Camino Claro Blog

Blog readers, allow me to introduce you to one of Escuela Camino Claro’s new additions this year:

Jacob Smithers, intern and volunteer teacher

Raphel and I are ecstatic to finally find ourselves able to open ECC’s doors to other individuals and expand the school’s reach into the community. We were connected with Jacob, who arrives in Pavones in April, as alumni of Seattle University. With his non-profit experience and enthusiasm (he has the travel bug too, much like Raphel and I did when we came to Costa Rica almost four years ago!), he is an excellent candidate for helping out at the school. During his six-month commitment, ECC will keep him busy while volunteering with our head ESL teacher, Gerardo Mendoza, as well as teaching one or more ESL classes of his own. In addition, he will be running the computer lab, tutoring home school, AND doing several projects at the public school’s library. Jake, we’re anticipating your arrival!

Let’s hear from Jake:

I was born and raised around Seattle, Washington. I graduated from Seattle University with a passion for understanding and building communities, which has increasingly become extended internationally. After my studies at SU, I found that the concern for our world’s environment went beyond an awareness of the human-nature relationship and is strongly seated in a need for communities that work together for justice both socially and ecologically. During and after my studies, I have been involved in many non-profit organizations, most of which concentrate on youth education. I have volunteered as a teacher and a documentary photographer for Seattle Tilth, the Seattle Arboretum, Bridges to Understanding, and Helping Link. I also worked with Divertigranja, a sustainable animal farm in Oaxaca, Mexico, for several months and spent a month working with Tram Chim National Park in Vietnam. After my time in Vietnam, I was a Fulbright scholarship finalist, intending to return to Tram Chim to work with the youth environmental education programs. I am currently studying Spanish and teaching English at the Seattle Refugee Women’s Alliance. My travels through the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Latin America have been invaluable and I’m excited to work with the community of Pavones — sure that my eyes will be opened and my mind expanded by the thoughts and views of the people there. I spend my free time with family, friends, and fútbol!

 
Indeed, we are excited to have you working with ECC!
Stay tuned for more posts as classes start next week…

Escuela Camino Claro is proud to announce the commencement of its third official year as a non-profit community education center in Pavones, Costa Rica!

After returning to Pavones several weeks ago, Raphel and I began the arduous process of starting the new school year by focusing on recruiting students, organizing class schedules, and integrating new teachers. Not an easy feat, especially when everything runs on “tico time” and the temperature is humid and in the 90s. As we’ve well learned by now, the transition both mentally and physically into life in Pavones cannot be rushed. After the boxes were unpacked and the bats and frogs were ushered out of the school (and the “you’re so white” comments gradually ebbed), we are confident that this year will be more than a grand success. The 2010 vision has begun to take shape and we are excited to share it with you.

New teachers, new classes, new energy

Now that Escuela Camino Claro has proved its integrity and become a fixture in the local community, we feel that we are ready to open the door to more teachers, more types of classes, and more opportunities for the Pavones area’s residents. In doing so, Raphel and I can pass on the role of head teachers and, thus, share responsibilities with other members of the community.

ECC is excited to incorporate three new individuals into our staff: Lisa Thrash (teaching bilingual communication classes with ages 3-8), Jacob Smithers (program assistant intern, teaching ESL and home school classes), and Gerardo Mendoza (teaching adult ESL and Spanish for local foreigners).

Other programs and projects

One new program in ECC’s repertoire is a free tutoring session for high school seniors who need help studying to pass their graduation exams. We’re piloting this program in order to offer motivated high school students academic support when they might otherwise fail and dropout, a widespread problem in this rural area. ECC has hired a local teen graduate from Pavones, Erica Romano, to offer this service and we are looking forward to seeing the students pass their exams this April. Continued projects from previous years include computer literacy classes, community recycling program (an ongoing and very challenging project), and beach cleanups.

