Sayda Soto is a 3rd grade teacher at the San Francisco de Asís school, located in the Buena Vista Sur Community, in Diriamba (Carazo).
Sayda cannot hide the fact that teaching is her true calling, even though doing so has not always been easy. The lack of material resources, the poor condition of the infrastructure at her school, or the lack of incentives to encourage students’ creativity, among other factors, meant that the environment was not the most suitable for the children, and that discouragement often took hold of them.
However, the situation began to change in June 2023, when a Project was launched, in which the school is participating, which aims to facilitate access to quality education for children who are particularly vulnerable as they live in geographically dispersed rural areas.
This initiative, which we are developing with ANDECU and with the support of the Generalitat Valenciana, addresses several crucial issues to improve the educational quality of these children. Thus, new pedagogical methodologies are being implemented and teachers are being trained to encourage students to obtain better academic results.
“Before, I worked as a teacher in a very limited way, but with this project I am acquiring new knowledge that is also helping me to put into practice with my students,” Sayda explains.
The Project is also improving the school’s infrastructure to improve the well-being, health and safety of the pupils. “Before this project, the school’s infrastructure was in poor condition and the environment was not very child-friendly.
The poor conditions of the school made them feel discouraged… The children’s lives were somewhat monotonous, but through the project they are learning and having fun in a creative and confident way,” she says. And she adds: “Thanks to this project we are enjoying a nice school because of the improvements that have been made.”
Education for peace
It is also worth noting that a peace education programme is being implemented at Sayda School and four other schools in the municipality, with the aim of promoting critical thinking, oral expression and conflict resolution in all areas.
This program includes the implementation of educational activities of a recreational and academic nature to strengthen values (such as equality, respect and dialogue) that contribute to cultivating a culture of peace.
With all these actions and improvements, Sayda acknowledges that the atmosphere at school has improved a lot. In this way, ultimately, “the children are learning many new things and, above all, sharing experiences with each other.” In addition, “from this Project we have observed a great change in the children’s learning, because the program provides confidence and that makes them feel calm and obey when doing the activities that are asked of them.”
The support that these children are receiving is not only allowing them to learn and grow with security and self-confidence, but is also creating a climate of peace, tranquility and unity among students, pupils and families. Hopefully, this atmosphere will end up being extended to the rest of the communities and municipalities in the region and, why not, the country.