Siyan Ka'an II visits Uxmal

Continents Collage

     Volunteers engaged the students in drama-based activities, various forms of meditation, physical activities, and team-building exercises. Enjoyable activities  such as The Human Knot  strengthened problem-solving abilities and collaboration.    

Students form and untangle a human knot!

     Michael Guenza donated four microscopes to the Project, which everyone used to view insects, plants, and any other small objects they could find! The microscopes were given to the local regional high school for  biology classes. Michael also taught the students Tai Chi, which they demonstrated to friends and families at the final celebration.   

 

Viewing life up close!

Promoting well-being through yoga

     Marbella Tuz, PY graduate who is in her 4th year in biology at UADY, brought small cedar trees to the hacienda and taught the students how to plant and care for them.  

Planting at Marbella's Garden

     Siyan Ka'an III students and volunteers visited the Mayan archeological site of Chichen Itza and Lol Tun Caves, inhabited since prehistoric times. Students were amazed to see the mammoth bones, wall paintings, and rock columns that can be played like musical instruments!  

Students and volunteers visit Chichen Itza

In the Lol Tun Caves

      Through various activities students identified personal strengths, developed goals, increased English vocabulary skills, and improved Spanish writing skills using personal journals. In addition, they practiced meditation, visualization, and daily affirmation circles as tools for managing stress and promoting well-being.  

Time to show the journals!

Sharing emotions in English and Spanish

      Psychoeducation activities fostered self-awareness and opportunities to share thoughts and feelings with others. Students explored the difference between the private and public self. Music, dance, and new games built collaboration and kept students physically active even in the summer high temperatures!

 2009 Volunteers

     Morgan Cosby, Holly Forman, Arlene Mendoza, and Michael Guenza delivered the Siyan Ka'an II Summer Program. Morgan and Holly received their MAs in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco. Arlene, an engineer, committed her vacation to helping Project Yucatan. Returning volunteer Michael, is a middle school teacher with an MA in teaching from USF.      

2009 Siyan Ka'an Volunteers

     Morgan  remembers riding the bus to Dzibilchaltun. "All of the students started singing together to spontaneously create beautiful music." Touched by their strong bond, she realized that "in that moment, the significance of our work became clear to me." Her advice to our students is to "talk to others about your life goals, as you never know where doors will open."

     "The Mayan youth we work with are extremely resilient, enthusiastic, creative, loving, and driven," according to Michael. "How rewarding it is to see the youth from Siyan Ka'an I, who now are amazingly hard-working university students, rural school teachers, and excellent mentors for the youth participating in the program this year." He advises students to keep caring, learning, and teaching others in the community in order to promote Mayan culture and language.

     Holly hopes that Project Yucatan will continue to support high school graduates after they enter college, as there are many challenges. She hopes the project will thrive through the support of dedicated volunteers and generous donors. Her advice to the students? "Never be afraid to Dream Big".

     Arlene was drawn to the project by a strong desire to give back to under-served communities. Moved by her experience, she shared the following: "Each individual has a choice in life. Regardless of circumstances, the choice exists and you have the freedom to define your path for yourself." Arlene advises PY students to reflect carefully on the decisions they make for their future.

2010 Volunteers
      Kristina Hagar, Michelle Jio, Jillian Newell, Gisel Samame, Jennifer Soliz, and Pedro Solorzano delivered the Siyan Ka'an III Summer Program. Kristina, Michelle, and Gisel are recent graduates of the MFT Program at USF. Jennifer and Jillian are graduates of the School Counseling Program at USF, and Pedro is a school teacher in San Diego. 

2010 Siyan Ka'an Volunteers

      "Project Yucatan really empowers these kids," shared Gisel. She translated student interviews from past programs and is very impressed by the students' growth. "The confidence level they have now is amazing!" Gisel advises students to explore possible futures through Project Yucatan and anticipates they will realize their potential.

     Michelle joined the Project because she valued "the idea of encouraging youth to create dreams and goals for themselves, even when faced with huge challenges and economic limitations." She advises students to continue taking advantage of educational opportunities to achieve their goals.

     Jillian has an affinity for working with diverse populations. "Project Yucatan struck me with its genuine desire to help people." At the graduation fiesta, she fully experienced the importance of the Project's presence in Tekit and its positive impact on the community. She advises students to realize they are able to rise above their struggles and doubts with continued hard work. 

     Jennifer's favorite memory was of morning affirmation circles. She encourages the students "to remember their bravery and dedication to help  get around life's obstacles."

           Achievements are meant to be celebrated and honored! At program completion, we celebrate the achievements of PY students with their families, who have made major sacrifices to support their children's education. We invited guests and members of the Tekit local government, who have supported our work in countless ways.  

