The Municipal Institute for the Strengthening of Maya Culture maintains an educational offering for learning our mother tongue, and from there, we promote the preservation of the roots that give us identity, stated the Mayor of Mérida, Renán Barrer Concha.
The Mayor announced that the Institute has opened the call for the 2023-2024 school year for those interested in learning our mother tongue to come and register.
He emphasized that at the Institute, they not only provide workshops and training but also strive to have more and more areas that can offer services in the Maya language to citizens who require it.
Barrera Concha informed that in this new call for the 2023-2024 school year, the “Workshop in the Maya Language” will be offered for individuals over 15 years of age in three locations: Centro Cultural Casamata, located on 12th Street between 63-D and 61-A in the Cortés Sarmiento neighborhood; at the Municipal Institute for the Strengthening of Maya Culture, located on 64th Street in the Barrio de la Ermita; and at the José Martí Cultural Center, located in the Parque de las Américas.
He mentioned that the Institute will also offer the workshop “Interpreter in the Maya Language,” which is accredited by the Yucatán State Government’s Secretariat of Education (SEGEY) for beginners, intermediates, and advanced learners, and there will also be workshops for children.
He explained that the registration period will be from August 8 to 25, at the phone number 9999 42 000, extension 83 762, during the hours from 08:00 to 14:00. Further requirements or more information can be found on the website www.merida.gob.mx/cultura or on the Municipality’s social media.
He recalled that in 2021, the staff of the Citizen Service Unit attended the Táan In Kanik Maaya (Learning Maya) workshop to operate the helpline in the Maya language, Kin wáantikech (I’ll help you).
He highlighted that this year, at the José Martí Cultural Center, a Maya version of the Voz Viva program was inaugurated, named Kuxa’an T’aan, with the aim of promoting the work of Maya language writers, listening to their experiences, and the reading of their works.
On the other hand, the Director of Culture, Irving Berlín Villafaña, recalled that in 2019, the Municipal Academy of Maya Language became the Institute for the Strengthening of Maya Culture, where 953 students have been served.
He added that this year, 188 students completed the school year, including 14 graduates in the category of Maya language interpreters.
Finally, he said that these efforts to promote Maya culture were reflected in the Municipality’s participation in internationally renowned events such as the Yucatán Book Fair (FILEY), as well as various activities like exhibitions and Christmas carol concerts in the Maya language.
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