Escuela D-4 Arica
The school's principal, Mrs. Ruth Dini, together with her Management Team, Life Link Coordinators Patricia Eloy and Gladys Hernández, the teachers who organized the ceremony, Mr. Gabriel Fernández and Katia Fernández, as well as all teachers and students from the Preschool levels (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten) and Primary Education (Grades 1–8), presented an intercultural activity called Machaq Mara, also known as the Aymara New Year.
Machaq Mara is an ancestral ceremony through which the Andean peoples celebrate the winter solstice at dawn, when the rays of Tata Inti (Father Sun) reach Pachamama (Mother Earth), marking the beginning of a new cycle in the life of nature and humanity.
OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
To encourage students to value the social and cultural diversity of the Andean peoples.
Students participated in a large intercultural activity centered on Machaq Mara.
ACTIVITIES
(Conducted throughout the month of June according to the annual plan.)
Meetings were held with coordinating teachers from all educational levels to organize this year's large intercultural activity related to Machaq Mara.
Students at each grade level listened to their teachers and watched educational videos in their classrooms to learn about the meaning of Machaq Mara.
Students learned traditional dances while wearing Aymara clothing in preparation for the ceremony and also became familiar with the colors of the ancestral Aymara flag.
CONCLUSION
The Chilean flag was raised (see photo) to mark the beginning of the Machaq Mara intercultural activity. (The Aymara flag was also displayed above the flagpole.) Eighth-grade students sang the Chilean National Anthem (see photo).
The students demonstrated the values represented by the three "C's" of the Life Link philosophy within the school curriculum, which closely align with Aymara philosophy. A total of 1,370 students participated, along with all teachers, all school staff, invited guests, Life Link Coordinators Patricia Eloy and Gladys Hernández, and local authorities from Arica.
Principal Mrs. Ruth Dini took part in the Machaq Mara ceremony, accompanying the proceedings throughout (see photo), including the prayers and petitions for the preservation of the sacred hills of our city, for the health of those who are ill, for peace, and for the protection of nature. It was truly moving and beautiful to hear everyone loudly and simultaneously respond with "Jallalla!" in support of these petitions.
Note: Each time a petition is made during the Aymara ceremony, the students, attendees, and invited guests respond together by saying "Jallalla!"
At the conclusion of the Aymara ceremony, the entire school community participated in traditional Aymara dances in the school courtyard, with students from the different grade levels taking part (see photo).
The entire educational community participated in an atmosphere of excellent school coexistence and a culture of peace. Guest teacher Mr. Gabriel Fernández and his daughter Katia conducted the ceremony on the stage. The event included the participation of all 1,370 students, all teachers, all school staff, invited guests, Life Link Coordinators Patricia Eloy and Gladys Hernández, and local authorities from Arica.
