GSE – ARGENTINA – 2010

In the summer of 2010, six students from California, accompanied by GSE director Yasha Mokram, traveled to Sante Fe, Argentina. Together with Argentinean students, they built a green house and organic garden at Pilares Primary and Secondary School. This garden serves as an outdoor classroom for students to learn about gardening techniques while growing food to be used in their school kitchen.

Pilares is a community-funded school that was founded in 1994 by a group of parents, neighbors and teachers that serves about 300 students. Many of these students have learning disabilities and come from impoverished families. The rural setting of the school cultivates a strong relationship between students and the land, which is greatly enhanced by incorporating a garden curriculum. In 2008, the school garden at Pilares was destroyed by flooding and the school lacked the resources to rebuild it.

In addition to the school garden, students designed and painted a school mural that represents cross-cultural collaboration. They also worked together to paint and restore a community center in Sante Fe.

In summer of 2009 in Santa Fe, we led a group of 5 student ambassadors who collaborated with local students to paint and restore an elementary school. GSE also bought and installed heaters in five classrooms, and planted trees in a dilapidated plaza. The group ran four workshops with high school and university students, laying the groundwork for future discussions on the local and global community. One young woman, who visited California during the February-January trip, is currently directing and coordinating ongoing workshops in Santa Fe while attending her first year of university.