Camino Claro Blog

Saying goodbye to another great month (and to Haley)- Hello to an even better one!

March has been an incredible month with many successes, as well as a few disappointments. I look forward to April, however, as another busy month with the arrival of our Program Assistant, Jacob Smithers. We will all have a full plate due to the absence of Haley here in Pavones, who is now supporting ECC stateside while I continue to run the school in Pavones.

ECC’s Classes- an emotional roller coaster
The Ups…

After the seemingly endless schedule-rearranging and evaluation of our students’ skill levels, ECC’s Adult ESL classes are going strong.  Gerardo, the amazing, creative, spontaneous, and energy-filled teacher has 15-20 adult students. This is at least double the enrollment Haley and I ever had!! Though neither Haley nor I have taught or own classes this year, one of us served as his in-class assistant. The students really love Gerardo because he is a very well-respected local and talented teacher. The students also value having a native English speaker in the classroom to help, so together we make a great team! I find that I am constantly helping individuals with questions, thus, the students are more fulfilled because they are getting individualized  attention.

Our Bilingual I and II classes for children are also flourishing. Lisa’s upbeat attitude and diverse class activities keeps the students excited. She has a busy Pre-K/Kindergarten class with more than ten 3-5 year olds, so she has hired a Pavones local as an assistant. Wendy Eliana Mendoza is a delight to have working with ECC. She is extremely hard-working and great with the children. She is also in Gerardo’s Adult English classes, so she has been practicing her English with Lisa’s students.

…and the Downs

Even though this year has started off with a bang, there are a few setbacks that I try not to let get me down. Though the Adult ESL class is a success, we are struggling to gather enough students for two of ECC’s newest classes: Spanish for Foreigners and Colegio English, a weekend English class for local high school students. I guess with the busy schedule of the high school students here- 5:30am-4pm Monday through Friday!- they look forward to their weekends to sleep in and forget about education (as to whether or not the local high school educational system encourages them to remember most things is debatable…). I plan to do some more recruiting this week and see if we can boost class numbers so that we don’t have to cancel either of these new, promising classes.

In other unfortunate news, our high school tutoring program failed.  We could not find a dedicated tutor to facilitate the classes, plus we had to accept that this year ECC does not have enough funding to pay a tutor. Hopefully this program can develop over the next couple of years.

Just one more piece of bad news- the recycling program will have to be shut down until further developments. We have about 50 bags of recycling piling up behind the school but unfortunately the pick-up is not often enough to make it worth it for the town. Now that Pavones has a free public trash service once a week, people just throw their recycling away. The incentive to save it (and save money) is gone as Pavones’ citizens do not have to pay for their extra trash anymore. We are still investigating whether or not Pavones can build a community recycling center someday soon.  My fingers are crossed and we’re not giving up just yet!

ECC’s new program assistant has arrived!

To end on a positive note, ECC’s first volunteer Program Assistant arrived in Pavones on April 1st! We mentioned his arrival in our previous newsletters and blogs (which you can check out HERE) but now he is here in the flesh! Jacob has immediately taken to the pura vida lifestyle and I have no doubt that his time here will be very special for the community. He has already started working at the public school library this week, where he loves working with the children and practicing his Spanish while they practice their English. He will start Computer Literacy classes next week and I have already filled all the spaces in the class.

I am very much looking forward to what the following months bring. Our next ECC newsletter and blog posts will be by Jacob, so stay tuned to hear about his first month with ECC in Pavones! Jacob’s blog, a personal account of discovering what life is like in Pavones, is also worth checking out in the meantime.

Thank you to all of our supporters; I am SO grateful to everyone that has made it possible for ECC to continue to thrive.

Pura Vida!

- Raphel

Gerardo Mendoza Barrantes

Gerardo, born and raised in Pavones, is an excellent addition to Escuela Camino Claro’s team. He is an enthusiastic, talented, and experienced teacher who has already proven to be a valuable asset to our community education center. He is also well-respected in the community and active in local politics: basically, he’s a busy guy so we’re lucky to have swooped him up! Gerardo is teaching a variety of levels of ECC’s adult English classes, which have been a great success so far. In addition, he is planning on beginning weekend English classes for high school students, as well as Spanish classes for foreigners in the near future.

