In February of 2007 we started a new project: teaching children in sixteen rural communities about ancient and living Maya culture; archaeology and conservation. Each child received an activity book and for the students in the lower grades we produced an Maya colouring book. Our two instructors Londin Velásquez and Moisés Mancía conduct one art workshop per month in each community.
Our Maya project is sponsored by MACHI (Maya Area Cultural Heritage Initiative)
arteaccioncopan@yahoo.com
In our television program Mini-Mundo we also have a section on Maya culture, so many more people will learn about the Mayas!
See below a list of all our activities!
Why teaching about Maya culture? Because most of our students are not even aware that they are descendents of the people who left the famous and majestic ruins of Copán. By teaching about Maya culture we hope to create awareness and respect for Maya culture and it's conservation. See also our web-site about Maya culture.
       

*Maya Culture Art Workshops about Contemporary Maya Culture
The instructors of our Maya Project did what they had to do: they finished up teaching the workshops on the ninth chapter of the activity book about contemporary Maya culture. It was a theme the children were very much interested in and it is with a sense of satisfaction that we can say we have contributed to the consciousness of living Maya culture in this region. After the theory and games, the children made a self portrait. There was time left to celebrate this last workshop of the year with lollypops on behalf of our organization and big thank-you’s from the children and teachers for our instructors. October - November, 2008

*Maya Culture Art Workshops about Archaeology
Our instructors are working very hard to finish up their project before the school year end on November 3. The eight chapter of the activity boos is about archaeology and just as last year, the kids loved it. Instructor Lóndin Velásquez prepared questions about the theme written on pieces of ceramics that he buried before each class. The children “excavated” these pieces and tried to answer the questions found. They also measured and mapped a piece of land near their school, pretending they were real archaeologists and the pieces of plastic they found were precious jade… October, 2008

*Maya Culture Art Workshops about Science and Glyphs
Because of our many travels in the months of August and September, we couldn’t do the usual evaluation after each chapter, but in stead, the instructors had prepared to teach two chapters at once. Maya math was as always a favorite among the children, probably because they’re so different but easy to understand. The concept of the Maya calendar was a bit harder to understand, but thanks to the gorgeous visuals instructor Londin had prepared, the kids had a good shot at it. The workshop on Maya glyphs was also a success: the children made their own codex or painted pieces of ceramics, just like the ancient Mayas did… August - October, 2008

*Maya Culture Art Workshops about Kings
The archaeological site of Copán is famous for its sculpture, but also for its vast dynasty of Maya kings. Through hieroglyphic descriptions and of course the famous stelae, we know quite a bit about them, and that makes them all the more human and interesting for kids. During the workshops on the fifth chapter, the children in 18 communities learned about Yax Kuk' Mo', the founder of the dynasty; the famous Altar Q on which 16 kings are depicted; and about the problems of the last king of Copan, whose people suffered of diseases and starvation while the king himself was in the middle of a political struggle. One of the most important things the children learned is that Maya kings also had the ultimate religious power and were thus very powerful. As for the artwork, the children made beautiful decorated headdresses, (like the Maya kings had) and also hand puppets with which they acted out different royal scenes. July - August, 2008

*Excursion Archaeological Park for Foreign Children
An excursion for children to the archaeological site of Copán has become somewhat of our expertise, so it wasn’t a great surprise when we were approached by tour agency Maya Caribbean to guide three tours for their very young tourists. The children came with a program called Elder Hostel that usually only attends the elder people interested in a learning experience abroad, but this year they offered a special grandparent-grandchild program. So while the grandparents toured the park with their own “grown-up” guide, Carin gave the kids a tour. Used as she is to guide big groups of about forty children from rural communities in Copán, she thought the small groups of ten kids at the most would be a piece of cake. What a mistake! Whereas the children from Copán don’t run around, don’t scream and much less ask any questions, the gringo kids were just the opposite! “Is it true that the Maya ruins are covered in gold?” “How did the Maya sacrifice human beings?” “Did the Mayas ride on elephants?” After setting some rules (Pleeeeaaase…. One question at the time!), the kids toured the site, then the nature trail and museum. It was an interesting and challenging experience answering all their questions (that can basically be summarized as: everything you always wanted to know about human sacrifice!). It was a long tour and of course the kids got a bit cranky after a while and started to complain that “they were starving” to which Carin felt she needed to explain that they were not starving as opposed to some of their Honduran peers. The tour ended with an art workshop in the picnic area, surrounded by scarlet macaws. Yet another big difference with the local kids: all those fancy digital cameras…. June – July, 2008