Siyan Ka'an Celebration 2009

Sharing accomplishments with family 2010

Ki'imak Oolal 2010 Celebration

Benjamin Acosta Chab

David Jonatan Acosta Chulin

Nashely Alberto Muñoz

Yoseli Alonzo Acosta 

Gabriela Canul Varguez
Mayra Cortez Gutierrez

Antonio Abraham Lara Briceño

Alma Pat Canche

Minerva Nidia Puga Colli 

Graduation 2010

     Last year, 25 10th grade students entered the Ki'imak Óolal Saturday Program. After Saturday morning classes at their high school, they participated in the Ki'imak Óolal 3 hour afternoon program. They first participate in small group workshops that develop emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills, leadership skills, and goal-setting skills. Then they participate in support groups to address the challenges of their first year of high school.  

Ki'imak Óolal Saturday Program participants

      Volunteer psychology undergraduate students at the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan deliver the curriculum, supervised by UADY graduate students and graduates.  These students travel an hour each way from Merida for every Saturday in the Spring to assist our students. New PY students receive  support, tools, and mentoring through the work of these very special and very dedicated student volunteers!

     The J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust was established to award funds that expand opportunities for community service around the world. In 2009 Dr. Joan Avis and Dr. Judy Goodell, in collaboration with Dan Taylor, former Community Liaison of the US Consulate in Merida,  were awarded support for the Weaving My Worlds project!

      PY  students receive counseling and preparation for the national university-entrance exam, to enable them to compete for potential enrollment at higher education institutions in Merida, an urban environment very different from the rural community in Tekit. Students accepted to attend these institutions can experience profound shifts in perspective. Students are encouraged to maintain their connections with their community of origin, to give back to their community, and to continue learning from the wisdom of their elders.   Weaving My Worlds is an oral history project in which students interview elders to learn about their life experiences and benefit from staying connected to their cultural roots.

     The J. Simon Kirby Trust funded flip video cameras, a projector and other equipment. Paul Giotto, former vice consul, taught the students how to shoot, upload, and edit the Flip videos provided by the grant. 

Learning to use Flip cameras

     Best-selling author Parker J. Palmer,  founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal, and Arthur Zajonc, professor of physics and director of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, advocate a holistic approach to teaching and learning that honors the whole human being -- mind, heart, and spirit. In a heartwarming validation of the Project Yucatan approach, Palmer and Zajonc selected the Dr. Judy Goodell and Dr. Joan Avis submission, Under the Arcoiris: Making Dreams Come Alive, for inclusion in their 2010 book "The Heart of Higher Education: A Call to Renewal." The Goodell/Avis article tells the story of the first group of Project Yucatan students who are now are in their fourth year of higher education.    

click here to view The Heart of Higher Education on Amazon 

Congratulations to Dr. Joan Avis for having been awarded a 9 month Fulbright Scholarship to Mexico! The Fulbright Program is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government to "increase mutual understanding between the United States and Mexico."  She is one of 11 scholars selected to pursue her projects in Mexico, hosted by the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan in Merida, Yucatan.

      An exhibition featuring the photography and narratives of Siyan Ka'an students opened in July of 2009 in the waiting room at the U.S. Consulate in Merida! It remained open to Consulate  

Parents and friends enjoying the opening of the Exhibit

      Maru Mendez, graduate of UADY who is now a graduate student in Psychology, began as a student facilitator with the Ki'imak Óolal program and has gone on to train and supervise other UADY student volunteers. Maru described the growth process she observed in Ki'imak Oolal in her undergraduate thesis, Terapia Centrada en Soluciones en el Programa de Jóvenes Ki'imak Óolal (Solution Focused Therapy with the Youth of Ki'imak Óolal) . Thank you, Maru, for your continued instrumental role in, and dedication to, Project Yucatan!   

    Tekit 's Mayor Marcelo Nahuat Aké gave Project Yucatan permission to create the long awaited Centro de Tres Idiomas: Maya, English, and Spanish, in the room next to our Internet Café Ukum in the Casa de Cultura. The center will provide resources for students and the community to develop English, Mayan, and Spanish skills through a variety of educational media. Learning English will help PY students as they pursue higher education and employment, and will help the community as it develops into a tourist destination. Learning to speak Mayan will help the community preserve its heritage language, culture, and history. Strengthening Spanish oral and writing skills will enable the students and the community to better represent themselves in daily life.  The Center will offer workshops and a variety of self-study materials. Dr. Jude Elliott created an initial construction plan,  and USF's  

Dr. Stephen Cary is working to define equipment and programing needs. Construction will begin as soon as resources are obtained.

Ariel Cohen, Contributor

Holly Forman, Contributor

Liz Hayman, Contributor