ABOUT
Mawazo Academy is an educational institution that focuses on sustainable living. We develop educational resources and tools that promotes self-reliance and practical skills such as gardening, environmental stewardship, and basic agriculture to instill global pride and responsibility. Mawazo in Kiswahili means 'thought' or 'imagination'. We are here to raise the critical thinking skills and imaginations levels of the children of the world so that they can be successful in protecting the planet for generations to come.
Mawazo's Cornerstones
Our curriculum is built on the following:
Self-Reliance
We understand that in order to equip the community with the knowledge, skills and attitudes for tackling communal challenges, we must first develop a shared appreciation for ourselves. In this, we grow a collective responsibility to be healthy and wise, so that we rely on ourselves and each other.
Sustainability
We thrive in teaching the intricacies of sustainable living so that communities will become saturated with problem solvers, innovation, and cutting-edge development. It is through our own hands that change happens, and in doing so, we become valuable assets to our respective communities.
Community Development
We provide a holistic curriculum that encourages the children of the world to seize their inner power for the development of themselves and their communities. The children of the world learn how to manage the land they live on, and in turn develop themselves and their community.
Meet Our Team
Mawazo Academy is a Jegna-led institution. What is a Jegna?
Jegna is a word taken from the Amharic language of Ethiopia. It refers to individuals who are committed to courage and beating the odds. Courage in their everyday practice of truth seeking, to become a hero in molding the mental and moral constitution of our children. Meet our brave leader.
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Yajaira De La Espada is the Founder and Executive Director of Mawazo Academy. Yajaira has been an educator for over a decade and has taught children in public, private, international, and charter school settings. Yajaira started her professional journey as a kindergarten teacher in San Antonio ISD, and then went on to teach special education. Yajaira received her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from the University of Texas and her first Masters of Science in Education (MSEd) from the University of Miami. In 2023, she graduated with her additional Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. Throughout her profession working in American schools, she mobilized her efforts to bring a more equitable system of education to her students, by joining local teacher unions and being active in school board meetings. It was during the year 2020 that Yajaira finally found the courage to begin working on an original curriculum framework. It was also during this time that Yajaira debuted her first feature length documentary, Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense. Yajaira is dedicated to creating educational resources through film and literature to expand the minds of the children of today so that they can realize success in a globalized world.