Nearly 200 students from the Magdalena Cueva and Ramon Corona schools who participated in the “Guardians of the Planet” study course for lakeside third, fourth and fifth grades gathered for a fun-filled Saturday, July 3 event on the Chapala Malecon.
Professor Armando Raygoza represented Chapala Mayor Joaquim Huerta at the event organized by the Alianza por una Educacion Humanitaria (Humane Education Alliance or APEH). Also on hand to lend a hand were representatives form the Civil Protection Agency and Cruz Roja.
Coordinator Martha Mena divided the program into storytelling with Fatima, learning and singing a song composed by Chunny Medeles, making paper folded Origami figures and recycling artwork.
The young attendees were fascinated with their course work relating to caring for the environment and reducing the use of water.
APEH is an outreach project operating under the umbrella of the non-profit organizations Lakeside Friends of the Animals, La Tienda de la Ciencia (The Science Tent), and Butterflies in Mexico. Other workshops are planned this summer for community plazas in Mezcala, Santa Cruz, San Pedro and Tlachichilco.
These projects aim to promote awareness about how to live and behave responsibly while caring for the environment. By instilling fundamental human values such as respect, non-violence, justice and personal responsibility, children gain empathy building skills, a sense of self esteem, and learn how to think critically. The idea is that children will grow into more caring, compassionate people who will make their community and ultimately the world a better place.
APEH’s sponsors for a second curriculum are Lakeside Friends of the Animals and the Satellite Rotary E-Club of Lake Chapala. For information about this club, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ajijic, visit www.erotarychapala.org or call (387) 761-0360. Learn about APEH activities via Alianza por una Educacion Humanitaria postings on Facebook.