Tejiendo Futuros is integrates programs of holistic education, an ecological training center and entrepreneurship to empower the entire family of the students at the school, El Arbol del Niño.
The objective at El Arbol del Niño is integral, holistic education. The goal is that children will be conscious of themselves, of their surroundings, and of the environment so they can be actors of change and growth of their own lives and the development of their communities. The school will allow space for each child to discover their passions and gifts while encouraging them to express their thoughts and emotions, to become leaders in their communities.
After working with the children in the program, we realized that school is only a fraction of their environment, and their home life has a huge impact as well. In one home visit, we discovered there was a family of eleven living off Q400.00 (about $53) monthly. Just to feed a family on that amount of money is impossible, not to mention their inhumane living conditions and lack of confidence to create a better environment for their children. So we decided to organize an integral program for the parents as well, to give them the tools to help them take action alongside their children.
Thus was born the idea of the comprehensive Ecological Formation Center, “KaUlew”, meaning our land in Kaqchikel the local Mayan language, which is being cultivated by the community. The center, which will feature sustainable farming, small animal husbandry and natural building practices, will build community amongst the families, students, teachers and staff of Tejiendo Futuros, alongside the demonstrative infrastructure needed. All together we can help sustain the center, provide work for the families, and a space where the children can learn and be in contact with Mother Nature, experiment with her and learn to take care of and respect the environment. Produce will be utilized for school meals and the participating families, and the surplus will be sold in the markets. KaUlew will also be open to the general public, to serve as a learning space for everyone who enters.
The families and community of Tejiendo Futuros will learn to cultivate their own food in their own gardens, to eat healthy, to unite with other families, share and produce. By building relationships with other families and participating in group activities, the parents will be able to invest more in their child’s education and help to break the cycle of poverty.