http://www.solentiname.org

Educate to Empower to Break the Cycle of Poverty

The lack of education and poverty are directly linked. Our programs are based on support and empowerment, not hand-outs. Empowerment. It creates pride in the person, generates confidence  and keeps decisions within the community. The Alianza  works with the community, parents, students and teachers to focus on the tasks they feel their community needs and with our guidance and support we help them to succeed in their goals. This strategy empowers the community to take care of itself and create its own future.

We work to create a self-sustaining growth cycle where parents and students learn to do for themselves. It is our goal and their goal for them to be self-sufficient. Self sustainability takes serious time and effort but we are seeing progress  and experiencing the benefits.

Our program requires parents as well as students to be involved in community service, to attend seminars and assist in events and school refurbishing. Teacher and parent groups are also being trained to support themselves and provide for the students.

Solution Based Problem Solving

Our goal is to take a solution based approach to solving the problem, as opposed to past-orientated approach to problem solving. The past-problem oriented approach more often becomes a distorting spectacle rather than a clarifying lens for viewing problems since the problems are rooted in the past. Often, a past-oriented solution simply replaces one problem with another problem, or even something worse, since the solution is not based on a vision of what we want to create; it is only based on the problem. By focusing on envisioning solutions, we have a better chance to create a permanent solution to past problems.

When we focus only on the problem, we are limited in what we can envision, which is the past problem, not the solution. The focus is on what is wrong, rather than what we would like to envision. Solution based problem solving focuses on what we want to accomplish and the desired result, rather than simply solving a problem.

Solution based problem solving begins with active listening to identify potential common solutions….sometimes have to weigh through the past problems, but trying to focus on the desired outcomes, rather than the problems. The purpose is to keep your eye on solutions and model how to open up their thinking by turning obstacles into opportunities. Don’t get stuck in the past.

How do we apply this to education in Solentiname, we do not need to focus on what is wrong with the system, but rather what would we like to system to be able to do. By identifying solutions that we would like to see, we will in fact solve the problems. We cannot simply focus on “the quality of education is low….” We want to focus of “why is it not meeting our needs”, rather them blame and elaborate on the problem. What do we want to do that this system is not letting us accomplish? Some past solutions have been, Leer Solentiname to facilitate kids reading and to provide assistance to the local sector teachers. CPU is focusing on providing educational challenges to motivated intelligent youth who want to study. These are active solutions.

The desired outcome of these meetings is to develop a preferred alternative that will continue forward into planning, funding and implementation to improve education in Solentiname. When the preferred alternatives are identified, we will proceed with the following major steps:

1. The first step is to host active listening sessions in each sector, with the community, parents and students from primary, colegio and CPU.

2. Write a memorandum of understanding based on public input and professional consultation.
3. Invite critical shareholders to participate.
4. Develop an action plan involving all shareholders to implement the plan.

100% of all money or services received go directly to our programs. Fundraising and administrative overhead costs are covered by BattenKill Canoe, an adventure tour operator in Vermont, and will not come out of your contribution.