Jorge Herrera hard at work in his classroom at Salvador Garcidueñas, a SEED primary school in Mexico City.

My name is Jorge Mario Herrera de la Piedra—or simply Jorge—and I have worked as a computer science teacher for five years at Salvador Garcidueñas, a SEED primary school in Mexico City.

Our school is Marist, and our philosophy is to bring education to marginal communities. We are located near the airport in Mexico City in a low-resource area that is culturally very traditional. Families here typically reflect poor socioeconomic status and high levels of dysfunction. Our goal is to contribute to the community through education. For a small tuition fee, we offer basic early education that includes preschool, kindergarten and six elementary grades for children from 3 to 12 years old. With the help of SEED, we offer computer lessons for all grade levels.

My work with SEED began in May 2001, when I agreed to help my school set up a connection to the Internet and to provide technical support for the SEED computer lab and activities. I participated in the first SEED national workshop in Mexico, which took place in Villahermosa, Tabasco, in September 2003. I was excited and really a bit nervous because I was making the trip with a large group of children. I had to manage all the uncertainty that comes with such a challenge, not least of which was the necessity of getting permission to travel from the parents of all the students. Most of them had never been outside Mexico City.

It was an unforgettable experience, to meet and work with other teachers and students, not only from different parts of Mexico but also from other countries. Learning by doing experiments and using new tools and technology ourselves was a fantastic experience. What was most memorable about that workshop—and really all SEED workshops—is the humanity of the event. It makes an impression that improves the quality of both teaching and learning in an extraordinary way.

Since then, I have participated as a facilitator at most of the SEED workshops in Mexico. I am proud to say that some of my students have also become workshop facilitators. In fact, they were the first students SEED qualified to be facilitators because of their excellent work. It is a great accomplishment for them as it is for me.

As a result, I was also one of four Mexican teachers and students who facilitated the first SEED workshop in Venezuela. It is difficult to express the power of that experience, that our school and work with SEED was used as a pilot for others. I deeply appreciate that my views have been taken into account and the fantastic support we always have.

SEED gives me insight that has improved the way I teach. From each experience I take something that I can apply in the classroom, and that is wonderful. I have great respect for the SEED philosophy. It promotes sharing among students of many ages, helping the community and working together for the common cause of educating children. I hope the program will continue forever.

—Jorge Mario Herrera de la Piedra
    Teacher, Salvador Garcidueñas
    Mexico City

 

Jorge (top left and inset) was one of four Mexican teachers and students chosen by SEED to facilitate the first SEED workshop in Venezuela in October 2005. Read the full story of his experience.

Workshop participants (below) gathered to identify issues or problems in their own schools or communities that related to water and design solutions through hands-on science and applied technology projects.

Collaborative Workshops
Oct 2-6: Russia
Oct 16-20: Venezuela

School Workshops
Sep 4-8: Kazakhstan
Sep 18-22: Ecuador

Inaugurations
Aug 28: Brazil