band played instruments donated by the French Embassy, and the French ambassador was recognized for that gift. The US ambassador to Nicaragua, Mr. Robert Callahan, was also recognized in the audience for his support.
The Luisa Mercado Foundation offers free classical music lessons and a library for local young people to develop a knowledge of culture. The band played several lovely pieces along with a group of children singers and a very talented soloist. The songs were mostly written by the Ramirez family in Masatepe.
The foundation president invited a student representative from the Global Academy from Western Connecticut State University to present their donation of a viola, and the group was recognized with a diploma.
When the ceremony was over the teacher came down to embrace all of her friends, family and students. She was very moved by the occasion and wanted everyone to sign her special book. We all did and were so pleased to meet her.
After the ceremony we went back to the foundation building, Dr. Ramirez's family home that is now a public cultural center. Here we saw the unveiling of the teacher's photo on the wall. This was a very emotional moment as she had now become a part of history. Students were able to learn about the foundation, and they took photos with Dr. Ramirez and Mr. Callahan, who both thanked them for representing the US and their university as volunteers in Nicaraguan schools and in their donation to the foundation.
What I liked so much about this ceremony as opposed to what we do in the U.S. is the involvement of all of the students and their families. These people get to play a major role in the ceremony and these are the people who helped to make her the person that she is.
Students in the program were also able to participate in traditional Nicaraguan culture in a small town, so different from Granada's tourism and Managua's paradoxes. They were able to see young people perform classical music, be recognized for their academic achievements, and enjoy a cultural event to celebrate education with their families. It was a beautiful evening to participate in the dignity and generosity of the Nicaraguan people and culture.
PS. Some details were added by Alba. :)
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