Girls Surf Clinic Promotes Strong Self-Esteem and Healthy Lifestyle

Pushing back water with cupped hands, she hears the rush of approaching water, connects with the moving force, stands up on her board in perfect balance with nature, and feels the strength of the ocean underfoot. Both body and mind are exhilarated as she conquers one clear goal – catching a wave. Now that’s empowering. This feeling glowed in more than 17 young girls on April 25, 26 and 27 during the PEACE + Wahine Project surf clinic.

The Wahine Project is an educational program for girls between the ages of seven and seventeen who do not have the geographical or financial opportunities to surf. The project seeks to introduce the invigorating sport of surfing while promoting self-esteem and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through exercise and good nutrition. The goals is to make a connection between ocean, surf, and self.

Each day started with a beach clean up and was followed by yoga stretching a two hour surf instruction. All of the girls who participated in the clinic live in Punta de Mita, less than five minutes away from the beach, but most had never tried surfing. Many times girls are too intimidated or uncomfortable to try surfing as there’s usually competitive guys in the water who’ve been surfing for years. This week, there was truly a feeling of unity and a safe, supportive environment.

At the crossroads of adolescents, we think it’s important for girls to feel self-respect, confidence and in control of their lives. A girl will then teach this to her children a thereby effect the community at large. Surfing is just one way we can encourage this!!

We’d like to give a huge thank you to Dionne Ybarra from the Wahine Project and all of the fantastic volunteers who joined us to create such a memorable week!

www.peacemexico.org

Alternative School Students Visit Mexico City!/Estudiantes de la Escuela Alternativa Visitan la Ciudad de México!

After washing cars, picking up trash and selling calendars to raise money, frequent nightmares of plane rides, and months of excited anticipation, four alternative school students experienced a field trip of a lifetime this month: to Mexico City!!

Often referred by locals as “El Monstruo,” or “The Monster,” because of its sheer size and depth of its ancient roots and culture, Mexico City might has well be Mars for these kids who had hardly stepped outside of their home town, Punta de Mita, (about 2,000 people.)

They saw the ancient historic center Zócalo and the Teotihuaca pyramids, and were like sponges, absorbing all of the foreign sights and smells around them, broadening their perspectives of the world!

Our alternative school was launched in March, 2008 to serve disadvantaged youth not enrolled in the public school system due to lack of funds and parental interest, missing birth certificates and/or behavioral issues. Most of the students in the alternative school come from extremely difficult home lives, and yet they show up for school every day. They take initiative in their education, they are hungry to learn, and they have tremendous strength; we admire them for that!!

Fifteen students, from ages eight to seventeen attend school from Monday through Friday and work towards their elementary or middle school certificates. Our alternative school uses innovative, hands-on techniques to promote project-based learning and also employs a psychologist who works with students, parents and teachers to promote the healthy emotional and academic development of students.

This trip was such an impactful way to deliver our hands on approach. These are the types of experiences that shake ignorance, grow character and provide learning experiences that could never be taught from a book.

With so many new experiences under their belts, our students can better view the world as one full of possibilities.

“I saw Punta de Mita from the sky,” said Juan de Jesus Garcia Delgado, one of our alternative school students.

Now, in Juan’s mind, the sky is the limit!!

To donate to our alternative school program, contact becci@peacemexico.org.
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Después de lavar coches, recoger basura y la venta de calendarios para recaudar fondos, pesadillas frecuentes de viajes en avión, y meses de anticipación, cuatro estudiantes de la escuela alternativa de un pequeño pueblo costera experimentaron un paseo de toda una vida: a la Ciudad de México.

A menudo llamado por los lugareños como "El Monstruo", debido a su enorme tamaño y la profundidad de sus antiguas raíces y la cultura, la Ciudad de México bien hubiera podido ser Marte para los jóvenes que apenas había pisado fuera de su ciudad natal, Punta de Mita, un pueblito de pescadores de 2.000 personas.

Vieron el antiguo centro histórico El Zócalo y las pirámides de Teotihuacán, y eran como esponjas, absorbiendo todos los lugares y olores desconocidos que les rodeaban, ampliando sus perspectivas del mundo!

Nuestra escuela alternativa se lanzó en marzo del 2008 para servir a los jóvenes desfavorecidos que no están inscritos en el sistema de escuelas públicas ya sea por la falta de fondos, falta del interés de los padres, la falta de certificados de nacimiento y/o problemas de comportamiento. La mayoría de los estudiantes en la escuela alternativa proceden situaciones muy difíciles en sus hogares, y sin embargo, se presentan a la escuela todos los días. Ellos toman la iniciativa en su educación, tienen ganas de aprender, y tienen una fuerza tremenda; los admiramos por eso!

Quince estudiantes, entre las edades de ocho hasta diecisiete asisten a la escuela de lunes a viernes y trabajan para obtener sus certificados de la primaria o la secundaria. Nuestra escuela usa metodologías alternativas, innovadoras y prácticas para promover el aprendizaje basado en proyectos y también cuenta con una psicóloga que trabaja con los estudiantes, padres y maestros para promover el sano desarrollo emocional y académico de los estudiantes.

Este viaje fue una manera tan impactante de ofrecer nuestra metodología práctica. Estos son los tipos de experiencias que sacuden la ignorancia, fomentan el carácter y ofrecen experiencias de aprendizaje que no se puede enseñar de un libro.

Con tantas experiencias nuevas a sus espaldas, los estudiantes pueden ver mejor el mundo como uno lleno de posibilidades.

"Vi a Punta de Mita desde el cielo", dijo Juan de Jesús García Delgado, uno de nuestros estudiantes de la escuela alternativa.

Ahora, en la mente de Juan, el cielo es el límite!

Para patrocinar a un estudiante de la escuela alternativa, escribe a becci@peacemexico.org.

www.peacemexico.org