*Sponsor Visit MACHI
 
Twice a year we receive a visit from our sponsor MACHI and that is always a good experience. Rather than just coming to check numbers, the people working for MACHI have become friends and their visit is always an interesting exchange of experiences. This time it was director Shoshaunna parks who came by for a few days, together with archaeologist Clair who works as an intern for one of MACHI’s projects in Belize. We tried to organize a program as varied as possible, consisting in this case in an excursion for the children of Carrizalito II to children’s museum Casa K’inich; one of Londin’s art workshops in Boca del Monte and we saw Moisés in action in Hacienda Grande, where Shoshi and Londin even played “Maya puppets” together. Of course we also evaluated the project so far (Besides for the books that are still not back from the printer, all is well and the instructors have improved a lot) and worked on de proposal for next year. We have some great plans for 2009! July 9-12, 2008

*Maya Culture Art Workshops about Religion
 
Religion is the theme of the fourth chapter and quite different from last year, it wasn’t met with fear or scepsis. Whereas last year children were somewhat confused to talk about the multiple gods and goddesses of the ancient Mayas, this year the theme was received much more amicably, probably because our students are so much more familiar with Maya culture than they were before and don’t see their ancient religion as a threat. Instructors Londin and Moisés experimented with different games and crafts, making masks still being one of the favourites. But the wishing tree was also a success: the children wrote and decorated their dreams or wishes on slips of coloured construction paper after which they hung them in a tree in the yard or a branch specially cut for the occasion. In a self made service, the children asked for their wishes to come true. June - July, 2008

*Maya Cultural Trip through Belize and Guatemala
 
Our trip tracing the ancient Mayas’ trail through Belize and Guatemala was great! Our Maya Project instructors Londin and Moisés had never left the country and it and had never seen the flourishing living Maya culture with their own eyes. Hence the idea for this trip, that also took us (Londin, Moisés and Carin) along some other projects financed by our sponsor MACHI. The first stop was Punta Gorda in Belize after crossing the Bay of Honduras in a small boat (the first time Moisés saw the ocean!) where we visited the Julian Cho Society. From there we went up north towards Tikal and Flores where we were received by the ProPetén Foundation, then down to Guatemala City where we spent the night at Caja Lúdica. Next on the program was, of course, Lake Atitlan, where we had but an hour to visit the La Cambalacha art project. We ended the trip in Antigua and made it home sound and safe after eight days of traveling. The three of us felt awed, impressed and inspired by the people they met and the sites they visited. It was an amazing trip they’ll never forget and it will be a valuable reference in their future classes on Maya culture. May 14-22, 2008

*Maya Culture Art Workshops about Nature
 
During the month of March and April we taught the second chapter of our activity book in 17 communities for a total of 356 children. An adaptation we made from last year is that we split up the chapter about agriculture in two parts: One chapter on nature in general (about animals and the Mayas living in harmony with nature) and one chapter on maize (about agricultural habits and food). The children very much enjoyed learning about the different animals the Mayas knew and why some of them were considered sacred. For the art activity, the children drew their own nahual (personification of a Maya gods in the shape of an animal). The animal theme was also very inspiring to do all sorts of dynamic games. March - April, 2008

*Visit Julian Cho Society from Belize
    The Julian Cho Society runs a similar Maya awareness program in the south of Belize, also sponsored by MACHI. To see how we do things in Honduras, three members of JCS, all three Maya Que'qché, visited Copán Ruinas and joined us in the village of Carrizalón to see our facilitators in action. It was an interesting exchange of experiences and the children were fascinated to meet "other" Mayas, even though they didn't speak spanish! March 27-29, 2008

*Maya Culture Art Workshops, an Introduction
    Continuation of our Maya program that we started last year, consisting in monthly art workshops in 18 communities about Maya culture, archaeology and conservation, taught by our facilitators Moisés Mancía and Londin Velásquez. The first chapter is an introductionto the ancient Maya in Copán Ruinas. To help the children understand the expansiveness of the Maya empire, as an art activity they made maps of the Maya world. February - March, 2008

* Activity Book Maya Culture in Copán
    Publication of three new editions of an activity book for children (grade 4, 5, 6) about ancient and contemporary Maya culture in Copán, archaeology and conservation. March, 2008

