My work, as succinctly as possible. (for the actually succinct version, scroll to the postpostscript.)

WHAT IS BEZALEEL?

I work at a school, Bezaleel, that has about160 boarding students. The grade level is equivalent to middle school and highschool. We are located in a beautiful little valley just outside of a small town called Chamelco which most people describe as tranquilo. The school was started about 10 years ago because of a call from Mennonite Churches in Alta Verapaz for better education for their children. Eastern Mennonite Missions, which evangelized and has had a continued presence here in Guatemala provided and continues to provide lots of support with workers (long and short term), money, and materials was instrumental in creating Bezaleel. A successful Mennonite colony in Belize also provided lots of support. MCC, in collaboration with Fundameno (an organization like MCC for the Mennonite churches of Alta Verapaz) also provided support for the building of Bezaleel. Obviously all of the churches and Mennontites of Alta Verapaz were instrumental in the building of Bezaleel also.

BACKROUND: STUDENT´S SITUATION, WHY BEZALEEL IS IMPORTANT, AND CHALLENGES

Throughout Latin American indigenous peoples live on an unequal footing with the dominant Latino culture. Right now, Bolivia is becoming a possible exception with the leadership of the first indigenous president in Latin America, Evo Morales and an organized indigenous political movement. Guatemala, however, is not an exception to the rule. Small Q´eqchi´ communities simply do not get the education that they have a right to. Bezaleel, supported by funds from generous Mennonites represented by EMM, provides a relatively cheap (families pay about 1/8 of the cost to attend along with a donation of corn) option for students who want to continue their education.

Bezaleel faces many challenges in properly educating the students. Many students arrive at Bezaleel ill prepared by the primary classes they received. Many of their parents do not know how to read or right and so cannot educate their students themselves. Smaller communities often do not see the benefits of education. There is little access to reading material, Q´ekchi´ is most of the students mother tongue, making classes in Spanish difficult.

WHAT I DO (ON THE OCCASION THAT THINGS ARE NORMAL AT BEZALEEL)

I work in the library (7:30-4/5) and am available to help students with their work at any time. Students have become more and more comfortable with asking me for help, though often times, I think, they do not ask for help because the do not realize they need it, or do not care.

A typical conversation is this

What are you doing? “work” well, what are you working on “science” But what are you doing “copying” or “a project” well, what are you learning “saber profe” (who knows teacher).

And at that point I can usually get the kid to talk about the little bit that he understands and explain concepts or words that he or she does not know. Maybe that is not very different from a conversation with anyone of their age, but it can still be a bit frustrating. Tutoring in this manner is my normal work. I also do quite a bit of just chatting with students and try to mentor some of them a little bit and am always trying to turn conversations educational in someway. Sometimes kids are super interested in worldly things that I can explain that they had no idea about, and sometimes I don´t do a good job and a glazed look comes over the students eyes.

I also work with a few advanced students with English, though this happens with frustrating irregularity (though at the moment with more regularity). I also often bring the daily paper to school and through this have the opportunity to talk to the kids about current events and encourage critical thinking which is generally lacking. I work with a small group with which once a week (in theory) we read an advanced article on a theme that together we have decided on (we have read about Evo Morales, Fidel Castro, the current economic crisis, water issues on Latin Americaa, and sustainable development) the next will be about Rigoberta Menchua or mining in Guatemala. I am not trying to form students into a certain political ideology, I want them to be more aware of the world around them and to learn to understand and think critically about what they read. I am also just starting a program to read short stories with younger students who need the Spanish practice and work at understanding and looking a little bit more in depth in what they read (this actually may be about as dead as it is new). And finally, after urging a couple math teachers, they have told students that they need to seek my math help, and that has happened (yay!, large square root problems all over again!!) The problem with all of this has been, how frustratingly hard it is to find times that work for people. The school sometimes constantly seems to have special events which pulls kids out of class and has them working on less (traditionally speaking) educational projects. Probably the biggest difference I have made with students at the school is developing a bit more of curiousity in some of the students… I just hope that that continues to be cultivated at Bezaleel and afterwards. OH yeah, and I come in Saturdays, usually along with a helpful YES team member or two and open the computer lab for students to work on projects and continue learning to use computers. I just help when they can´t figure something out. These Saturday´s are fun and relaxing.

I have a few other ideas I have thought about trying, but we´ll see what happens.

On top of it all, I feel I am very much loved at the school and have developed good relationships with many students that I think will leave a lasting positive affect.

Ok, I said succinct, and this might be as good as it gets.

Jordan

Ps. Coming soon: a portrait of my wonderful host family.

Pps. This is a succinct version of what I do: if you have seen the movie I heart Huckabees I am like the fireman (Marky Mark) yelling at his daughter as he is being pulled away from her “never stop asking questions… never stop asking questions!!!” except that I am not THAT funny, or that crude, but I am constantly asking students to think just a little bit more about what they are doing. Maybe you could call me Marky Marcos. I go by Marcos here, or “cush” in kekchi. Or cusho o cushito.