Motivation , educational tool to promote educational work and community

Abstract

Preschool education is the basis of affective, social, cognitive and psychomotor development, which promotes integral development of children, in the municipality of Estelí. To develop this research, has 185 volunteer educators (95 urban, 90 rural) called Educating Community, serving 2,678 children, equivalent to 65% of children treated at the preschool level in the municipality. To be Educator is a requirement to have passed primary school. These teachers work in the kindergarten around 3 and 4 hours, five days a week and they are not paid. They are organized in the Movement of Communitarians Preschool Educators (MOVEDUPCE).

This research purpose is to understand the individual and collective motivations that permit to the community educators perform an integral educational work with children and the community. This study is qualitative, narrative methods were used, such as focus groups, and open interviews. The documental research places us in the context of the research and its historical background.

Among the most significant results two types of motivation were identified, which takes them to work with responsibility and commitment: a) personal motivations that relate to maternal behavior that allows them to provide love to the children who come to school and protect their rights with joy and happiness, b) collective motivation related to their commitment to the community and development. These motivations lead them to feel part of the community and increase their self-esteem and personal value. The work of these communitarians educators has transcended their pedagogical role because they have established their ability to self-manage projects, conduct interagency coordination, to assume leadership, and to promote community participation in the organization and social mobilization for the rights of children and women.