📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Tsobol P’ijiltasel, which in the indigenous language Tsotsil means ‘’The Learning Circle’’ is an
education intervention project in development, which is implemented by Nataté. We started his education project in 2015 in three bilingual schools (Spanish-Tsotsil), serving boys and girls between 6 – 12 years old, who are studying at the primary school level whit highly marginalized communities located close to San Cristóbal de las Casas in the Highlands of Chiapas. The work is done in different communities lacking basic services like potable water and sewer systems, and in some cases electricity, where the majority of the population’s main source of income is agriculture.
The main goal of this project centers on creating a work plan to implement learning and literacy strategies in the schools, as well as to strength the students intellectual and physical capacities, trough activities that involves art and other skills apart from the formal basic education developing
💼 What the programme involves
The volunteer has the responsibility to plan and develop the activities, and to implement them in front of the student group. Nataté offers follow-up and strategic support so that the volunteer can plan his/her classes. Within the school, the volunteer will be accompanied by a teacher, but without his/her pedagogical help.
The interested volunteers will have 3 areas to get involved:
English instructor: The volunteer will teach a basic English classes to indigenous children who are studying at the primary level. They will have to develop daily sessions attending groups from first to sixth grade.
Artistic Education: The volunteer must develop daily sessions attending groups of first to sixth grade, sometimes the work of the volunteers may be in the morning or evenings. The activities they can do are: painting, music, theater, drawing, dance, preparing at the end of his stay an exhibition or presentation to show the work accomplished.
Sports: The volunteer will give sessions of physical activation to boys and girls, must develop daily sessions attending groups of first to sixth grades, sometimes the work may be in the morning or evening shift. Some of the schools have a multipurpose court where you can develop volleyball, basketball and fast soccer activities, etc.
The volunteer has the responsibility to plan and develop the activities, and to implement them in front of the student group.
Nataté offers follow-up and strategic support so that the volunteer can plan his/her classes on a monthly basis. Within the school, the volunteer will be accompanied by a teacher, but without his/her pedagogical help.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will stay in a volunteer house designated by Nataté in the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, with shared rooms, it is important to bring a sleeping bag. They will have access to basic services, shared bathrooms with hot water, and an equipped kitchen. NO WIFI.
The participation fee does NOT include the costs of food or transportation.
📍 About the location
The project takes place in the charming city of San Critstóbal de las Casas, which has managed to maintain its colonial architecture and Mexican flavor while welcoming a mix of indigenous, national and international cultures. Similarly, it is a strategic starting point to tourist attractions like parks, lakes, Maya archeological sites, mangroves, waterfalls and beaches.
⚠️ Requirements
In order to implement the project, it is required that the volunteer has a command of Spanish an intermediate level (spoken and written). The volunteer must have a high school diploma and experience working with children, and academic training in education or social sciences.
The volunteer must have a respectful attitude towards the norms and behaviors of the indigenous community, a high tolerance for frustration, be able to work under pressure, and be willing to share with Nataté educational forms and methodologies to improve the project