The Kichwa special education teachers
here in Napo province have a huge challenge in their hands.
There are no books or other
material for special education and they get almost no material from the schools
or the education department.
Most of our teachers have created
their material together with us.
At first it was hard for them,
although they had their creativity and they were accustomed to create material,
they did not know what to do for special education students.
Little by little they have been
learning more about special education and what kind of activities, methods and
techniques you can use.
During this time they have been
creating their own material, from scratch.
Since they only have the jungle
around them and the recycled materials they can find, the ingenuity and
creativity they have is really admirable.
Here is a look at the material
that the special education teacher for youths and adults from Pano kichwa community has
created for her students.
Maria Elena is a crafts and sewing teacher.
She used to work with teenage students at a Kichwa high school.
Until education department decided to reduce the number of teachers in the institute.
She was given two options,
 |
| Trees made from paper pieces, colored rice (fruits and leaves) and string (roots). |
She used to work with teenage students at a Kichwa high school.
Until education department decided to reduce the number of teachers in the institute.
She was given two options,
Either she could resign or she could work as a special education teacher at a local elementary school.
Her creativity and knowledge of traditional kichwa crafts makes her invaluable.
And so does her drive and will to go on and help her students to start a new, more independant life.
Maria Elena has many dreams for her students.
She wants to teach them to do artisan crafts that they can sell and earn their own money, for the first time in their lives.
Her students ages vary greatly.
The oldest is over 70 years old and can't leave her home, so Maria Elena needs to visit her at her home after school hours.
The youngest students are just over 18 years old.
But all of them are delighted to have an opportunity to study and feel themselves usefull and normal, like other students.
Like one of them told me, I can be useful, he said, I come to the school like other students and do useful things. And everyone greets me here, like I belong.
 |
| Chikra or traditional bag made from colored string. |
She decided to
take the challenge and try it out.
Like the other
teachers in the program, she was given a month long teacher training about
basics in special education and sent to a school.
It was a
challenge but she rose to it.
 |
| Chikra or traditional bag made from colored string. |
At first she
worked with students with learning disabilities but since we could see her
capabilities and creativities when it was possible,
She was
offered a place as a special education teacher for youth and adults with
disability.
In a new
program where she prepares them for independent adult life.
 |
| Kichwa family made from colored stones. |
Her creativity and knowledge of traditional kichwa crafts makes her invaluable.
And so does her drive and will to go on and help her students to start a new, more independant life.
Maria Elena has many dreams for her students.
She wants to teach them to do artisan crafts that they can sell and earn their own money, for the first time in their lives.
 |
| Differed material made by the teacher. |
The oldest is over 70 years old and can't leave her home, so Maria Elena needs to visit her at her home after school hours.
The youngest students are just over 18 years old.
But all of them are delighted to have an opportunity to study and feel themselves usefull and normal, like other students.
Like one of them told me, I can be useful, he said, I come to the school like other students and do useful things. And everyone greets me here, like I belong.
 |
| Year circle with the names of the months in Kichwa and picture of their meanings. |