* Maya Cultural Fair
A two-day cultural fair with art workshops for the 120 invited children form Maya Chortí communities (all participants of our Maya project); a tour through children's museum Casa k'inich; indigenous protest music, a stilts & acrobatics show and the premiere of our Maya documentary. December 28-29, 2007

* Documentary Maya Culture in Copán
    Production of a 30 minute documentary that explores the living Maya culture in Copán Ruinas. Premiere: December 28, 2007

* Promo Film Maya Culture
    Production of a 2-minute promo film about our Maya project, for the web site of our sponsor, the MACHI Project. To see the film, click here. August, 2006

*Excursion to the Archaeological Park Copán Ruinas
      Excursion to the ruins and nature trail for 39 children from the communities of Nueva Esperanza and Carrizalón. August 10, 2007

* Coloring Books Maya Culture
    Production of 4 editions of a coloring book about Maya culture for children in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, for the MACHI Project. August, 2007

*Maya Culture Art Workshops
    During the whole school year of 2007, our Maya facilitators Moisés Mancía and Lóndin Velásquez will teach children in 16 Maya Chortí communities about Maya culture, archaeology and conservation through art activities. February - December, 2007

* Maya Culture in Copán
    Publication of an activity book for children about ancient and contemporary Maya culture in Copán, archaeology and conservation. February, 2007

*Maya Culture Awareness Training Program
     Training session of two young Maya Chortí facilitators who will conduct artistic workshops on Maya culture in 16 communities. November 2006 - January 2007

*Maya Area Cultural Heritage Initiative Conference
     Participation in the MACHI conference (Yucatan, Mexico) on conservation of cultural heritage through non-formal education. October 19-21, 2006

*Maya Culture for Advanced Course Students
     Excursions combined with art workshops to the Archeological Park and museums of Copán. September 2006

*Maya Calendar Mural
     Workshop about the Maya calendar system, resulting in a collective mural made by the students of grade 4 in Rincón del Buey. August 28, 2006

*Photo, Murals and Film Projects
     Photo projects, mural painting and film festivals in 5 Maya Chortí communities.July-December, 2006

*Excursion to the Ruins and Casa K'Inich
      Excursion to the ruins and children's museum for 33 children from the village Agua Sucia. October 7, 2005

*Night of the Full Moon
    S
torytelling during a monthly event organized by the Asociación Copán. July 21, 2005

*Excursion to the Ruins and Casa K'Inich

      Excursion to the ruins and children's museum for 27 children from the village El Tigre. June 18, 2005

*Excursion to the Ruins and Casa K'Inich
      Excursion to the ruins and children's museum for 28 children from the village Barbasqueadero. June 4, 2005

*Photo-Story in La Pintada
     With US photographer Deirdre Portnoy we went to La Pintada to let 25 men, women and children take pictures of their lives, as part of the international Photo-Story Project. The photos were glued in a handmade album that the participants were to keep. The results, in photos and words, are insight views of modern Mayan life in a small community. January 2005

*Excursion to the Ruins and Casa K'Inich
      Excursion to the ruins and children's museum for 36 children from the village El Enzino. May 2004

*Excursion to the Ruins and Casa K'Inich
      Excursion to the ruins and children's museum for 33 children from the village El Triunfo. May 2004

*The Little Princess, Theatre Play
    
With 8 seventh grade students of the Mayatan School we adapted the previously performed play into a mute play, performed during the Cultural Fair at the central park in Copán. December 19, 2003

*The Little Princess, Theatre Play
 
   Based on a story by Honduran archeologist Ricardo Agurcia, "The Little Princess" tells the story of a girl who falls asleep and wakes up in the time of the ancient Mayas. She meets the last king of the Mayas in Copán who tells her to spread an ecological message in order to avoid destruction of nature and society in the future, as happened to the Mayas. Performed by 20 students of 5° and 6° grade of the Mayatan School, at the town hall. June 7, 2003

*Mural Indigenous Music
    
Portable mural used as background for the First Festival of Indigenous Music in Copán Ruinas .December 2002

*Yax Ché Nature Trail at Archaeological Park
    
Interpretation, design and production of a series of artistic and informative boards about Mayan culture, placed along the nature trail at the ruins of Copán, in collaboration with Chris Mayer. August 2002

*Art Exhibition: Chortí Children Paint
     An exhibition of the results of the art workshops in Maya Chortí communities. March 2000

*Excursion to the Ruins

      Excursion to the ruins combined with an art workshop and exhibition  for 39 children from the village San Rafael. September 1999