Montessori del Mar

Centro Esperanza, Inc. (Center of Hope) is a non-profit institution that offers services in the town of Loíza, Puerto Rico. During its 32 years of existence the Center has served over 3,600 participants, having an impact not only on the children but, most important, improving the quality of life of their families and their neighborhoods.

The Center began serving the community of Tocones, Loíza in 1977 as a school in a small wooden ranch motivated by the desire of the Daughters of Charity to serve the needy. This particular community is one of the most marginalized in all Puerto Rico. The school was for developmentally challenged youth at a time when the Department of Education did not offer services for their special needs. By 1984 it became the first Special Education Elementary school in the Humacao school district. The program expanded through vocational training, preparing the youth to become productive adults for the workforce. With time, the Department of Education developed a program in the public school system for children with special needs making the services of the Center unnecessary and causing a shift in the focus.

In 1993 the Center accordingly did a needs assessment which identified four crucial areas which evolved in to becoming programs.
1. The “Garden of Hope” was a pre-school established in 1996, which eventually became “Montessori by the Sea” in 2004. By 2009 the school expanded to include lower elementary levels.
2. The music program was established in 2001 as an effort to offer structure and healthy pass times to at risk youth. The organization began offering music lessons, and eventually formed an orchestra.
3. In 2004 the implementation of “Motivating Women” helped to single mothers become self employed.
4. In 2007 the “Life and Hope” Program began in alliance with the Inter American University of P.R. using psychology students doing their residencies. This program actually serves Loíza, Canóvanas and Rio Grande population, offering psychological evaluations, therapy and counseling.

The Mission of the Center is promote and facilitate the holistic development of children and families of scarce economic resources from Loíza and surrounding counties by giving them an excellent education as well as being of support to their families in order to insure their well-being.

In order to carry out this mission, the Center has three main programs:
• Montessori by the Sea. Education based on the Montessori philosophy for children of 2.5 through 8 years old. The school has pre-school and lower elementary levels. The Montessori Method is based on the experimental observations of young children and consists of prepared environments in which children can freely choose from a number of developmentally appropriate activities designed for self-directed learning. Children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. The concept of conflict resolution is also introduced and reinforced at every opportunity establishing a healthy pattern the students carry with them in the future. Through the assistance of a social worker the organization supports families and their children. Montessori by the Sea is a school which not only provides an excellent education to underprivileged children; it also prepares them to become agents of change as well as to be productive and responsible citizens. The school promotes the cultivation of inner peace as well as conflict resolution in the midst of a community laden with social ills. This program is founded on the holistic development of children in a free but yet structured environment, based on the Montessori Method. Working both independently and within group settings provides the children with self esteem, self discipline, security and independence. The curriculum promotes the love of learning as well as stimulating critical thinking.

• The Afterschool Music Program uses music as an alternative to keep youth out of trouble and cultivate their music talents. The instructors offer violin, piano, trumpet, saxophone lessons and fortify values such as discipline respect and motivation. The music program has its origins as a concrete response to the lack of extracurricular activities in Loíza and the need expressed through a survey to a group of children in the community, in which 95% expressed interest in music. All this led to begin the music program with the goal of preventing high risk behaviors in young people, and offer them to develop skills through music. The program started in January 2003 with twenty children from Vieques Elementary School. They have formed an orchestra which gives public presentations in different activities.

• Life and Hope. This is a program of psychological evaluation and therapy for families and individuals. This program is an effort to support families as they strive to develop strategies to cope with life’s challenges in a healthy way. The participants acquire tools to face any conflicts or difficult situations in their lives with hope and optimism.