Moving towards sustainability…

The definition of a truly sustainable development project is one which will be able to carry on indefinitely with no further international involvement or support, whether it be financial or otherwise. Now that we’ve implemented ECC as an educational development resource, we are focusing on ensuring that the community has the capacity to continue Escuela Camino Claro without our physical presence. Raphel and I will leave Pavones in April to return to the US for the rest of the school year, so our biggest challenge in the next few months is to guarantee a smooth transition to future independence in the hands of locals. Moving towards this goal, ECC is finding more financial stability by sharing the building with other independent teachers and community members, all of whom share our mission. This collaboration, combined with the consistent income from tuition we’ve built over the years, gives us hope that this year will be more self-sustaining. After more than two years and an unbelievable amount of support from outside (YOU!), ECC has the ability to truly bring this community together under one roof and offer a great educational environment with an abundance of resources.

…one step at a time

There is never a shortage of work to be done even when we’re not working hands-on in Pavones. After we leave in April, Raphel and I will have a full plate while managing ECC from abroad and helping to fundraise. Donations are always welcome.  Click here to find ECC’s donation page, with information about mailing checks or using Paypal. All donations are tax deductible and will go towards new programs and materials. We are always in need of used laptops as well.

So, you see, we have our hands full and have begun 2010 at full throttle! A friend told me the other day, “You’re not living unless you push your threshold at least once a day.” I should note that at the time he said this we were climbing up an eroding cliff with falling rocks 300 feet above a waterfall, holding on to vines that we were hoping weren’t snakes (our indigenous “guide” underestimated our abilities and a “hike down to a waterfall” was actually mountain climbing in swimsuits). No joke. Although running ECC isn’t as challenging, we seem to be heeding this advice and experiencing new things everyday.

Here’s to a thriving (and safe) year ahead!

Thank you to all our supporters for your love and inspiration.

Pura Vida from Pavones,
Haley & Raphel

Seasons greetings from Escuela Camino Claro!

Dear Friends and Family,
I hope this letter finds you happy, healthy, and excited for the madness of the holiday season and the approaching New Year! ECC’s little elves (i.e. Raphel and Haley) have been hard at work in our winter workshops (i.e. our Northwest homes) as we prepare for next school year in Pavones, Costa Rica. Before jumping into 2010, let me take a moment to recap some of what happened last year in ECC’s second official year as a non-profit community education center.

2009 was characterized by two main successes. First, Pavones’ growing acceptance of ECC into the small community and, second, ECC’s expansion in all areas of service: more classes, more students, and more variety. Because of last year’s growth, I can say with great pride that ECC has accomplished one of the main goals set out by the board and has advocated further educational options for the Pavones area by offering an education center that does not pursue its own agenda but responds to the requests, needs, and opinions of the community.

A few highlights from 2009

•    Increased monthly enrollment. The average number of student enrollment was 24, almost doubling our 2008 enrollment. In our peak month this year, we had 45 total students attending classes at ECC! Our Pre-K/Kindergarten class (ages 2-5) was the largest and had the most consistent enrollment.
•    Increased number of native Costa Rican students. On average, Costa Ricans comprised 70% of enrollment this year, thus demonstrating ECC’s growing acceptance into the native community.
•    Going green. March 2009 earned us our first “sponsorship” from the umbrella corporation The EDGE Charitable Foundation. It was the turning point for our decision to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner as well as to incorporate environmental education into our classes.
•    Community involvement. ECC played a role in several worthwhile community events and projects, such as helping to organize Pavones’ first recycle system and participating in the Anti-Tuna Farm Campaign celebration. Also, last June ECC celebrated its 2nd annual Global Services Outreach Program, a community service and cultural integration excursion for high school students. Thank you to the six Kalapuya High School students and adult chaperones from Eugene, Oregon who did some amazing work in the community!

What’s in the stars for 2010?

Next year we are looking forward to integrating other passionate, creative teachers and volunteers to help teach ECC’s classes, including ESL, home school, and computer/Internet literacy classes. We are also eager to expand our involvement in the community, particularly by increasing environmental awareness, starting with our students and reaching into the greater Pavones area. We hope to see a more organized and sustainable recycle system next year.

Thanks to fundraising efforts and support from generous individuals throughout the past few years, ECC was able pursue our mission by providing scholarships to all students in need and to families with multiple children enrolled. We are dedicated to providing the same services to the Pavones area by working with members of the community who share our vision and goals of broadening our community education center.

