For two years, Chile has been rocked by students demanding a more equal education system among social classes, free access to higher education and an end to profiteering. Off and on since the start of the student movement in 2011, students have staged monthslong sit-ins causing widespread class cancelations that threaten students’ ability to meet attendance requirements for graduation. They’ve also taken their voices to the streets in massive demonstrations, which almost always end in violent throw-downs between protesters and police. The students’ campaign for educational reform is the biggest social movement in Chile since the nation returned to democracy in 1990. However, there has been little negotiation between the government and students — and no future progress is in sight.

So, it remains that while Chile is home to some of the best schools in the region, the country is also host to very under-funded institutions. I work with students in the latter.

At my school, not all classrooms have a whiteboard.

The library, which has a very small selection of books, shares a space with the music room.

Textbooks often don’t arrive until the second or third month of school. Books in Chile also have a 19 percent tax, making the materials very expensive.

Although the government is pressing English education, it is difficult to find English materials in Chile — and if you find them, they are of course, very pricey.

The teachers do not have their own classroom space and instead rotate rooms. Any materials they do have must be stored in a teacher’s lounge area, which is an 8 x 15 square-foot room with two tables for the entire school’s staff.

There is no working printer. Teachers buy all of their own materials from white board markers to novels.

Each grade level has a (very worn out) foosball or ping pong table that accommodates up to four students for a game. The rest of the students don’t have equipment to play with during recess. The students play soccer with goals posts without nets, using their soda bottlecaps in place of a ball.

My students are very motivated to learn, but we could really use some help.

What we need: 

–Books in English — Simple books for students learning to read (like Phonics texts or picture books). Higher level books are welcome too, as some students are more proficient than others and we’d like to start an English section in the library.

–Posters in English — Classroom decorations that feature primary concepts, such as the alphabet, numbers, colors, the weather, rules, etc.

–Stickers or stamps in English — Stickers are difficult to find in Chile as it is…so stickers with English phrases, just forget it! Every student loves receiving rewards for good work. Stickers with English phrases like “Good Work!” is a simple way we could help motivate the students while teaching them new words too.

–White board markers — The white board markers sold in Chile are very low quality and don’t last long. Plus, teachers have to buy them out-of-pocket.

–Crayons or colored pencils — Many students don’t have crayons or colored pencils and the school doesn’t provide them. So, if I do a coloring activity in class, I have to purchase and bring the materials myself (Don’t forget, I have four classes of 20-22 students each).

–Balls for recess — My kids love soccer, but introducing them to sports from different cultures would be good too. I would love to incorporate a sports lesson into one of my classes. If you want to donate ball(s), they need to be deflatable so I can fit them in my suitcase and pump them up once back in Chile.

–Anything else you can think of?!

I will be in Las Vegas on June 9-19, and can collect and deliver any items you are willing to donate to my students in Santiago. Please leave a comment, so we can arrange it. Thank you.

—JDF