Creative Corners

Exciting New Project in Guatemala...

Exciting New Project in Guatemala... February 26, 2009

Project

This new Creative Corners project is an independent, alternative education project based in the Mayan village of San Marcos La Laguna, Lago Atitlán, Guatemala that operates as a permanent creativity workshop and program for the youth of the local community.

The project dedicates itself to supporting and facilitating artistic expression, learning, exchange, formation and production with the children and youth of San Marcos and the surrounding rural communities.

Run by a permanent team of three and assisted by local and and international artists and facilitators the project provides art workshops in schools, public spaces and at their own premises which include a dance/gym studio, classrooms and workshops spaces.

They also provide a unique scholarship program where local students are trained to become arts trainers and facilitators themselves so that this will continue to be a creative and vibrant community.

Why we need you

Four decades of civil war, and centuries of colonial oppression have left communities like San Marcos La Laguna divided where the communities have been marginalised, segregated and deprived of many basic human needs.

The majority of households in San Marcos La Laguna suffer from economic poverty, malnourishment, health problems and alcoholism. Opportunities for education and employment are limited.

Guatemala's public education system provides very few options for artistic development: the national budget currently invests little or nothing towards creative processes in the schools.

This is a truly unique and special project that will really change you. Volunteers and the permanent team live and eat together in the main centre. Most volunteers teach in more advanced workshops in the centre’s on-site classroom and those who stay two months or more can also take part in teaching programs in nearby public schools and local centres in other communities.

Who we need

Teachers, Instructors, Educators and Facilitators in these disciplines:

Performing Arts – Theatre, Circus, Dance (ballet, hip-hop, modern, Latin, African etc.)
Visual Arts – Painting, Drawing, Murals, Graphic Design, Animation,
Graffiti, Photography, Video etc.
Music – Percussion, Guitar, Singing
Yoga, Martial Arts, Acrobatics, Pilates
Human Rights, History, Anthropology, Psychology
Popular Education, Pedagogy
Environmental Education
English
Computers and I.T. (esp. Web, Audio, Video & Graphic Design)
Sewing and Costume Design
Assistants – if you want to participate in workshops with children and/or
youth but you don’t feel ready to lead one, you can help as an assistant

Other possibilities include:

Therapists:

Psychologists and counselors for group and individual therapy
Certified in Massage, Alexander Technique, Reiki and other bodywork methodologies and therapies, speech therapy

Helping hands for our community tasks:

Recycling, Production of Teaching Materials
Gardening, Landscaping, Permaculture
Construction, Carpentry and Repairs
Kitchen Work, Cooking and Cleaning

Specialists in:

Fundraising
Administration
Web Design, Graphic Design, Video Editing, Documentary Filmmakers
Studio Recording and Engineering, Lighting and Sound

A Typical Day:

7 am Breakfast
8:00 Youth group arrives
8:00- 8:45 Everyone does community tasks – cleaning workshop spaces, recycling, washing-up etc.
8:45- 12:30 You will be in one of these teams: Youth Workshops, Workshops in Schools, or Community Work (gardening, maintenance, construction)
1 pm Lunch
2:30- 5:00 You will be in one of these teams: giving workshops to children in the main centre, giving workshops to children in one of our local centres, or giving workshops with youth in secondary schools
7 pm Supper Volunteers and staff take turns preparing dinner and cleaning up afterwards

Price

• Two Weeks £495

• One month £795

• Two months £1245

• each additional month £500

What’s included

• Shared accommodation on Site at the project

• Three meals a day

• Private Car from Guatemala City to San Marcos (approximately 4 hour journey)

• Comprehensive travel and medical insurance

• Quality pre-departure information, visa advice

Skills needed

• Spanish helps but is not essential and Spanish teachers are available downtown.

• Ability to relate to children aged 3-18 and organise and lead workshops and creative activities (you can also work as an assistant or on other tasks listed above)

• Be able to work independently without supervision.

• Initiative, flexibility and enthusiasm.

• An appreciation of bugs, insects, nature and animals!

Donate to this Project

If you would like to donate to this project you can do so securely with any credit card through Paypal. 100% of Donations will go directly to the project.