Development Center for Children in El Tejar (CEDIN)
CEDIN is now an early education center with 118 kids from the age of 4-6 from disadvantaged families or with working mothers. They are taught according to the National Curriculum for pre-primary education that includes working-playing areas and Montessori orientation. During the 27 hours kids spend in the Center each week, they experiment with educational material, sing, dance, paint, draw and learn to write and read. They use computers and have sport activities.
Teachers guide them but they also have the possibility to discover things by themselves.
Together with new skills and knowledge they learn critical thinking and how to respect and support each other.
Library
In 1992 a group of women from El Tejar started organizing a library. They started with 1700 books. Now the Nancy Rittmaster de España library is located in the center of El Tejar. It is managed by FUNDIT in cooperation with El Tejar Municipality. It has around 10,500 books that can be used by the community.
Using books for research and lending them is only a small part of library work. The biggest work is the reading program run for students from age 6 to 13 years old that reaches 400 students every year. It also provides students with summer Reading Adventure program, connecting reading with interactive activities.
The library also provides tutoring to students that need help in their studies. Some kids in El Tejar come from families where reading and writing is not a habit or where parents don’t know how to read. Kids from those families are left alone when they have to do their homework.
In 2015, International Book Day was celebrated in El Tejar at the initiative of the library workers. Children and adults could take part in reading activities, competitions, or listen to the speeches of the invited guests.
Scholarship program
The cost required at the beginning of the school year, depending on the grade and level, can even reach $200 per child. For many families this is a barrier to send their kids to school. With an average income for one family member of $40-$100 per month, many kids finish their education at the age of 12 with 6th grade of primary school. The percentage of illiteracy in Guatemala reaches 25% so some school students cannot count on their parents support in homework even in the first grades of primary school.
FUNDIT, by scholarship program, gives them the opportunity to continue studying by providing what’s most necessary at the beginning of the school year: utilities, books, and uniform and subscription fee. Apart from the economic support, tutoring, reading classes and training program is provided to the students. The program also organizes meetings and education workshops for the parents. Older students support the foundation with one week volunteering in the library.
In 2015 there were 73 students in the program, 35 from primary school, 35 from secondary school and 3 from high school.
Music program
It’s a program for children and young people from El Tejar community, interested in music. Many of our students could not take part in music academy classes. We contribute to their integral development through music. We try to combine the art of music with our traditional culture.
There are 21 students already advanced in playing mandolin, flute, keyboard, guitar and marimba who are in the program now. This year 16 new students joined the program.
In October 2015, 3 students and one teacher are participating in international LEAF festival in North Carolina, US.
In November 2015, older students will assist in a summer program, as teachers, visiting primary schools in El Tejar to run music activities.
During the year students of the music program participated in concerts and presentations.
