I began my journey working for Paz Oaxaca in August of last year and have learned so much since then! Here’s a bit about what we do.
Paz is a nonprofit organization based both in Mexico and in the United States that manages eight programs for children and families in Oaxaca. At the heart of our work is creating spaces that respect children’s developmental needs and supporting families in doing the same.
Paz's mission: "With a commitment to diversity, Paz in Oaxaca, Mexico, empowers children and their communities through equitable quality education and comprehensive neighborhood programs so that all can flourish and build a society free of corruption, violence, inequity, and poverty."
The primary program is a Dual Language Immersion Montessori school for children from ages 2.5 to 12. The others are an afterschool program for children from public schools, a garden, a clothing exchange, a MakerSpace, lending libraries, a support group for young families, and a tutoring program. Much of this work is done by parents, volunteers, and interns. For me, a huge part of what makes Paz special is the way it brings people together and channels their energy to get this work done. Our school community is a result of many people’s vision for peace—that of our directors, Kelly and Abraham, who began the project, and of each person who contributes their efforts here from day to day.
In Montessori, a large part of our work is allowing the children independence and dignity in doing theirs. Being in the presence of the children at work leaves me in awe and full of gratitude. In the several months that I've spent with the children at Paz, I witnessed them learning to concentrate, to take care of each other, to direct their own learning, and to take responsibility for the day-to-day needs of the group. They are a caring community and they inspire me all the time.
Paz very much relies on donations, and now more than ever. Now in its fourth year, Paz is growing rapidly. We now serve 65 children in the Montessori program and 8 in the afterschool program. This past year we opened our support group for young families and a tutoring program, and the end of this April, we will be opening a new location to serve children in a neighboring town. About half of the families at Paz currently receive some amount of scholarship, and our goal is to offer even more.
Your donations go a long way. Here are some numbers for perspective:
- $15.00 pays for one student to eat two meals a day at Paz for one month.
- $55.00 covers the cost of a child’s partial scholarship for one month.
- $400.00 pays for materials for an entire month for 60 children.
Thank you for considering donating! Quality education is one of the most important gifts we can give to children.
See our website for more info: http://pazoaxaca.org
Like our page on Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/paz.oaxaca/
