The Netzahualcoyotl Multilingual Primary School and Kokoyotzin Kindergarten for Indigenous and Other Children
Background & Mission:
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HATS OFF TO ALL NETZA AMIGOS!
42 beaming kindergarteners and 50 6th graders
(more than double the number in 2006) moved forward into brighter futures at
The Netza Indigenous School graduations July 2, 2007 in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
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| Local indigenous and other children in need of a free or "cooperativo" affordable-quality education attend the Netza School. 170 more attend its nearby "sister school", Nueva Creaci?n. |
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The new school grounds begun in 2002 years ago and still under construction include 12 completed classrooms and 6 more are needed.
Up to 40 children can now live, receive meals, clothes and mentoring 4 days and nights a week in The Netza Dormitory, the only one of its type in the region. These at-risk children either live on the streets, or come from a distance where there is no cooperative or indigenous school. |
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| In addition to the Netza School and dorm itself, The Netza Project supports middle and high school scholarships, health programs, women's micro-credit lending, free adult literacy, and other initiatives that offer a brighter futures for local youth and families in related schools and communities. |
An important and special community project in Zihuatanejo
is the Netzahualcoyotl Primary School & Kindergarten, which is receiving local and
international support from local businesses and individuals, tourists,
the boating community, and now Rotary International.
Today, The Netza School Project (TNSP) is a U.S. 501-C3 non-profit organization promoting equal-access to education for indigenous and all children, and all people no matter their language, heritage or economic situation. TNSP works in Zihuatanejo with the Netza School itself, as well as with related local community organizations and projects that promote the same values of collaborative partnership for enhanced education and opportunity. We also collaborate with U.S., Canada and other schools, communities, workplaces, and organizations beyond Mexico to share this message of equal access to education and literacy. TNSP helps create cultural exchange, pen pal, engaged youth philanthropy and multi-cultural volunteer vacation experiences that bridge cultural barriers and create life-long learners and social change makers. Adult literacy, continuing education scholarships, social betterment, vocational enhancement, and vision and health programs that promote equality, stronger families and sustainable communities are all part of our initiatives in Zihuatanejo, and we trust, beyond. We welcome your involvement, and ideas.
The Netza School Project is dedicated to providing equal access to quality education and literacy for indigenous children and, indeed, all children and all people, for all time, while honoring their native dialects and culture.
Our Work in Zihuatanejo
The mission of the Escuela Federal Primaria Bilingue "Netzahualcoyotl" is unique and important in the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa
region. Prevented from enrolling in one of the 120 local Spanish-speaking
public primary schools because of their inability to speak Spanish and
often extreme poverty (lack of shoes, decent clothes, money for the
required uniforms, etc.), local indigenous ("Indian") children can attend,
for free, this equal-access public school. It was founded in 1994
by current Director Marina Sanchez Hernandez with 2 teachers and 20
children under a tree. Parents and teachers soon got together and built
a small courtyard of primitive classrooms in the heart of the local
"Colonia Primer Paso" neighborhood overlooking central Zihuatanejo.
Enrollment has continued to grow from about 140 students in 2001, to nearly 480 today. as parents take pride in seeing the benefits
of sending at least one child to school. Today the "Netza" School serves children ages 3-12, from four different regional tribes,
all descended from Aztec heritage: Nuahas, Tlapanecos, Mixtecos, and
Amusgos. All subjects are taught including math, geography, writing,
art, etc. with an emphasis on achieving fluency in Spanish so these
children can integrate into local society and perhaps further education.
Today, about 40% of the children are pure indigenous; the other 60%
from impoverished Spanish-speaking families. This school fills a critical
need for all these children.
Twelve full-time and 3 part-time teachers who speak
multiple tribal languages as well as Spanish lead the classes, including
a new kindergarten with 90 children ages 3 to 5. Very basic English
classes have begun for older children and, importantly, all children
now receive lessons in reading and writing in several native languages, including classical Nahuatl, to help
preserve and honor the beautiful dialect of their native heritage. The ancient
Aztec ruler Netzahualcoyotl, for whom the school is named, was known
as "the poet king", and his likeness appears today on the
$100 peso currency note.
A daily hot lunch nutrition program begun 6 years ago
with the help of donated equipment is an important component, as is the 40-bed dormitory that houses very at-risk children 4 nights at week. The school is now officially registered a
public school with the city and state, and so typical standards of testing
and for graduation are in place.
Website
content and photos provided by Lisa B. Martin