In order to meet the high demand for classes, offer classes at an affordable (or free!) rate, AND provide scholarships to students in need…

WE NEED YOUR HELP…SPONSOR A STUDENT!

Despite how hugely successful our Pura Vida Fundraiser has been in the past, the decision to not have one this winter means that ECC will rely 100% on the support and contributions from individuals. Fortunately, ECC has a much broader support base that has now grown beyond our local Eugene, Oregon fundraiser: we feel confident we can depend on people like YOU to help ECC continue to flourish. This year ECC is offering a program that allows our supporters to sponsor a student for a month or a year (see previous post). The more donations we receive, the more students ECC can enroll with an adjusted tuition. With your help, we are confident ECC will continue to survive and flourish in 2010! All donations are tax exempt.

On behalf of the students and teachers of Escuela Camino Claro, as well as the Pavones community at large, we thank you from the bottom of our heart for your kindness and support thus far.

May your holiday be filled with much happiness, joy, and PURA VIDA!
Sincerely,

Haley Whitley, Co-Founder
Raphel Weber, Co-Founder

Our 1st grade ESL class began studying at ECC in April 2008 without knowing the English alphabet. Two years later, they are able to read and comprehend 2nd and 3rd grade English books.

Please participate in our Sponsor a Student program.

$50 sponsors a student for one month

$400 sponsors a student for one year

Just in time for holiday giving, this is an opportunity to help Escuela Camino Claro flourish and continue to be successful in 2010! This generous donation allows us to maintain class tuition at an affordable price for local Costa Rican students. Of course, any amount is greatly appreciated. This price includes tuition, all class materials, and extracurricular events. Remember: all donations are tax exempt.

Please make checks payable to Escuela Camino Claro and send all donations to:

Escuela Camino Claro
9979 Troon Ct.
Windsor, CA 95492

Thank you for your support!
Raphel Weber & Haley Whitley, Co-Founders

‘Tis the season for pumpkin bread, spiced wine, and many other holiday-ish things no matter where you may be: Costa Rica, the Northwest, or the North Pole. Raphel and I are here in the Northwest, however, where these things are plentiful (as well as rain and cold weather, yuck). Pumpkins are as abundant here as good left-hand point breaks are there.

We like to keep you all in the loop, so here are some tidbits of what’s been going on during the Escuela Camino Claro off-season.

Pre-K classes are still going

Thanks to Lisa Thrash, our new pre-k teacher! Although we already mentioned this enthusiastic ECC parent stepped in last September to fulfill the need for additional help, she deserves to be mentioned again because she is doing such a great job keeping the school house in order and taking care of a growing pre-k class.

Lisa’s Says…

“A native to Florida, I feel lucky to be part of the community of Pavones and be part of the group effort in preserving it for future generations. I’ve been teaching and having fun with children since I was 14 years old, whether was tutoring elementary students after school, being a Spanish instructor in the Florida public school systems, or acting as P.T.O president. Now I find myself intricately involved in my young children’s schooling. While my wonderful surfer/chef husband and I pursue our dream of living a sustainable life in Costa Rica, I have had the pleasure of home schooling my two children, ages three and nine. I love reading, history, nature, dancing, traveling, photography, animals, and hanging out with my family.”

February 2010 will bring a rush of new students and classes, so we are grateful and happy to have Lisa on board.

ECC all over cyberspace

Something that comes along with living in the US: countless online social networks right at your fingertips, it’s almost impossible to not get sucked in. So we did. And here is what you should know.

The GreenWave Blog is a newsletter that inspires green-minded people and gets them connected with eco-friendly organizations and events. It’s worth checking out, even if you’re not in the L.A. area (just click on the link above).

You can see ECC mentioned on the GreenWave Blog by checking out The EDGE September 2009 Newsletter that is posted. The EDGE is helping ECC by raising funds and gathering supplies in their 2010 Donation Drive. We put together a wish list a while back and school supplies can now be donated to the Foundation or directly to us!
We are collecting eco-friendly: pens, paper, notebooks, paints, coloring pens, crayons, musical instruments, educational CDs, educational toys, CD player w/ speakers, pre-K/Kindergarten workbooks, etc.
All donations are tax-deductable.
Donors can either email ECC directly at info@caminoclaro.org or The EDGE at priya@theedgeeducation.org.

