3 years. More than 30 surgeries and months spent in the hospital. Alan finally got his prosthesis and is practicing walking. This is the story of real grit. Strength, tears, depth of grief and height of joy. And…perhaps we could call it a Miracle.
We have been a support to him in many ways including the tables for Cafe Howie and for the food bank visitors to sit. We also work with his partner Suley, who is now providing Gail administrative assistance with filing the receipts and some of the accounting tasks.
Alan has depended on his wheelchair to get to and from the the Foundation, and to all the other places. He also underwent surgery on his other leg which fortunately went well.
And here he stands. Upright after three years of being horizontal, more than thirty operations and countless hospital nights. And very much alive.
We are honored to have been part of it and thank him for bringing us along. I feel that we learned much more than we taught and gave much less than we got.
At the beginning of the year when we were doing one of our community educational visits when were we presented with a new housing challenge. In one the most impoverished zones of La Carpio, we found a small one-room shack housing 20 people. 8 of these persons were a family of women and girls living in the squalid conditions.
This was a high risk situation for the family and we took this on as an urgent case. We asked they present us with a possible solutions including building a house on new land or purchasing something already existent. In the meantime we began to muster up interest among possible donors to cover any costs linked to this.
Initially, they found a house in Cartago in an area where we have relocated other families. Funny enough the house belonged to the cousin of someone we had helped relocate and find housing in that area many years ago. However, this plan didn’t work out.
Undeterred, we continued to search a feasible solution and donations. After several months we finally found the place for these women and girls to forge a healthy, happy and free life. We will continue to monitor and support them until they can reach a place of complete independence.
“This family who I call the Carpio 8 was living in squalor and grave danger in La Carpio. Thanks to generous donors they are now in a renovated shack in a safe neighborhood. If only we could do more like this…” – Gail
In the diverse world of education models, the Montessori approach stands out for its unique emphasis on fostering independence, curiosity, and a love for learning in children. One of the distinctive features of this model is the concept of “learning in circles,” a practice that nurtures community, collaboration, and holistic development.
The Concept of Learning in Circles
At its core, learning in circles involves bringing students together in a physical circle to engage in discussions, activities, and collaborative learning experiences. This arrangement symbolizes equality, unity, and inclusion, eliminating the hierarchical structure often found in traditional classrooms where the teacher is the focal point.
Origins and Philosophy
Dr. Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori education method, believed that children thrive in environments where they feel part of a community. Learning in circles reflects her philosophy that education should be child-centered, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual respect among students.
Benefits of Learning in Circles
1. Enhanced Communication Skills:
In a circle, every student has an equal opportunity to participate, share ideas, and listen to others. This promotes active listening and respectful communication, critical skills for personal and academic success.
2. Fostering Collaboration:
Circles create a cooperative learning environment where students can work together on projects, solve problems collectively, and support each other’s learning journeys. This teamwork builds social skills and a sense of community.
3. Encouraging Independence and Responsibility:
With the teacher acting more as a guide than a lecturer, students in a circle take more ownership of their learning. They learn to manage discussions, take turns, and respect diverse viewpoints, fostering independence and self-discipline.
4. Creating a Safe Learning Environment:
The physical arrangement of a circle helps to create a safe and inclusive space where students feel comfortable expressing themselves. This psychological safety is crucial for effective learning and personal growth.
5. Holistic Development:
Learning in circles supports the Montessori aim of educating the whole child—intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. Activities are often designed to engage multiple senses and encourage movement, aligning with the Montessori principle of hands-on, experiential learning.
Practical Applications in the Montessori Classroom
In a Montessori classroom, circle time can be used for a variety of purposes:
Morning Meetings: Starting the day with a circle meeting to set intentions, discuss plans, and build community.
Storytelling and Discussions: Sharing stories, books, and engaging in thoughtful discussions to enhance comprehension and critical thinking.
Group Activities: Conducting science experiments, art projects, or group games that require cooperation and shared problem-solving.
Reflection and Mindfulness: Ending the day with a circle to reflect on learning experiences, share achievements, and practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques.
Challenges and Considerations
While the benefits of learning in circles are significant, educators must navigate certain challenges:
Managing Diverse Participation: Ensuring that all students feel comfortable and are encouraged to participate can be challenging, particularly in larger groups or with shy children.
Balancing Guidance and Freedom: Teachers must skillfully balance guiding discussions and allowing children the freedom to explore ideas independently.
Adapting to Individual Needs: Recognizing and accommodating the diverse learning styles and needs of each child within the group setting is essential for the approach to be effective.
Conclusion
Learning in circles is more than just a physical arrangement; it is a reflection of the Montessori commitment to creating inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic learning environments. By emphasizing equality, respect, and community, this practice helps cultivate confident, independent, and socially adept learners. As educators and parents explore the benefits of this approach, they contribute to a broader understanding of what it means to educate the whole child, preparing them not just for academic success, but for life.
By embracing the principles of learning in circles, the Montessori model continues to inspire a more holistic, child-centered approach to education. This nurtures the potential within every student and fosters a lifelong love of learning.
The volunteers’ farewell… All I can think of when I enter our Centro Modelo classroom is the classic children’s song ” Los pollitos dicen pio pio pio cuando tienen hambre cuando tienen frio.” The little chickies say peep peep peep when they are hungry when they are cold.
With their little yellow shirts they do look just like a flock of baby chick’s. They are in constant motion, interacting with each other, curious about everything and absorbing everything in their environment.
We have some good parenting going on too. All the kids are neatly dressed. Freshly bathed and combed. And each one has their own little set of plate, cup and fork and spoon.
