Latin America

Latin America Learns

Posted by

0

Invitation Option 2 You may recall that last August, I joined a group of about 50 fellow newbie Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) students at an intensive pre-program for the International Education Policy (IEP) group.  During those couple of weeks, I not only got my legs under me to start the Master’s degree program — but I met a small group of people with whom I got to do amazing things in the following 9 months. As we introduced ourselves (repeatedly!) during those first days, we kept hearing one another’s voices:

  • “I want to work in Latin America and focus on teacher motivation and development….”
  • “I want to work in Latin American and find ways to support vulnerable youth…” [that one was me 🙂 ]
  • “I want to work in Latin America in early childhood education and development…”
  • “I want to work in Latin America and find ways to use education to address violence and conflict…”

The specific countries we came from and the areas of focus differed a bit, but what was the same — what we could hear in one another’s voices — was that we care deeply about the region and believe that education is the fundamental engine that will enable Latin America and its people reach their full potential. So we came together to form the Latin America Education Forum (LAEF) with the goal of creating a larger community that — together — could spark the change, the innovation, the action to make that happen.

Fernando Reimers, our advisor for both IEP and LAEF, is fond of quoting John Amos Comenius – a scholar from the early 1600’s who is generally viewed as “the father of modern education.”  Comenius said “Let us have but one end in view, the welfare of humanity; and let us put aside all selfishness in consideration of language, nationality or religion.”  For Comenius, for Fernando, and for us, that is the ultimate goal of education.  To establish, maintain and strengthen the capacities and social cohesion that allow all members of society to participate and engage in building and shaping the world we live in together.

And so Latin America Learns was born, with the theme of Building Participation & Engagement for the 21st Century.  As the first-ever conference on Latin American Education to be held at Harvard, we were really starting from ground zero!  It wasn’t exactly like “hey, you’ve got a story and I’ve got a box of old clothes, let’s go out behind my grandpa’s barn and put on a show!!”  But it was darn close. In retrospect, we had NO idea how much work it was going to be and how crazy we were to try it while we were also fulfilling the requirements for our Master’s program — but sometimes ignorance is bliss… and we did it!

We picked areas we felt were central to our theme: peace, inclusiveness, teaching, a vision for the 21st century.  And for each topic we invited a group of people who are actors in those spaces for Latin America. Speakers included current Ministers of Education, the Dean of HGSE and an array of educators, policymakers, innovators and researchers — we were a bit awed by them all to be honest(!) and were honored that they made the trip to be present.

The Role of Education in the Peace Process
The Role of Education in Fostering an Inclusive Society
The Future of Teaching
Vision for Latin American Education in the 21st Century

Our keynote speaker, founder of the Rodrigo Mendes Institute, started us off in the morning with some of the most moving moments of the day.  Following an accident that made him a quadriplegic, Rodrigo created an organization committed to building an inclusive society through education and art — focused on advocacy, research, experience exchange, and training — making huge strides in Brazil, Latin America and beyond. Rodrigo The day was filled with discussion, debate, challenge — and non-stop talking in Spanish, in Portuguese, in English.  The Ministers came away with input and ideas to help shape their visions and policies upon their return, and everyone came away as part of a new network for action.

By the end of the day, we were ready for a fiesta — and a fiesta was had!  One of our classmates from the Arts in Education program pulled out all the stops and we celebrated our 8 months of hard work together and an incredible day.  Performances, desserts, drinks, dancing… Salud!

ONE HAPPY TEAM!  I loved what we were able to do together in just a few short months — and I can’t wait to see the difference this group will make in the world in the years ahead.  Honored to be one of them and looking forward to working with them all again and again and again! LAEFTeam Oh — and then there was the day after!  We had the pleasure of spending the day wandering Boston with Minister Cynthia del Aguila of Guatemala and Alejandra Garza from Universidad Carolina in Saltillo, Mexico.  We found ourselves at the Public Garden and I happened to have just bought a copy of Make Way for Ducklings (a Boston classic kids book that just happens to be set in the Public Garden).  So, being Ed School students, we had story hour…. of course!! Story Hour in the Public Garden

Yo extraño DF!

Posted by

0

IMG_2517

As I sit here this evening watching the Boston temperatures plummet down through the single digits headed for a low of -5 or -10 Farenheit (-20 to -23 Celsius), I find my thoughts floating back to January in sunny Mexico….

I started browsing through the pics of some of our adventures there and started feeling warmer already.  Even those who know no Spanish could probably figure out that the title of the post means “I miss Mexico City!”.  DF is short for distrito federal (federal district), which is how most people refer to Mexico City when you are there.  Pretty much like we refer to Washington as “DC”.

For those of you in cold places tonight, I hope these warm you up a bit as well.  And for those of you in Mexico — espero verte pronto!

Castillo Chapultepec – our first evening in DF, the whole gang of interns went to Chapultepec Castle at sunset for a performance by Ballet Folklórico de México.  Incredible place, incredible views of Mexico City, incredible performances!

