Waldorf Initiative

Waldorf Earthship School in Yucatan, Mexico to Include Economically Disadvantaged Children

In a world where education systems seem to be failing on many levels, the Waldorf system continues to be guided by the principles that work to serve the child’s well-being and stability. It fosters a sense of purpose and belonging, facilitates connection with nature, and works to engage each child through a curriculum and methodology that integrates academics, art and practical skills.

It proves that so much more is possible.

While other schools are increasingly incorporating media and screens, we are guided by interpersonal relationships and a connection to nature. While others are divided by economic status, we remain inclusive and accessible.

We have already begun growing this community over almost the past two years and envision expanding it. We’ve seen firsthand how children thrive in this approach to education which addresses their whole being and offers them an environment surrounded by nature.

We are currently in the process of identifying a piece of land in nature; where as a community, we plan to build a school using natural and repurposed materials. The structure, known as an Earthship, will provide clean water using a system that cleanses rainwater, its own solar power energy and can grow its own food. It’s within this context that we envision being able to provide local children with an education that previously they might not have had access to.

Much of learning takes place through stories in Waldorf Education

Our school began in the summer of 2021 when schools were closing due to the pandemic. At the time, people were isolated and without much sense of community because of intense and prolonged lockdowns in this part of the country.

At this time, we were two single moms unsure of the future. What we were sure of was that we wanted our children and this generation to be free to interact outdoors in nature with other children, learning and growing in a nurturing environment, to be able to live the experience of childhood fully.

Knowing that community, purpose, belonging, and connection to nature are some of the deeper forces that work to serve the well-being and stability of humanity, we were guided by these principles and set about to create the vision we dreamed of. Namely a Waldorf school, in nature that would extend its reach to children in Mexico regardless of their economic situation.

We started with a small house, five families, and one teacher. A year and a half later we tripled in size, with fifteen families, a thriving community, two teachers and a larger house with more outdoor space and over ten different types of fruit trees growing on the property.

The annual Lantern Festival

Waldorf education works to engage each child through a curriculum and methodology that integrates academics, art and practical skills through engaging the head, heart and hands or thinking to feel and doing and through contact with nature.

A child's relationship with nature is central to their development and well-being and the well-being of our world. To be able to build this future school we are asking for your support to purchase and build the school that we envision, which will be a model school for others.

More About Earthships

If you aren’t familiar with Earthships, you will want to be! It is an exciting way to build with six basic design principles, all of which take advantage of the existing natural phenomena of the earth.

Video about Earthships: https://youtu.be/BPbUXaXpMBM

1. We build with natural and repurposed materials

2. Earthships are structures that heat and cool themselves without electric heat or burning fossil fuels or wood. We use thermal heating and cooling systems.

3. Earthships use solar and wind electricity.

4. Earthships collect all their water from rain, storing it in cisterns.

5. The use of grey water for watering plants and cleaning the water itself.

6. Earthships have sunrooms built directly into the structures to be able to produce organic food.

We believe that we need to give our children forward ways of thinking that consider our impact on the environment and allow us to live in ways where we wholeheartedly respect and honor the natural environment. We are at a tipping point, and humanity's future depends on this.

To continue to create and build towards this vision that took root more than two years ago, we are asking for your financial support and the broad sharing of this message.

The approximate costs associated with this endeavor include the following:

Purchas of 1 hectare of land in Yucatan, Mexico $50,000

The cost of constructing $225 per square foot (100 sq meters of construction/ 1076 sq. feet) $242,100

Transport, labor and closing costs etc. $36,300

Fees (2.9% +.30 per transaction) est. $10,000

$288,400