Here, they are celebrating the farewell party for our two volunteers, Ali and Quincy. I was so happy to see the delicious and enticing fruit feast prepared by the parents. Each child got to choose the fruits they wanted and amazingly not one plate was empty after snack time.
I felt these kid’s hunger to learn and to creatively seek activities. Their tenderness was so moving. Teacher Marisol is giving these children a wonderful transition from home to the beginnings of school life. We will really miss the kind assistance of the two volunteers. And I’m pretty sure they will miss CRHF too.
Some of you might remember Yader who came to us in 2018. Fleeing out the back door as the army burst into the front door looking for him. He has been a loyal, kind and conscientious workplace companion.
Last month, after a three month vetting process he legally entered into the US and wound up in Dallas. He was picked up in Dallas airport and dropped off at a studio apartment with an air mattress and some food.
And there he sat . No one came to see him. He ran out of food…he called us…our donor Howard got him some food via Uber(go figure). We began to investigate and suspected a scam. Things got really weird when he got an eviction notice.
So I sent out the word via Facebook and along came Claudia who was part of our peace group in October. She happens to live in Houston and was heading to Dallas the very next day to watch the eclipse.
She happens to speak fluent spanish because she happens to be of Mexican descent. She located Yader and got him all straightened out and then they watched the eclipse together.
He now has had his rent paid, gotten his healthcare card, permission to work and some cash . It seems that his caseworker had slipped up. Anyhow…it helps to have friend in High Places. As we say here ‘Gracias a Dios.’ His America dream is being realized.
‘Content warning – this post discussessuicidal feelings.’
Today, I was walking down the street and this gentleman calls out to me. ” Giselle, do you remember me?” I said” Your eyes”.
He gleefully answered…” six years ago your volunteer group of eye doctors found that I had cataracts. You took me to a clinic and I got treated and was able to see again.
What no one know at the time was that I was planning on taking my life by hanging myself. You saved my life”. Of course I got a little teary and pulled on the necklace I was wearing . (It had belonged to my mother). The string broke and tiny blue beads flew all over the street.
This man who once had been nearly blind and contemplated suicide, bent over and picked up ever single bead…even those that I couldn’t see because they were so teeny. He said” the hand of God is so with you. He is showing you this truth as I am able to see, find and pick up these little beads of your Mother.”
Indeed I saved his life…and…he taught me something I needed to know.
This is a very bittersweet day because it’s Yaders farewell, he’s on his way to Estados Unidos, to Dallas, TX. He’s gotten really good orientation from the International Organization for Migrants, from the UNHCR, and from the local government officials. He’s got all his documents in order.
It’s really hard because he’s really happy here, but he also knows that this is a unique opportunity, and he knows that he’s up for it and ready for it.
We gave him our best advice, you’re strong , you’re kind, you’re honest, you’re a good worker, you’re gonna find something really nice to do so that you can live in a fine place. And you’re gonna come back in your car and wave to all of us.
And then I proceeded to show him how to use the bathroom in an airport in an in an airplane since he doesn’t yet read, he can’t read the instructions.
So, we had quite the time just talking about how to take care of that issue. And then we also pantomime about take off your shoes, your belt, your things in your pocket, put it in the bin.
That’s as much as we can do. And all of us mothers were a little bit teary eyed because we remembered when we dropped our kids off the bus, the airport, the college, the wherever, the camp, it’s hard to leave your kids, it’s hard to see your kids go. And the love will never change.
32 years old and still with us in spite of meeting death two years ago by falling out of a third story construction site. He literally fought for life and limb. He did lose part of his right leg…but saved his life.
We celebrated with a family lunch at KFC at a venue on the third floor. He sat by the window. Here is his wife, her 4 year old daughter and two sons and Alan’s son. Boy those kids can eat! We got a super mega bucket. They scarfed down everything but the very bones.
Zuly says she tells the kids..let’s go out to eat… so she cooks up some rice and beans and they put a blanket on the floor of their little balcony..and they are out to eat!
We pull up into the parking lot in my car and all tumble out…the old lady, the one legged man, the woman with an unusual face, the tiny girl, the very tall boy and the very thin boy. Just like a circus clown car.
After we eat we go to the outdoor park down below and play hide and seek. I won every time because I’m sneaky and always get to the home free tree first.
He did it! Our collaborator Yader is a participant in the Biden administrations program. This program was created to pave the way for the political and economic refugees to enter legally into the United States.
This program included extensive phone and in person interviews, orientation sessions, Q & A activities, review by both UNHCR and US embassy personnel and…the all important diploma…his first ever.
I pray that America will treat this fine man with the respect he deserves. I kind of compare this to my entry into Costa Rica with the Peace Corps in 1977. It is a life changer.
He will be called to board the plane any day now.
ps the picture in the background was done by Danny, one of the street kids more than 20 years ago. It shows a hand pointing toward the full moon.
One and a half years ago he was using a round electric saw and it somehow got out of control. He cut his foot and hand and was bleeding profusely. His family was in a panic…the clinic was a 30 minute walk away. No one they knew had a car. And suddenly there were dozens of little kids swarming around me. And my car. “Por favor.” “Please please take him to ….the clinic.”
So we drove up there and I hardly got there before he was fainting and losing a lot of blood. From the clinic he was given an ambulance and off he went.
I didn’t see him after that..until yesterday. And there he was with two hands and two feet. What was the first thing he said to me? ” I’m so sorry I got your car all full of blood”. Imagine that. I just said..”the blood got cleaned up. I’m just glad to see you alive. ” And he looked at me and said, ” without those minutes you gave me I would not be here.” We looked at each other and in my head I heard Bob Marley singing…is this love is this love is this love is this love..and so it is.
