Schools for Chiapas Update 4/25/99 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: mexicopeace Schools for Chiapas Update April 1999 Index: 1. Come to Chiapas! 2. Letter from the future teachers of Oventic (Spanish / English) 3. Subscription / Unsubscription 1. COME TO CHIAPAS! Summer schoolwork teams now being formed! Email or call for applications today! (619) 232-2841 Following the instructions of the autonomous, indigenous communities of Chiapas, we again invite the international travelers to join Mexican civil society in the ongoing cultural and educational exchange program at Oventic Aguascalientes II. This program supports the effort to create the first autonomous, indigenous educational institution in Chiapas, MEXICO and is led by the communities of the highland Maya peoples. During the current period while the teachers are training in Oventic it is particularly important that Mexican and international supporters participate in the school project. Participants will have the enriching opportunity to get to know the young indigenous teachers while observing the creation of a new form of public education (see the letter below from the Zapatista teachers of Oventic). A variety of travel and participation options are now available: SUMMER 1999 July 11 to 25, 1999 Chiapas Schools Construction Team #11 Aug. 8 to 22, 1999 Chiapas Schools Construction Team #12 July 11 to Aug. 22, 1999 Schools for Chiapas Intern Program July 27 to Aug. 4, 1999 Maya Dignity "Luxury" Tour! (Includes visits to indigenous communities and archeological sites ) WINTER 2000 Dec. 26, 1999 to Jan. 2, 2000 New Year's 2000: Schools for the Sixth Sun Participants may choose to engage in physical school construction or may choose to participate only in sports, language, culinary, music, and friendship exchange. During the summer of 1999 water and sanitation systems for the junior high school will be installed; in addition, there will be a basketball and chess tournament and a regional craft sale. Opportunities to learn Spanish and Tzotzil. Every participant will live and learn directly with indigenous and non-indigenous Mexican leaders, teachers, children, and parents of Chiapas. Letter and artwork exchanges with teachers and school children are particularly encouraged! Willingness to accept indigenous leadership, collective participation, and respect for Mexican and indigenous laws required. Ability to laugh and dance a plus! No other special physical, linguistic, social, or educational abilities required! Longer term language and culture study programs are also being organized for the fall of 1999 and throughout 2000. Those wishing to participate should complete a full application ASAP and discuss options directly with the "Schools for Chiapas" office located in San Diego, CA. USA (619) 232-2841. Travel options include bus or plane from Mexico City; food will be basic, accommodations rustic (an exception is the July 1999 Maya Dignity "Luxury" Tour which will sleep in comfortable hotels while taking day trips to sites of interest); the climate may be chilly and wet. However we promise that you will encounter a peoples' love that is rich; and that your hearts will be warm and healthy. Cost for the basic two week program is $450 employed / $375 student from Mexico City. Deadline for summer program is June 1, 1999. Email or call for applications today! (619) 232-2841. 2. Letter from the future teachers of Oventic Aguascalientes II (English translation follows the original Spanish text) ESRAZ. (Escuela Secundaria Rebelde Autonomia Zapatista) A Peter Brown. Director de Escuelas para Chiapas - Chanobjunetic ta Chiapas-. Nos da mucho gusto saludarle, mediante esta sencilla y humilde carta esperando que se encuentre bien de salud al lado de su amable familia. Nosotros los nuevos maestros maestras, escribimos una carta para las escuelas del mundo a estudiantes honestos, y organizaciones no gubernamentales con el fin de que ellos se solidaricen con nosotros. Te pido un gran favor a que los distribuyas y les des a conocer nuestra carta. Un abrazo grande para ti y para tu familia por parte de los nuevos maestros y maestras, siempre te tenemos presente en nuestra mente y en nuestro corazon. Es todo me despido de usted, deseandole mucho exito en todo y gracias. ATENTAMENTE (Hand signed) Los maestros y Maestras *********************************** A LAS ESCUELAS DEL MUNDO, A LOS MAESTROS Y MAESTRAS, A LOS ESTUDIANTES HONESTOS DEL MUNDO, A LAS ORGANIZACIONES NO GUBERNAMENTALES DEL MUNDO Hermanos y hermanas todos, desde este territorio Rebelde Autonomo Oventic Aguascalientes II, San Andres Sacamch'en, Chiapas, Mexico. Hermanos y hermanas por medio de esta humilde carta saludamos a todos fraternalmente para pasar a lo siguiente. Nosotros y nosotras somos los futuros maestras y maestros quienes estamos en la capacitacion para que posteriormente pasemos a ser la planta docente de la Escuela Secundaria Rebelde Autonoma Zapatista "Primero de Enero" (ESRAZ), pedimos a ustedes todo su apoyo solidario hacia esta escuela con todas sus actividades para combatir la ignorancia educativa de nuestros pueblos, por eso hoy les escribimos a ustedes para que tengamos los contactos con todos los pueblos del mundo especificamente en el caracter educativo; pedimos pues a que ustedes se hermanen con nosotros, los olvidados de la patria, los mas necesitados. Hermanos y hermanas, estudiantes