Multiculturalism

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.

Multiculturalism - Machaq Mara

Escuela D4 Arica

Celebrate the ancestral MACHAQ MARA, which marks the beginning of the new Solar Cycle coinciding with the Andean New Year, strengthening students' appreciation for the social and cultural diversity of the Arica and Parinacota region with dance and music in June 2025.

PARTICIPANTS
All students of the school who are in Early Childhood Education (Prekindergarten and Kindergarten) - Basic Education (1st to 8th grade), and all teachers from each grade, assistants, parents, guests who gave talks, coordinators, pedagogical leaders, and the principal.

ACTIVITIES
Activities carried out in May and June
meetings were held with the coordinating teachers from each level of education and the Principal, Mrs. Ruth Dini, at the beginning of the school year to organize the celebration of Machaq Mara in June 2025.
Talks were held to highlight Machaq Mara, an ancestral celebration that marks the beginning of the new solar cycle, coinciding with the Andean New Year. The guests who gave the talks were parents of Aymara origin and history teachers. The talks were held in classrooms in each of the participating classes from the aforementioned levels.
Afterward, and supported by the talks received, each subject teacher conducted meaningful and collaborative pedagogical experiences among the students, teachers, and parents in a climate of self-care, care for others, and care for others. These activities were carried out from May to June, based on the students' own beliefs, those of their parents and/or ancestors, and the talks received. Students from each class at the participating levels prepared the celebration with music and dances, wearing appropriate costumes.

CONCLUSIONS
The celebration of the ancestral MACHAQ MARA was achieved among the students of Preschool (Prekindergarten and Kindergarten) and Elementary Education (1st to 8th grade) at School D4 in Northern Arica, Chile, strengthening their appreciation for the social and cultural diversity of the Arica and Parinacota region.
All students at the school attended, sitting or standing in the courtyard, observing the MACHAQ MARA celebration. This same celebration was held in their classrooms by all participants at School D4 at the aforementioned levels.
All participating students strengthened their identity and respect for indigenous peoples with an intercultural approach through the celebration of MACHAQ MARA.
Principal Ruth Dini and teachers Patricia Eloy and Gladys Hernández, Life Link coordinators.