Are you a Facebook junkie like everyone else? ECC can be found there too, are you surprised?
Click here to see ECC’s Facebook page and subscribe or become a fan
Click here to see ECC’s Cause page, and cyber-hangout with the other 180 members, or even donate some $$$, if you are so inclined. These are both in their rough-draft phases, fyi.

What’s next?

So you see, we have not been idle these days: Raphel and I are alive and kicking during the three months hiatus or “summer break” from classes. Most importantly we are exploring our options for fundraising, both in seeking donations from private donors, as well as applying for education grants. It’s a full-time job but hopefully it will pay off and ECC will be adequately funded in 2010. More on that later, don’t you worry!

All this sure makes me miss those kiddies in Pavones…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ECC!
what are you thankful for?

ECC is on its way to “going green”, thanks to Green Wave’s support!

In January 2009, ECC caught the attention of the Los Angeles-based environmental non-profit, Green Wave, and its “Green Girl Guru” founder, Janine Johnson. Since then, the organization has been influential and inspiring in our community education center’s progress toward environmental education and community development. In fact, it was through our connection with Green Wave that ECC’s “sponsorship” with The EDGE Foundation was born!

But first, a little bit about this new, progressive organization that ECC is so grateful to be collaborating with…

What is Green Wave?

Green Wave is a dynamic, environmental non-profit dedicated to establishing precedents for change and redefining activism. Green Wave provides service to companies to create and fund ecolistical initiatives to inspire waves of change in both local and global communities. Green Wave is people-powered by a collaboration of other like-minded companies and organizations. Green Wave works business to business with companies and other organizations in the creation and strategic implementation of ecolistical projects that give back to their communities.

Mission
To inspire waves of change by creating living examples focused on living consciously, peacefully, and harmoniously with the environment and with each other for the well being of our planet.

Goal
To create green/restorative developments and education initiatives

“Health for people and planet is the new currency” –Janine Johnson

Green Wave Projects and Events

Green Wave believes that companies are integral for catalyzing the waves of change necessary for a sustainable future. Apart from working with such companies as the Grammy-nominated band, The Crystal Method, NextAid, Sabertec, Kalia Modern Eco-Living, and Green Addict, Green Wave has also hosted several events:

The Green Heart Eco-Yoga Day Fundraiser
The fundraiser took place in February 2009 was held in celebration of International Yoga Day.  As with any Green Wave event, it was a green event and meant to bring mindfulness to sustainable living concepts which are in harmony with yogic practices. It was from proceeds from this event that Green Wave was able to finance the EDGE Curriculum for ECC’s 2010 classes donation was also made to the Golfo Dulce’s Anti-Tuna Farm Campaign.  Click here for more info about this event.

Earthdance 2009
The world’s largest synchronized music and dance festival for peace. Since its inception, Earthdance has been held on over 500 locations in 80 countries with all events simultaneously joining together in the Prayer for Peace - a powerful moment of coherent intention.

Each public Earthdance event gives 50% of their profits to a charity that falls into one of the following categories:
-The Welfare of Children & Urban Youth
-Indigenous Peoples & Cultures
-International Relief and Development
-Environmental Sustainability & Protection
-Organizations that help Promote Peace

Earthdance occurs annually every September in recognition of the United Nations International Day of Peace with the intention to build a Culture of Peace.  On September 26th, 2009, Green Wave was the beneficiary of the San Diego Earthdance.  Green Wave worked in collaboration with the producer of the event, Green Addict, to introduce, implement & inspire sustainable practices and living to both the event and the attendees. Click here for more info about Earthdance.

The future is bright (and green!)

On behalf of everyone at Escuela Camino Claro, we would like to say THANK YOU to Green Wave for its support and inspiration! ECC looks forward to a positive future and an enduring relationship with Green Wave.

ECC has officially wrapped up its second year and wow, what a great year!

I was forced to accept that the year had come to and end a couple weeks ago as Haley and I were cleaning the school and sorting through our abundance of papers, books, hidden frogs, crabs, and all of the usual things one finds in a schoolhouse at the end of the year. After three years in Pavones we have learned so much and started many projects in the community. But most importantly, our community education center has become a valued resource for Pavones’ residents.