Folks, this is Gerardo!

Gerardo attended the area’s local schools and, upon graduating from Colegio Comte, enrolled in the Universidad Latina de Costa Rica in Paso Canoas. He finished his bachelor degree for teaching English and is currently obtaining his Licenciatura, or Masters Degree. Gerardo’s teaching experience is expansive, with three years working in the local public schools and teaching his practicum at Colegio Comte. He has also worked directly in Pavones and its surrounding communities by offering private courses in English and Spanish. Gerardo’s interest in traveling was inspired by his 8-month trip to the United States in 2006 to study the culture. In the future, he says, he hopes to learn more languages, continue teaching, and work in educational administration.

Keep up the good work, my friend!

It’s 7:30 on a Monday night and I’m sitting in Escuela Camino Claro waiting for the last class of the day to wind down. Gerardo is in the next room leading his adult English class in basic dialogues (“Hello, how are you? I’m fine, thank you, and you?”), so I thought I would take a moment to reflect on a few things that have happened during the first week of classes.

ECC started its 2010 school year on Monday, March 8th.  It feels amazing to see the tangible results of weeks of hard work and organization. Arranging class schedules, recruiting students, and integrating new teachers for the past month and a half was like putting together a tedious puzzle, but now that ECC is back in action, Raphel and I can unwind for a moment and enjoy being in the role of administrators. At several points last week I smiled and said proudly to myself “It’s working!” There are dozens of students of all ages learning under ECC’s roof!

A few highlights from week one:

1) Gerardo’s evening adult English class overflowed our limited teaching space when 20 students, some returning but mosty new, arrived last Monday night! We barely had enough chairs to go around, but a few people didn’t mind sitting in the kiddie chairs and everyone was able to squeeze in. Raphel and Gerardo’s bike recruit around town the week before definitely paid off! The challenge will be to keep all those students coming every week.

2) Stellar success for Lisa’s Pre-K, or Bilingual I class. Lisa also wasn’t expecting such a great turnout- thirteen 3½  to 5 year olds in one class- so she’s already hired a local high school student to be her assistant. These smallest students get the award for being the most excited to be in school. 

3) Never thought it would be such a joy to be a teacher’s assistant again! No lesson planning and less preparation time, but I still get to hang out and participate in the education. It’s great. I love my job, especially when there are good people working with us.

4) By taking on this new role as “supervisor”, and not “head teacher,” I’ve been able to realize how much teaching experience I’ve gained over the past years and that I have useful insight for the new teachers (who are actually, in many ways, much more qualified than me). Though we may be good teachers, I know Raphel and I can agree that our lack of business experience has made us not so savvy in this arena, but we learn as we go along and make it work somehow.

Up and coming

This week, as the teachers and students settle into the schedule, Gerardo will start his Spanish for Gringos class and Raphel and I will continue to help out, meanwhile getting other activities organized. Computer classes are in the mix (again, high speed internet, yippee), as well as developing community improvement projects for our intern Jacob to help coordinate.

Like I said, off to a great start!
Cheers, Haley

Sunday was the last minute teachers meeting to fine-tune a few things before Escuela Camino Claro’s classes started the next day- and they’re in session as we speak! In the past, of course, the prep work has been done by Raphel and me, but with Gerardo and Lisa as part of the team now, this meeting was actually worthy of documenting. Just take this post as a “practice” for me to jump back into blog-world (meaning, more tantalizing posts to come, so don’t worry).

At our “kickoff potluck” we cleaned, organized, and set up (and went a little staple gun-happy!) until we all felt that we were ready for this week to begin. It’s amazing how a little goes a long way: with the few resources we have here at ECC, as well as all the creative minds working together, the building continues to transform into a positive learning environment for an increasing number of students.

Also worth noting is ECC now has broadband high speed Internet that is working beautifully! A couple years ago no one here even had phones, so imagine the cyber madness that’s now taking place. This town is small enough that everyone is practically already at shouting distance, but when people discover Facebook, they really don’t have to leave the house. Pictured here are Raphel and Gerardo joyfully watching a YouTube video.

In the next room, the students from the Bilingual II class are doing an art project involving cutting out the days of the week in English and Spanish, must go take pictures!

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