In alignment with Tumul K'in Center of Learning's practice of following Maya values, Community outreach is not only embedded into the philosophies but are actively pursued and practiced as an act of gaining community support and enlightenment. Tumul K'in passionately understands the need for community involvement and support, hence the community liaison officer is actively depended upon to keep open communication with not just the teachers, staff, students and their families, but a communication with the near communities is kept and respected.

Tumul K'in is an advocate of keeping culture alive through open communication with all communities but is especially sensitive to the boundary and laws of the near by surrounding communities. The alcaldes and chairmen of the villages are updated to any new development and are invited to any event that Tumul K'in is hosting to show respect for authority.

Tumul K'in currently has the following projects and programs running in alignment with these Maya values in the spirit of community outreach.

Ak' kutan Radio

Ak' kutan Radio, housed at Tumul K'in, is an indigenous community based radio station that serves to empower the indigenous communities of Southern Belize by offering information and cultural knowledge in areas such as indigenous rights, cultural identity, traditional healing and other topics that improve the community's lives.

Specific Goal:

1. Provide a window through which our students can access information and knowledge and share their own knowledge with the world
2. To expand this window such that it is available to the rest of the communities
3. To use the radio to make available information and knowledge to a wider audience
4. To provide an avenue for our students to share their learning and engage in community development
5. To become independent and self-sustainable

Ak' kutan is currently reaching the communities of Blue Creek, Aguacate, Jordon, and Santa Teresa but plans are in place to expand its reach to the entire district of Toledo.

Inter-culture Bilingual Education

As a commitment to intercultural education,Tumul K'in Center of Learning in collaboration with UNICEF is currently working with three schools to promote inter-cultural bilingual education into two Maya schools in Toledo (San Jose R.C. School and Aguacate R.C. School) and one Garinagu school in the Stann Creek District (Gulisi Community School). The goal of the Intercultural bilingual education project is to improve the quality of education and promote a more inclusive society.

The following activities are implemented at the three enrolled schools;

• Provide language training to the teachers in the reading , writing and teaching of the indigenous language (Mopan, Q'eqchi' & Garifuna)
• Develop a school-based indigenous language (Mopan, Q'eqchi' & Garifuna) curriculum for Infant I
• Develop and acquire teaching resources for Infant I
• Increase participation and ownership of parents and communities
• Social mobilization and communication
• Provide ongoing support and monitoring to the three schools

Small Farmer Outreach Programs

Tumul K'in in an effort to minimize marginal poverty in the Toledo District, through its food processing Unit (FPU), encourages farmers to plant and sell to Tumul K'in's FPU , farm crops such as papaya, mango, pineapple, honey and peppers as the FPU produces Jams (papaya, Pineapple, and Mango), 100% pure Honey, Honey Jelly and pepper sauce. Through this initiative, Tumul K'in is not only creating a new niche market for the small farmers but also assist these small farmers by providing an opportunity to generate income for their families.

Education

Through Tumul K'in's academic program, students are equipped with general and basic knowledge of agricultural systems and practices. Students receive hands on experience and technical training in dealing with live stock such as swine, poultry, sheep, and learning about farm management and various planting techniques such as how to properly manage a vegetable garden. Through the practical field experience, students are being prepared to become young business entrepreneurs and to become a success story in their community. By a student investing their time in Tumul K'in, they are allowing themselves to become a better person; this is because Tumul K'in not only imparts academic knowledge to the student but also challenges the student to become more responsible and to develop a character of respect and empowerment. As a result, the students will become role models in their own communities. The Tumul K'in community reaches out to the parents of the students and the villages and families. Everyone is actively involved in the personal development and growth of the student. Tumul K'in Center of Learning genuinely cares for the student and is prepared to help in any way possible while offering them the best alternative education.

Cultural out reach

The key for Tumul K'in uniqueness is the 'cultural' investment of Tumul K'in, which is embedded into the philosophies and mission of the institution. Tumul K'in promotes culture by getting students, staff and parents involved into the cultural movement of being not only enlightened by our cultural strengths and history but by being encouraged to speak, write, dress and practice cultural traditions and beliefs. The very core of Tumul K'in is culture, from the fahina practices to the teaching of the marimba music, to the food consumed, culture is promoted; and by the students implementing the traditional system of governance through various cultural practices. The Akutan Radio promotes the marimba and harp music and addresses language barrier issues as announcers are able to speak Q'eqchi' and Mopan Maya, which is the language spoken by the indigenous persons in the surrounding villages in Toledo. For more information on the cultural outreach please visit our cultural page.