The 2009 school year was more successful than last year for many reasons; mainly due to the fact that we nearly doubled our average number of local Costa Rican students, something which Haley and I have made a major goal since the school’s launch. Here are a few statistics to sum up our success this year.

• Monthly average student enrollment in 2008 was 23.
• Monthly average student enrollment in 2009 was 34.
• Monthly average of local Costa Rican students in 2008 was 13.
• Monthly average of local Costa Rican students in 2009 was 24.

Recycling in Pavones

When I look back on the many projects that ECC collaborated on this year, I am most proud of our work to implement a regular recycling pick-up service in Pavones. Though it may be something that only Haley and I can appreciate, I have to admit that I have come to love the sight of black plastic bags overflowing with recyclables and piled high along ECC’s outside wall. You might ask why is the recycling left at our school? Well, it’s the most convenient place for the community to leave their bottles and cans, but the downside is that the recycle truck isn’t exactly punctual! Although it’s not necessarily a pretty sight, it does represent that the community is becoming more aware: well worth it. While we are back in the US for the winter months, Lili from Mira Olas Cabinas will continue to arrange pick-up dates and people will still leave all their recycling at the ECC building.

Other projects that ECC students and teachers were involved in:

• Mural project at the public school, Escuela Las Gemelas
• Mural project at the public school library
• Global Service Outreach Program (GSOP) with Kalapuya High School (follow link for more info!)
• Helping with fundraising to support the Golfo Dulce’s Anti-Tuna Farm campaign
• Beach clean-ups

A special THANK YOU to…

We would like to thank all of our supporters for giving Escuela Camino Claro the opportunity to continue existing and flourishing. We are so grateful to all who have allowed us to grow and continue to “bring communities together through education.”

• The EDGE (Early Development of Global Education) Charitable Foundation
• Gabe Hamel, Humans for Humanity LLC
• Janine Jonson, Green Wave LLC
• Sumo Sushi
• Calan Taylor, Kalapuya High School
• Tully Spring
• Dustin Haines
• Lisa LaMagna, Encanto Costa Rica
• Hadas Barkan
• Sam Claiborn
• Rebecca Quinn
• Lisa Thrash
• Siempre Domingo Bed & Breakfast
• Cafe de la Suerte
• Clear River Sports & Adventures
• Amy & Alex Outerbridge
• Katie Kalmbach
• Billy Scorer
• Downtown Languages
• Seattle University Alumni Magazine
• CostaRica.com Blog

And all friends, family and donors/supporters of the 2009 Pura Vida Fundraiser & Silent Auction

…we apologize if anyone was forgotten… THANK YOU!!

The 2010 school year will resume in February

But in the meantime please continue to check out our blog for updates and news. We look forward to a positive future for Escuela Camino Claro and wish for you all to be a part of it!

Pura Vida,

Raphel & Haley

As you might remember from one of our posts back in May, the pending installation of the tuna farms in the Golfo Dulce continues to be a great threat to our home in many ways. Thus, the battle continues…

The Corrupt Tuna Project

Last June, MINAET (The Costa Rican Ministry of Environment) approved and granted most of the necessary permits for Granjas Atuneras, S.A. to install the destructive tuna farms in the Golfo Dulce. However, MINAET acted prematurely and suspiciously, as it was soon discovered that the permits were illegally issued. Business was conducted in violation of the Supreme Court’s decision to put the project on hold until ocean currents have been thoroughly studied and it has been established that fecal matter from the fish would indeed not enter the Golfo Dulce.

This study was recently completed and apparently it was altered in order to show the preferred results; that the ocean currents will not bring waste into the Gulf. This is, of course, ridiculous because it is common knowledge that our ocean currents go both ways and the prevailing winds are onshore, coming from the south and pushing the surface water into the gulf.

So, with the study results against us and the Ministry of Environment obviously working for bribes, Pavones’ community members have come together to form an official Anti-Tuna Farm Association, established at the beginning of this month.

