Sunday, January 30, 2011

Project Updates

Projects, in the order I remember them:

1. English workshop in the High School

It has been going pretty well—the kids pay attention, want to be there, participate for the most part, and love to play dinamicas (games).  The hardest part is planning classes that everyone can participate in, and being consistent across classes.  One class was entirely conversations in small groups. Another was acting out dramas. One time, I tried to teach them about globalization. Last week, we read a short story, but I ended up having to explain it in Spanish. I really like teaching these classes, I just hope that they stay useful for the students.

*1.5* The school vice principal is super supportive, and wants me to get involved in the school in other ways—we’re going to do a tree planting, and some other environmental projects.

2. Teacher training

Once a week, I meet with the three English teachers from the High School. My goal is to give them new ideas on how to teach… not just how to teach English.  They seem pretty into it, and it gives me another “in” in the High School.  They’re also just happy to have a native speaker to talk to.  There are a few kids in the school who have been to the states a few times, and are above the teachers’ English abilities, which makes it hard to teach them from the book.

3. Building a basketball court

My neighborhood has a ton of kids, but nowhere for them to play.  They set up a basketball hoop in the street, but there are motorcycles and cars and chickens.  So, Sugeidy and I are scoping out a few plots of land behind the neighborhood to build a basketball court!  I wrote letters to the neighbor group/community members and the mayor, as well as a survey form to gauge interest.  Over the next few weeks, hopefully we can raise the money and support necessary to actually get the project started.

4. Internet center

Phil’s business plan group opened an internet center!  They have a few computers, a small library, and give computer classes for free on the weekends.  It is pretty awesome what they’ve done—from the ground up, they have planned and executed this internet center, and it is actually functioning.  I want to make sure it keeps functioning, and bump up the computer classes and technical expertise.  This sort of thing is what IT volunteers are for, and I’m excited about it.

5. Adult literacy

I’m working with Diomaris’s classes, trying to integrate computers and technology.  We have been playing dinamicas using my laptop and the 50” plasma in the CTC, and they really get into it.  The hard part here is to not simply put what they’d be doing in the book onto the screen—tech has to allow us to do new and better things, rather than just being a novelty. 

I’m also trying to develop a computer course for the people who have graduated from the basic literacy course.  Once they can read and write, they move on to typing and internet and the digital world! Except… I’m not convinced this is actually worth it for all of them.  Sure, basic computer skills are awesome, but most of these women have been taking huge chunks of their weeks to learn how to read and write, and typing may not be as utile. Finishing basic literacy is a huge accomplishment, and it IS extremely important to follow it up with something—be it a reading club or more classes. Some are really excited about using computers, and the classes are a huge source of pride—they never imagined sitting in front of a monitor before.

6. Site development

Just to the west of Yamasa is San Antonio.  This little town has a middle school that is in ruins after the contractor ran off with the renovation money, and needs some help.  Luckily, the principal and teachers seem to be awesome, and have lots of ideas for projects. They especially jumped at the idea of building a computer lab (and hey, if Phil’s kids could build an internet center, why can’t we do something similar in the school?).  I’ve also talked with the head of the town’s development group about everything from planting fruit trees along the main road to paving that road.  I have yet to meet with the women’s group and the neighborhood group, but I think we already have enough to start filling out the paperwork to request another Peace Corps volunteer.

7. Photoshop class

The CTC has been asking for a Photoshop class for a long time now, so I’m going to go ahead with it. 

8. Business Plan group

I’m beginning a Construye tus Sueños group, which guides youth through the steps involved with starting a small business.

9. Youth/health group

I have an Escojo mi Vida youth group, but it is sort of falling apart. Hopefully, I can get it back on track again. 

 

I think that wraps it up.  I´m on a medical mission right now, translating for American doctors.  This one is for hernia surgeries, and it looks like it is going to be pretty awesome.  The only downside is that the ridiculous list of projects I just finished talking about is on hold for a week. 2011 is shaping up to be a busy year, and I´m attacking it with everything I have.  I know some things are going to fall apart, but it feels good to be doing things. I´ve hit the point in my service where I have a pretty good understanding of how things work, and I´ve built a decent network in my community.

Let´s see what I can do!