Ballet Folklórico de México

Teotihuacan – on one of our weekends, a few of us headed to Teotihuacan to climb the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.  More amazing views… and a bit of exercise!

Xochimilco – our next excursion was to Xochimilco, which some people described as the canals of Mexico City, sort of like Venice….  But seriously — a sunny afternoon, a group of good friends, a bucket of beers, brightly painted boats with fun “gondoliers” and mariachi boats floating by playing music — it was a floating party!  Lovely, relaxing afternoon 🙂

Museums – It wasn’t time to eat again… yet! (see below for a very small assortment of our culinary adventures).  So we headed to check out some modern art at Museo Jumex and Museo Soumaya back in DF.  Mexico City is huge, with dozens of neighborhoods, all with different architecture – some traditional, some grand, some quaint, some hip, some imposing, and some just fun!  Soumaya was one of my favorites.

Vamos a comer! – I knew my foodie friends wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t take a few shots of the cuisine along the way.  Unfortunately, I was enjoying drinking and eating way too much and mostly forgot to take pictures(!), but here are a few.

¡Abrazos! 

Warm & Sunny…. sort of

Posted by

0

As we head into the second week of our internship stint, we are elated that we have started getting the warm weather we’d been hoping for. Watching the headlines about the crazy frigid cold snap in Boston and the rest of the Northeast U.S., it’s a bit out of place for us to complain, I suppose… but we have been just the same!

The average high temp in Mexico City during January is supposed to be about 70 degrees (21 for the Celsius crowd), and our first week ranged from high-50’s to mid-60’s (13 to 18 Celsius). In general, that doesn’t seem like a big deal – but because it is rarely that cold here, there is no central heating in most Mexico City houses or offices. So, everyone bundles up and keeps working!

The office at Venture Institute is particularly cold – we can’t tell if it’s just because it’s on the bottom floor and shaded by trees – or if there is really cold air coming out of the vents in addition!! In case you think I’m kidding, my co-workers generously allowed me to take pictures of them attired in coats, scarves, multiple layers of sweaters and even fingerless gloves while typing, talking and writing away.

One positive side benefit is that it helped with my Spanish and my independence as I had to locate a department store, navigate my way there and purchase a warmer jacket, a couple new scarves and sweaters, and a pair of gloves (from which I cut the fingers off for typing!). I am now bundled up and toasty warm(-ish!) like everyone else.

I’m really enjoying learning Venture Institute’s business. I am working with Isabel Gil who manages several social entrepreneurship programs on behalf of a variety of sponsors. The POSiBLE program, sponsored by Fundación Televisa and Nacional Monte de Piedad does an annual search for social entrepreneurs across Mexico, goes through a rigorous eval process to winnow down from >14K projects to 100 – and provides those with training, mentorship, support and entrée into a community of fellow entrepreneurs, investors and subject matter experts to help them clearly define their value propositions, determine market opportunity and develop business/economic models, as well as helping them with team formation and leadership skills. Components include an Entrepreneur Bootcamp and an Investor Simulation. With other partners, they provide more extensive business incubation programs. One, working with Village Capital, identifies and accelerates business models that increase access to financial services for the poor – and another proposal is in the works for a bank that wants to offer a program to develop, incubate and accelerate projects headed by women entrepreneurs.

As for my Spanish(!) – I’m reading the business stuff pretty fluently at this point, am able to write a few usable things (with the help of Google translate here and there), and am still pretty lame at speaking. But, I haven’t gone hungry or gotten lost yet, so all is good!

Next Up – Mexico

Posted by

0

IMG_2334

Toasty warm in the Denver airport after the drive from Fort Carson/Colorado Springs – through another snowstorm! This time I got to my destination just as the snow started to stick and the plows started to emerge in force — whew!

I think the suitcases are as happy as I am this last week to be on the go again. Shots here of them finally escaping the back of the closet after 5 months, packed and ready to go, and chilling in the snow!  And, by the way, anyone who is laughing at me for bringing 2 full-size suitcases for the trip, YOU try packing everything for a trip to sub-zero Denver weather and 3 weeks working and playing in sunny Mexico.  The shoes and boots alone took up nearly a full bag!

We’re freeee! It sure was dark in there….
On the move again…
OK, about this cold white stuff…

I’ll arrive in Mexico City tonight to start a 3-week internship with the Venture Institute.  Not sure exactly what projects I’ll be working on, but VI’s focus is on helping entrepreneurs create, incubate and grow high impact businesses — many with a social impact component — across Mexico.  One of their current programs is targeted at increasing access to financial services for the poor.  They have already completed a call for ideas across Mexico. selected a small group of the most promising entrepreneurs, and started working with them on refining their value propositions, business plans, economic models and pitches for investors. Really cool stuff!

I am being generously hosted by a woman in Mexico City,  We have already discovered via email that we have a lot in common with economics degrees, business backgrounds, a preference for living in the middles of cities… and no cats. Really looking forward to meeting her!