Vocational guidance for children in Mexico

During the past few months, Mundo de Talentos was able to start a new project year in Chiapas and Oaxaca with much energy and many students. Finally, having entered the post pandemic phase, families appear to crave enrolment in interesting extracurricular activities again, so the groups of Mundo de Talentos are more than full! Many children are on a waiting list to see if someone drops out and they might be able to join the activities at a later point.

The groups in San Cristóbal de Las Casas started with exciting modules; the first-year group with Visual Arts and the second-year group with Social Sciences. During the Visual Arts module the students learned how to create a story board and to get into the role of a cameraman or an actor. The videos they created will be shown in the Kinoki Theatre in December as a festive end of the year event. During Social Sciences, the children learned about the importance of understanding our own history, how to be an empathic person and about the different ways of addressing conflict. Ending this module during the Day of the Dead festivities, the students will reflect on the meaning of these types of traditions for society and compare them with other traditions throughout the Mexican history.

Also, the second generation of Mundo de Talentos alumni started to meet with the first group, and together they are now sixty students in total. In September, they met with employees of human resources company Randstad Mexico. During this interactive masterclass they learned about the work of Randstad and how to prepare themselves as a candidate for a vacancy. Together with the guest teachers they focused on the importance of designing a good cv. Through roll play they practiced interview techniques. How do you present yourself? What are the do’s and don’ts? Our alumni left inspired and with their first cv on paper! In October, the alumni took control of the kitchen of the Parmentier Culinary Institute in San Cristóbal de Las Casas during a Gastronomy masterclass. Chef Julio César Martínez Orantes shared the basic aspects of gastronomy and the correct handling and preparation of ingredients. He also focused on the reduction of food waste. After this introduction the alumni got to work and prepared a delicious bolognese pasta and fruit tart.

Finally, we are proud to have been able to initiate a Mundo de Talentos pilot in the city of Oaxaca, in September. The project has met with great enthusiasm both from the participating children and their families and from all kinds of collaborating people and organizations. We are fortunate to implement the sessions in the Oaxaca Children´s Museum (MIO), a beautifully renovated train station and museum. Professions to be explored during the pilot include the areas of aviation, tourism, pastry, painting, podcast production and virtual reality.

For example, during the podcast session, the children learned about what kinds of tools are used to create audio, including voice, scriptwriting and editing sound effects. By applying these tools themselves, the students produced their first Mundo de Talentos podcast, like real communication professionals! The painting class consisted of an excursion to the studio of Oaxacan artist Tomás Pineda who is recognized in Mexico and abroad for his work. In a very passionate way, he guided the students around and showed the them the different kinds of art he practices like painting, ceramics and woodworking. Tomás shared how his profession allows him to work from home and to expose in various parts of the world. After the tour it was time to get creative! As the students worked on their own pieces, Tomás showed them various applicable techniques. At the end of the day, they left very inspired and with their own piece of art.

During 2023, we plan to open an official second Mundo de Talentos location in the city of Oaxaca. The positive first results of the pilot strengthen our belief that the amplification to this region is a logical and necessary development, both for the organization of Mundo de Talentos and for the children of Oaxaca. Please follow us on social media to be informed about this exciting new phase of our activities!

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Links:

• Podcast created by Mundo de Talentos students in Oaxaca