CIE TAA' PI'T ONG
Comunidad intercultural Educativa
Aprendo para la Vida
Learning for Life is an integrated curriculum centered in Mayan Tz’utujil Culture and the ecology of Mother Lake Atitlan and Mother Earth. These foundational practices and beliefs underpin all of our after-school and community programs.
Our facilities are comprised of indoor and outdoor learning spaces that are adjacent to the lake, including a small library, a kitchen for workshops, and an educational garden of 1400 square meters.
The round, colorful, shared desks and matching chairs, sized specifically for children, are a big draw for our students! These features stand in stark contrast to traditional classrooms, where desks are individual and arranged in linear rows.
Cultura Maya Tz'utujil
In this educational area, children learn about community and ancestral knowledge and practices in both their mother tongue and Spanish. Emphasis is also placed on principles and values, as these constitute their earliest teachings. This foundation prepares them for all other learning areas while simultaneously strengthening family ties, and by extension, those of the community.
It also nurtures each child's skills, gifts, and nawal (the symbol of their birth in the Maya calendar), elements of profound spiritual importance in Tz'utujil culture.
The founding of Taa' Pi'T was based on a series of interviews with Mayan elders. We are proud to have 37 interviews archived.
TAA' PI'T was named in honor of the Tz'utujil Mayan elder Agapito Cortez Peneleu. He was one of the first to teach in the national school system in the municiplaity from 1950-1983. He taught children Spanish while preserving Mayan culture.
our cultural values
respeto
Respect is the act of reverence beginning with oneself, then to family, community and Mother Nature.
el trabajo
la palabra
Work is the means of realizing each person's mission, from their spiritual energy.
The Word is a guarantee for the fulfillment of a commitment, agreement, or decision.
servicio
Service is the pleasure of providing well-being to the community through my time, work, gift, or talent.
Cooperación
Cooperation is supporting the common effort with service to ensure the well-being of all.
Madre Lago Atitlán - Madre Tierra
This learning area is the classroom counterpart to our program Ancestral Agriculture. The children receive the knowledge they then put to work in the gardens — preserving native seeds, making organic fertilizer, and preparing agricultural bio-inputs.
Through soil preparation, crop association, and agronomic management, children build a living relationship with Mother Nature. Through this, respect, care for, and protect of Mother Lake Atitlán and Mother Earth are cultivated.
At Taa’ Pi’t, each class incorporates various educational games, and is highly useful. They benefit concentration, decision-making, and teamwork. The games also synchronize, relax, and socialize our students, ultimately making them happier. And when a child is happy, they are in a better state of mind to learn!