del mundo, nosotros y ustedes sabemos muy bien que la educacion es la base de nuestros pueblos; por eso es necesario a que nos solidaricemos para compartir nuestras ideas, experiencias y juntos hacer un nuevo manana. Esta escuela secundaria que se esta llevando a cabo en Chiapas, necesita mucho del apoyo de ustedes, nosotros estamos buscando una nueva forma de educacion, no nos dejen solos, caminemos juntos, ya que asi nadie ni nada nos podra derrotar. Nosotros estamos seguros de que esta forma de educacion va a triunfar; algun dia o muy pronto estaremos intercambiando nuestra forma de educacion para asi construir un mundo nuevo donde todos y todas tengamos lugar. Nuestra escuela es autonoma, no depende del gobierno, por eso ha sido atacada y amenazada, pero eso no nos importa, lo que queremos es una forma de educacion que sea incluyente y necesitamos y les volvemos a insistir a que se solidaricen y se hermanen con nosotros; necesitamos su colaboracion de ustedes para que todo salga adelante, este proceso o proyecto educativo. Hermanos y hermanas, es una alegria el haberles escrito esta sencilla y humilde carta. Esperamos que no sea la ultima sino que el comienzo de una comunicacion; nos despedimos de ustedes y gracias. Atentamente (hand signed) Maestros y Maestras ***************************************** ESRAZ. (Autonomous Rebellous Zapatista Seconary School) To Peter Brown. Director of Schools for Chiapas - Chanobjunetic ta Chiapas - It gives us much pleasure to send you our greetings, through this simple and humble letter, hoping that you are in good health and alongside your kind family. We, the new teachers, are writing a letter for the schools of the world, to honest students and non-governmental organizations, for the purpose of their being in solidarity with us. We are asking you the great favor of distributing it for us, and of letting the contents of our letter be known. A big embrace for you and for your family from the new teachers, you are always present in our minds and our hearts. That is all, I say goodbye to you, wishing you much success in everything and our thanks. SINCERELY (hand signed) The female and male teachers TO THE SCHOOLS OF THE WORLD, TO THE TEACHERS, TO HONEST STUDENTS OF THE WORLD, TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OF THE WORLD Brothers and sisters all, from this land of the Rebel Autonomous Aguascalientes II of Oventic, San Andres Sacamch'en, Chiapas, Mexico. Brothers and sisters, through this humble letter we send our fraternal greetings to all, moving on to the following. We are the future teachers who are in the refresher course, in order to then go on to be the teaching staff of the "Primero de Enero" Zapatista Rebel Autonomous Secondary School (ESRAZ). We are asking for all of your support for this school, in all of its activities, in order to combat the educational ignorance of our peoples. That is why we are writing to you today, so that we may have all the contacts with all the peoples of the world, especially of an educational nature. We are asking, then, that you unite with us, the forgotten ones of the patria, those most in need. Brothers and sisters, students of the world, we and you know very well that education is the foundation of our peoples. That is why it is necessary that you are be in solidarity with us, in order to share our ideas, experiences, and together make a new tomorrow. This secondary school that is being created in Chiapas needs much support from you. We are seeking a new form of education, do not leave us alone, let us walk together, in that way no one and nothing can defeat us. We are certain that this kind of education shall triumph. Some day - or very soon - we shall be exchanging our form of education in order to create a new world, where everyone has a place. Our school is autonomous, it is not dependent on the government. For this reason the government has been attacking and threatening, but that is not important to us. What we want is a form of education that is inclusive, and we need - and we emphasize once more - you to be in solidarity with us and to unite with us. We need your collaboration with this educational process or project so that everything may move forward. Brothers and sisters, it has been a joy to write you this simple and humble letter. We hope that it will not be the last, but rather the beginning of a communication. We say farewell to you, and thank you. Sincerely, (hand signed) The male and female teachers 3. Subscription / un subscription information (Note: We have recently discovered that several requests to "unsubscribe" were lost due to a computer error. We deeply apologize for this inconvenience and urge anyone who does not wish to receive these messages to reply just one more time.) A. 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If you also want to receive letters and news via regular (snail) mail, please include your name, street address, city, ZIP, country, etc. ******************************************************** Schools for Chiapas * Chanobjunetic ta Chiapas * Escuelas para Chiapas Chiapas Schools Construction Teams * San Diegans for Peace in Mexico 1717 Kettner Blvd., Suite 125 (619) 232-2841 FAX (619) 232-0500 http://www.igc.org/mexicopeace/ END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * END * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcamer-04.26.99-13:39:12-6777