Súmate a la Escuela

Hi all! Apologies (yet again) for the delay in posting. Things at work have been super busy, but I am excited to finally catch up on the blog 🙂

To keep everyone up to speed, I work with the school dropout prevention program of Fundación Súmate. Their work also includes re-inserting students who have dropped out back into the academic system through schools administered by Súmate, but I focus exclusively on the prevention program. Súmate has prevention program offices in four different comunas: Santiago Centro, Estación Central, San Ramón, and La Pintana (I live in La Cisterna, in case people were curious, haha).

These comunas have very underprivileged schools that lack resources and competent teachers, and the students that grow up in these areas have to deal with a whole host of problems: absent parents, drugs, lack of economic resources, and much more. Through workshops, tutoring, and cultural activities, Súmate works with the students (and their families) who are most at risk for dropping out during an intervention period of about two and a half years. They focus on reinforcing the students’ language and math skills and strengthening students’ social skills (increasing self-esteem, managing emotions, and others.).

Súmate realized recently that their original intervention model was missing an emphasis on the connections between families, students, and schools, and they decided to transition to a new model. That’s where Katie (my roommate and co-worker) and I come in. Our job is to research the Chilean education system, investigate other dropout prevention programs, and conduct a diagnostic on the Súmate Prevention Program before and after the new model (with the overall goal of the project being to strengthen the links between families, schools and students). The project has shifted a lot from the original description and been very undefined at times (which has been very frustrating), but also a great opportunity to make this project our own and truly make a difference.

The week after Fiestas Patrias (September 22^nd to the 28^th), Katie and I had our first program visit in La Pintana. From then on, we have spent the month visiting all of the program offices and the schools, attending workshops and tutoring sessions, tagging along on field trips, and accompanying the social worker on family visits. I have really loved getting to meet the kids from the different schools (who range from 2^nd graders to 7^th or 8^th graders), who are all incredibly sweet and curious about this strange gringa who is visiting them. Meeting them has definitely been a reminder about how much Hollywood affects the perception people have of the U.S., since I have been asked a variety of amusing questions:

• Do you know Barack Obama/Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana/One Direction?
• Do you live in a mansion?
• Did you go to Harvard?
• Do you speak English?

This past month in the ‘field’ has also been incredibly eye-opening, and an excellent reminder of all the blessings in my life. My parents loved and supported me (and continue to do so) in all of my pursuits, provided me with a safe and loving home, and always pushed me to be the best person I could be. Many of these students lack the love, support, and resources that I have often taken for granted. One particular girl from La Pintana stands out in my mind. She is thirteen, but has repeated two or three times and is still in fifth grade. We went and visited her at home with the social worker to talk to her about her absences from school. She lives with her dad, sister, and cousin in a “house” behind her grandma’s house. While we were talking to her, the grandma constantly berated her about everything, and casually mentioned that the dad hits her. It was such a shock to see all of the challenges this student has to deal with on a day-to-day basis, from the mental and physical abuse from her grandma and dad and the dangerous influences from her sister to and the horrible conditions of her house. With no one in her life who cares about and supports her besides the Súmate employees, why should she bother continuing in school? Coming from my privileged position in life, what on earth could I possibly say to her? I doubt I would be able to stay in school if I were in her position.

While it has been difficult at times to see the struggles these students have to go through every day, there have been some really wonderful moments that give me hope. Katie and I were invited to attend the anniversary celebration for one of the schools, and it was great to see parents and teachers there who seemed dedicated to the students and who take pride in the community. I have also been so happy to see the families who truly care about their children and want them to succeed.

All in all, I have loved working at Súmate thus far. Below are some pictures from the past month!

Liceo Victor Jara, La Pintana

Goofing around with some of the kids from Liceo Victor Jara!

Liceo No. 523, La Pintana. All of the classroom doors have flags painted on them!

Craft activity with some of the kids from Amador Neghme, Estación Central.

Katie and me at an activities fair at Colegio República de Francia! (Estación Central)

An activity from a workshop at Colegio San Alberto, Santiago Centro.

The psychologist and one of the students from Colegio República de Colombia, Santiago Centro. The activity focused on anger and stress management.

Anaís and me during one of the salida culturales with the team from San Ramón. We went on a hike in Parque Aguas de Ramón!

We also went to Kidzania with the team from San Ramón. SO MUCH FUN. Here are José and Benjamin sporting their “tattoos” 🙂

So grateful for the opportunity to get to know some of these wonderful kids! Claudia, Benjamin, and Maria Paz 🙂