Pavones Community Fights Corruption

The Anti-Tuna Farm Association represents the voice of all community members; locals, foreigners, and most importantly, the Guaymi Indigenous population. The Guaymi make up 60% of the voters in our district and they see the project as an invasion of their territory. The establishment of such a heterogeneous Association will allow us to more powerfully oppose Granjas Atuneras, S.A.

A few weeks ago I spoke with Vela Miles, one of the “movers and shakers” here in Pavones. She deserves many thanks for her hard work and dedication to the tuna project battle, but being a head member of the Anti-Tuna Farm Association is just one way she is invaluable to this community. Vela stated that now that the Association has legal status they are in the process of “asking the municipality of Golfito to approve the popular vote (plebiscito) in the district of Pavones. This allows Pavones to vote and voice their position. That is our constitutional right.” The municipality cannot install the tuna farms until Pavones votes on it.

As of now, the Association will continue to send letters to the municipality and work to educate this region on the negative affects of the Tuna Farms. The only thing preventing the installation of the Tuna Farms are the permits from the municipality. Although everything else has been approved, Pavones is still putting up a hard fight against the Granjas Atuneras.

ECC Student Speaks Out

All members- and all ages!- of the community will be affected by the impending tuna farms if it goes through. Below, 9-year-old ECC student, Leilani, voices her opinion about the impending tuna project: check out an excerpt of her very well-written (did I mention she is an ECC student?:) letter to Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

“The other day I went surfing here in Pavones. It was such a beautiful day. The water was clear and pretty. I saw a manta ray jumping, a pelican diving in for his breakfast, and a sea turtle floating by. When I went under the water, I could hear the whales singing. Have you ever heard whales? They sing the most beautiful songs! As I came up from under the water, I had a terrible thought… Will there come a day when this Gulf that I love so much be so contaminated from the tuna farms that the manta rays will no longer jump? Will there be a day that the pelicans no longer come here to fish for their breakfast? Will there be a day that the turtles no longer want to lay their eggs on our beaches? Will there be a day when the whales no longer want to come and sing their sweet songs?
I hope with all my heart that this day will never come! This is why I am writing you today. I am asking you to please, please help us to stop the tuna farms from coming here!!! Please use all your power as president to stop this project from contaminating our beautiful Golfo Dulce.

Thank you for you time,
Leilani McGonagle
PS. I heard you recently were sick with Swine Flu. I hope you are feeling better!”

It’s never too late to make a donation to this important cause- EVERYTHING COUNTS. Thanks for your support,

Sincerely,
Raphel & Haley

Feria Multicultural

The design of every small village in Central America, it seems, is based on the central soccer field called the plaza. Even traveling through the tiniest of rural villages, I have always seen the plaza as the center of town activity. In Pavones, our plaza is the stage for not only weekend soccer games, but also elementary school P.E. activities, young children learning to ride their bikes without training wheels, late night hang-outs, as well as cloud-gazing and the general relaxation in the sun.

The multicultural fair that took place in Pavones last week was a brand new way to utilize our town square. It was a delightful celebration that sought to bring all parts of the community together and celebrate the multiculturalism of the Pavones area and, on a broader scale, Costa Rica as a whole.

Organized by the supervisor of the school district, each primary school was asked to research a different Costa Rican province, and then create an aesthetically pleasing booth with pictures, objects, and food from that area.  Additionally, the myriad of foreign residents that make up the semi-permanent population of Pavones showed up to represent their nation, thus, producing a bona fide multicultural event. There was even an appearance by the Guaymi to represent the nearby Indigenous Reservation and Pretoma, the Costa Rican ocean conservation group.

Below is the Puntarenas booth (Pavones’ province). Yes, we have a lot of bananas and coconuts here if you’ve never seen them before.

Some more regions represented: I was impressed by the creativity and color that went into the booths and extent to which they were thoughtfully organized.

Other activities that toom place were children’s art tables, speeches, marimba music, and dancing. Photos below: Baile Típico of Costa Rica and the Guaymi Indigenous.

Last but not least, allow me to introduce our NEW pre-kindergarten teacher, Lisa! She took our adorable pre-k class to the celebration, particularly fitting because this class is the most culturally diverse of all the ECC classes.

