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UPAVIM Bakery
Children's Center
A great pride for the women of UPAVIM.
The Children’s Center Program was founded in 1994 by the members of UPAVIM to provide childcare to the working mothers of UPAVIM and to the community. The program now houses a combined Montessori daycare and preschool. The children who enter the center are from families with working parents and range in age from 45 days to 5 years. There are currently seven members of UPAVIM working with about 62 children in the daycare and preschool. The Montessori program is one of great pride for the women of UPAVIM as a Montessori education is generally only available for the wealthy families located far from La Esperanza in the city’s center.
Training
The daycare and preschool staff are required to be trained in the Montessori method and early childhood stimulation and nutrition. Dr. Lilian Moncada Davidson, professor at Queens College in New York, trained several members of UPAVIM in the Montessori method to initiate the program. Additionally, all of our teachers received training in nutrition. In the following years, the teachers have continued their studies in the United States, El Salvador, and in various workshops in Guatemala. UCDF supports ongoing professional development for the faculty through board-member-led sessions and community partnerships with schools and professional organizations in the region.
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Expenses and Funding
The parents pay a monthly fee, with UPAVIM members paying a reduced amount. This covers a full day of care and/or activities as well as a nutritious breakfast and lunch. The expenses of the Children’s Center are covered by proceeds from the handmade Fair Trade crafts department and partially by fees paid by the families. A special thanks to all the volunteers and teachers who have donated their time, money and resources to training and supporting our one of a kind Montessori program!