building bridges

+

Teaching Children in

Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil

with Global Vision

International

Building

Bridges:

“Education is

all a matter of

building

Bridges”

--Ralph Ellison

+Brown Project Extended Vision:

!! To empower women and children worldwide by eliminating

social and economic obstacles to their well-being and

providing opportunities for a better future.

!! Last Summer’s Projects

!! Threads of Hope

!! Collin County Children’s Advocacy

+GVI Mission:

!! Global Vision International (GVI) is a non-political, non-

religious organization, which through its alliance with over

150 project partners in over 30 countries, provides

opportunities for volunteers to fill a critical void in the fields

of environmental research, conservation, education and

community development.

!! GVI Phoenix believes that education, both primary and

secondary, as well as daily food, are basic human rights and

is attempting to combat the imbalances of these rights

through GVI Phoenix volunteers and the GVI Charitable

Trust.

+Project Overview

!! Volunteered teaching children in developing countries of Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil with GVI.

!! Lived with host families in Ecuador and Peru

!! Worked with indigenous and immigrant populations in communities with a shortage of funds and teachers

!! Children often came from difficult home environments and communities with prevalent alcoholism and crime

!! Subjects taught: Communication/Language, Literacy, Math, Numeracy, Social Studies, Personal Studies, Natural Science, English, Art, P.E.

+Ecuador "!GVI operates 3 schools in

communities of Muenala,

Larcacunga, and Huayrapungo

"!Schools are near Otovalo—50% of

population indigenous

!! GVI provides a breakfast drink

called Colada, lunch, and fruit to

ensure children receive proper

nourishment

+Huayana Falcon School

Community: Muenala

!! Indigenous community 45 minute drive

and 30 min walk from Otavalo

!! Most families are self-sufficient farmers

!! Native language is Kichwa and only

speak basic Spanish

+My Class: GVI Grade

!! Alex (16)

!! Brayan (9)

!! Sisa (9)

+ Learning in Action

+Learning in Action

+Despedida

+ Home Stay

!! Host Mom, Gladys

!! Joana

+Inti Raimi

!! Originated as indigenous festival for the sun

!! Includes a month of celebrations culminating in a

day when they dance in traditional dress with

their tribe near the volcano Cotacachi

!! Stone throwing follows and the winner will have

the best harvest

+Travels

+ Peru

!! GVI works in 2 schools in the Pueblos

Jovenes near Arequipa

!! Maldonado & Triunfo

!! Government provides bread and fruit

!! GVI provides lunch

+Victor Maldonado

!! 15 minute drive from Arequipa

!! Work is hard to find so alcoholism

and domestic issues arising from

it are prevalent

!! Children speak Spanish

+ My Class: Grade 1

!! L-R: Marco, Jonatan, Anabel, Nohemí, Diego, Victor

+ Learning in Action

+Learning in Action

+ Despedida

+Home Stay

!! Standing: Amina & Joaquín, Jenny, Lupe, Gabriela, Reuben

!! Seated: Badru, José, Rafael, Me, Carmen

+ Travels

+

+Brazil

!! GVI operates 1 school/day care in the favela of Mata Escura in

Salvador

!! Mata Escura was originally founded by wives of prisoners who set

up residence around the prison so is a rough community

!! GVI provides breakfast and lunch to the children

He who opens a school door, closes a prison.

Victor Hugo

"!Children nap three days a week so

they have a safe place to sleep

+Mata Escura !! My class: “The Babies” (13 months to 4 yrs)–

John, Kelly, Samara, Ludgimila, Alan, Gustavo, Stephanie, Martinha, Kuwan

+Lessons & Achievements

!! Improved conversational Spanish

!! Confidence as a teacher and traveler

!! Knowledge of some challenges and methods of operating an international charity organization

!! Observed how children are affected by difficult environments

!! Contributing to the education and development process of the children

!! Learned about culture and history of Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil

+Thank You!

!!To the James Graham Brown Foundation for

sponsoring this transformational summer

experience.

!! To all the staff and volunteers in the GVI Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil projects for their support, ideas, and continuing effort to

provide education and a safe environment for hundreds of

children.

!! To my host families in Ecuador and Peru for their warmth and

advice.