Last December, 34 Costa Rican public school teachers received a four day training in a method that won the Changemakers Innovation Award: Building a More Ethical Society, chosen from 79 projects in 32 countries.

Known as the “SerPaz Practice” in Spanish and “Connection Practice” in English, it’s aim in schools is bullying prevention and creative conflict resolution.

SerPaz combines a conscious connection to one’s feelings and needs with the attainment of heart-brain coherence. The synergy between these two techniques maximizes social and emotional intelligence in the individual, which builds resilience and enhances academic performance.

This methodology reduces the reactions of the amygdala of the brain, which gets triggered by painful memories and results in foggy thinking and irrational acts. In addition, achieving heart-brain coherence results in creativity and the innovation needed for improved outcomes. In schools, this skill set creates solid self-esteem in the student resulting in harmonious classrooms. In business, it liberates individuals to perform at higher levels of engagement resulting in a more cooperative culture.

The SerPaz Practice

• achieves maximum brain function resulting in creative problem solving
• resolves conflicts efficiently and non-violently resulting in a safe, productive environment
• releases negative feelings resulting in greater clarity
• creates deeper self-confidence resulting in high performance

These benefits result in a heightened sense of belonging, reducing student dropouts and employee turnover.

SerPaz courses for public school teachers are offered by the Academy for Peace, the principal project of the Rasur Foundation. The program is carried out through an agreement with the Costa Rican Ministry of Education, as the teachers attend the training on paid time.

The goal of this partnership is to integrate this practice into all schools in Costa Rica. Upon completion of the course, one teacher said, “I learned how to develop a better connection with myself and how to convey that inner peace to others around me.”

Since 2004, 1260 teachers have been trained, impacting approximately 35,500 students, and more are trained each month. In 2013, twenty-nine schools from San Jose, Escazu and Santa Ana were added to the program.

Its design depends on training teachers to train their colleagues, who then implement the program in their classrooms. The curriculum contains four lessons which lead to the attainment of the practice. Then the skills are reinforced in the classroom throughout the rest of the year.

María del Carmen Zuñiga, an elementary school teacher from Yanuario Quesada School in Escazu, has a student who constantly struggled to control his emotions and who would often start arguments and fight with his fellow classmates.

She decided to practice Quick Coherence, the part of SerPaz that leads to heart-brain coherence, with her third grade students. She confessed it wasn’t easy at the beginning but, little by little, the children mastered the skill.

Days later, the student who had problems controlling his emotions approached her after recess and told her “Teacher, teacher, that thing that you taught us really works. I used it after I was upset because a classmate pushed me and I didn’t hit him afterwards.”

Santa Ana High School has been included in the program, as the plan is to integrate it into secondary education as well. In addition, high risk communities are being reached, such as La Carpio, La Peregrina, León XIII, Lomas del Río and Rincón Grande de Pavas.

The trainers in each school will participate in the mid-year evaluation of the program in July and have the opportunity to share their experiences with each other. In 2014, these trainers will serve as facilitators in courses offered to the next round of schools.

This program does not have sufficient funding to achieve the goal of bringing it into every school in Costa Rica. It can make a huge difference in students carrying on Costa Rica’s legacy of peace, but it will not succeed without public support.

Courses are offered to businesses, private schools and the general public as a way to raise funds for the public school program. If you would like to sponsor a course or volunteer, please contact the director, Nancy Marin nancy@rasurfoundation.org.

A course in English will be offered in Piedades de Santa Ana from July 9-12.
by the creator of SerPaz, Rita Marie Johnson. Some scholarships are available. Contact her at ritamarie@rasurfoundation.org
To make a donation, the Banco Nacional account number for Fundación Rasur is 100-2-095-600215-4. If you are in the U.S., please donate at www.rasurinternational.org.

The following schools have been trained this year:

• Rafael Francisco Osejo School
• Juan Álvarez Azofeifa School
• Rincón Grande School
• Carlos Sanabria School
• Finca La Caja School
• Daniel Oduber School
• República de Argentina School
• David Marín School
• Juan XXIII School
• El Carmen School
• Yanuario Quesada School
• Corazón de Jesús School (Escazú)
• Bello Horizonte School
• Venezuela School
• Guachipelín School
• Otto Hubbe School
• León XXIII School
• Santa Ana High School
• Costa Rica School
• Lomas del Río School
• Honduras de Pozos School April
• Jorge Volio J.School
• La Peregrina School
• Lomas del Río School
• Benjamin Herrera School
• Finca San Juan School

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Written by Scott Oliver, author of 1: How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa, 2: Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore and 3. ¿Cómo Comprar Bienes Raices en Costa Rica, Sin Perder Su Camisa?

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.