We’ll see you next year, as this will hopefully become an annual event!

Pictures: Lisa

Dearest Escuela Camino Claro friends, family, and fellow supporters,

The countdown is on: we have two weeks remaining before our second official year as a non-profit community education center comes to a close. More than seven months ago, Raphel and I arrived in Pavones with open minds and the eagerness to make this year better than the last. In many ways we succeeded, due to heightened ECC involvement in the community and increased enrollment: during our busiest time this year we had around 50 students of all ages! We were also unsurprisingly faced with new and difficult challenges as ECC becomes more of a fixture in the community. Overcoming the many obstacles and turning them into successes, or at least valuable life lessons, has made this experience the most joyful for both of us. We have learned life is not always a clear path, though our name may say otherwise (“camino claro” means “clear path”).

Change is a good: the 2010 school year awaits

What is in store for next year? We hope lots of new and exciting changes and improvements! To start off with, Raphel and I have been eagerly on the hunt for new teachers for next year, and so far there have been several promising individuals who are interested in taking over most of the teaching (including pre-kinder, ESL, and home school classes). It’s clear now that Raphel and I are needed more as administrators maintaining the integrity of the business, e.g. recruiting, accounting, and networking. Besides, fundraising is a full time job, something we absolutely cannot do from Pavones because high-speed Internet is still undiscovered. We look forward to a few new, inspired, motivated individuals to help us continue teaching the community of Pavones. Like I said, change is good!

The EDGE environmental education curriculum

Last March, ECC was proudly accepted under the charity umbrella of The EDGE (Early Development of Global Education) Charitable Foundation. By becoming part of the EDGE Children for Children program, we have joined several other charities around the world receiving support from this organization. With this acceptance, ECC has made a commitment to become an environmentally friendly school to the best of our ability, turning our school green! ECC also received The EDGE curriculum guide, which provides ECC teachers with the knowledge and creative tools to help us introduce environmental awareness to the students and, in turn, the rest of the community. We are very much looking forward to implementing it into our classes next year, particularly targeting the youngest students.

First step in going green: ECC’s recycle program

Though still a fledging, ECC’s mini recycle center is one of the first steps ECC has taken to become an environmentally friendly school. What’s a better way to create awareness of the basic purposes of reducing, reusing, and recycling, than working with our youngest students? They are beginning to understand the difference between aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and glass bottles by putting them in the correct bin. Small accomplishment, it may seem, but these simple actions will eventually lead to a cultural shift in thinking about their country’s waste management. Eventually…down the road… but in the meantime, aren’t they cute?!

On a similar note, we are still stumbling along and making slow progress with the grand Pavones recycle plan. The good news is that the mayor of Golfito has apparently approved of funding a community recycle facility. Though the paperwork is underway, we’re not sure how long it will take until a building is actually erected and the residents get the hang of recycling. With the help of other dedicated Pavones residents (thanks Lili!), we have arranged for a monthly recycle truck to pass through Pavones while we wait for tangible results of the mayor’s approval.

Until next year…

By remaining on our mailing list, checking out and subscribing to ECC’s blog, and continuing your support, our community education center can continue to thrive and progress!

I will leave you with the following words from The EDGE Dedication:

Be as great as you can possibly be. Be an advocate and a teacher for the children in your life. Show them that life knows no bounds. Allow them to feel the soil, awe at the miraculous species that inhabit the earth, to feel the wind and smell the fresh scent of every season. The Earth calls to them with reason. Educate them.

The appropriateness of ending the 2009 school year with these words is, in my opinion, twofold. Initially these words inspire me to reflect on my own purpose in life, regardless of my title (English teacher, community developer, fellow human being) and strive to better the world I am so much a part of. Secondly, this dedication reminds us that ECC has the potential to bring many more positive changes to the community of Pavones, Costa Rica, and beyond: we will especially be able to succeed in the coming years by embodying this dedication as our own.

Thank you so much for sticking with us and supporting us!
Pura Vida,
Haley

Source: Hernandez, Gomez, Nembhard, Paez-Garcia, The EDGE Curriculum. 1st Edition. Miami, The EDGE, 2008. www.theedgeeducation.com