EDUCATION
Education
In some ways the picture to the right says it all. “NOTICE – 5th GRADE DOES NOT HAVE CLASS. THE TEACHER IS SICK.” This is a sign that too often can be found on classroom doors in government schools in the poor neighborhoods where VAMOS! works. It is reported that teacher absenteeism is an epidemic in Mexico. Education for the poor is simply not a priority. The World Economic Forum recently ranked the quality of Mexico’s primary education 114th out of 137 countries.
Of course, you will never see a sign like that at a VAMOS! center. In fact, what you will notice immediately is that each child who attends our centers is treated with love, respect, and dignity. Patience and listening are the tools VAMOS! employs to help children discover the best in themselves. To balance the classroom experiences of our children, VAMOS! employs a Project Based Learning model. Rather than repeat their school lessons - addition, spelling, copying lessons from a blackboard - VAMOS! uses Project Based Learning, where students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. Month-long themes range from the human body, to environmental sciences, to life values. VAMOS! teachers across all grades have their classes work on projects and then present them to the entire Community Center. Our Centers teach for two hours every day. In addition to those hours, VAMOS! reserves 30 minutes at the beginning and end of each day to work one-on-one with students who need extra attention or have special educational needs. We have an Education Supervisor who works on the curriculum, monitors all of our educational programs and does staff development throughout the year.
THE VAMOS! IMPACT
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Improved Academic Performance: By providing well-trained teachers and creating a caring and supportive atmosphere in the classroom, VAMOS! significantly improves academic outcomes for students. One local superintendent recommends that families send their preschool children to VAMOS! rather than the public school because the children are measurably better prepared.
Community Development: Education is not just about individual success; it also contributes to the overall development of communities. By improving educational outcomes, VAMOS! helps build stronger and more resilient communities that are better equipped to address the challenges they face.
Long-Term Impact: The impact of the VAMOS! education program extends beyond the classroom and can have a ripple effect that lasts for generations. Children who receive a quality education are more likely to grow up to be productive members of society, breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.