Instruments of Change
11/23/2021 – Teresa Cranmer
As stated by USAID , “Long-term, sustainable development and improved equity in Guatemala will only be possible if children and youth receive a quality education.”Mustard Seed Peace Project (MSPP) began working with communities in the rural Ixcan region of Guatemala in 2004. We quickly realized that the situations that prohibit these communities from developing and advancing are multidimensional, involving several aspects of their community lives. We believe that the most important aspect of human development is based on building personal relationships. This is the foundation of our work and the model that we choose to follow. But the lack of educational resources, inadequate public health and weak community development strategies also play a very large role in keeping these communities in a seemingly unending cycle of poverty. Education plays a key role in the development of growth opportunities and the building of healthy patterns of systemic change.
Teaching in these communities can be very challenging. There are no textbooks or school supplies. The classrooms are typically overcrowded and often have a leaking roof. If they are fortunate, they have electricity. When a child is needed to assist with the economics of the family they are sent to work instead of school. Often a child is sent to school hungry or sick affecting their ability to concentrate. How do we assist these families in ending this cycle of poverty?
MSPP has developed a model of innovative learning that will provide the teachers of the Ixcan region of Guatemala with more creative ways of teaching their students. Our program will encourage and inspire the youth to continue their education, while instilling in them the leadership and critical thinking skills needed to become instruments of change in their communities.
Because of the remoteness of our work and the poverty in this region, our Instruments of Change education model is based on the philosophy of meeting the educators where they are. This philosophy not only diminishes the financial burdens but also eliminates the logistics of travel for the participants. The conferences will be held biannually in a local community with educators from 4-5 communities. Educators, students, professionals and organizations from the U.S. and various places in Guatemala will conduct a 4-hour conference where they will provide information and resources to encourage student engagement and participation in the classroom. The teachers will be instructed on more innovative, hands on ways of teaching. The next few days will be spent visiting the students in their classrooms, answering any questions that they might have.
MSPP developed the Instruments of Change program to not only enhance the lives of the youth in Guatemala but also to provide the opportunity for a short-term international immersion experience for those who travel with us. We will utilize high school, college and university students from the U.S. to assist with the implementation of the program, providing them with a first hand experience of the customs and culture of another country. Our hope is that this will encourage students from both countries to participate in continued cross-cultural sharing.