You may or may not have realized that I removed the "Wish List" from my blog. My reasoning behind this is because, a.) I've received so many wonderful packages to date that most of my "needs" have been taken care of, and b.) That most of the time you guys think of such better things to include in a care package that my suggestions pale in comparison. But as it were, I am creating another Wish List linked in a button at the top of this page. This Wish List is not for me personally, but for my Agriculture Youth Club, also known as Huerto Club.
The word, "Huerto," means garden or more specifically vegetable garden.* The name originated as the club was part of the garden project at the school, but has evolved to be solely an after-school club focused on agriculture and environment themes. At our last meeting we had 25 participants ages five to 13 attend the session. At that meeting the kids reviewed their rules for the group and goals for the next year. The following are their goals:
- How to plant potatoes
- How to get rid of weeds
- How to care for animals
- How to care for vegetables
- How to sow and have a good crop
- How to care for the environment
- How to care for the soil
- How to make recycled art
- How to save our nature
- How to care for endangered animals
- How we can make sure that we don't cut down trees
- How to prevent environmental contamination
 |
| The Rules and Norms of the group with everyone´s signatures. |
These are some lofty goals for a group of kids. They are very enthusiastic but have a lot to learn on working as a team and staying focused. Most traditional education systems in Ecuador focus, as I've mentioned, on rote memorization and do not put much emphasis on placing responsibility on kids. My goals are to increase the kids' ownership of their group. In a very individualistic society, it is important to impart these skills early in life as they traditionally do not learn teamwork and youth leadership at home or school.
The families of the members do not have any disposable income with which to support the group, and until we establish a higher level of organization we are ineligible for other funding sources. For this club to succeed, we could use art supplies and basic essentials with which to run the club. To date, I have used my living allowance to purchase the necessary office supplies, however I cannot purchase enough supplies for the up to 35 kids that come to each meeting. We hold meetings in the community center which holds a number of benches, two tables and a whiteboard.
For a list of supplies that would be greatly appreciated, see the link above. Many of these supplies can be purchased in Ecuador, though we lack the plata (money) at present. If you would like more information on other ways in which you or your organization can contribute to the group, please contact me separately.
I also think it would be really fun to start a pen-pal program with a 4-H club (preferably with an animal science component) so my kids have contact with other young people that are learning about agriculture.
*The word jardín is used more to refer to a flower garden.
0 comments:
Post a Comment