Experience an Evening of the Tastes and Sounds of Ecuador at the Compass School

WESTMINSTER, VT- On Saturday, November 21, the Compass School in Westminster, Vermont will host Fiesta night – a celebration of the food and music of Ecuador, featuring one of the country’s premier traditional Andean bands, the Boston based Yarina. Founded in 1984 by the Cachumiel family, Yarina means “remembrance” in Quichua, the indigenous language spoken in the Andean highlands from which the band hails. To give the band a listen visit www.myspace.com/yarinamusic. The quartet’s music ranges from the ethereal, on numbers featuring Andean pan-flutes to the funky, mixing Latin rhythms, jazz, blues, and classical styles. They are the 2005 winners of “Best World Music Recording Category” at the Native American Music Awards and the “Best Folk Music Recording” at the 2005 Indian Summer Music Awards. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a silent auction and delicious Ecuadorian dinner beginning at 5:0O p.m. Auction items include a year’s supply of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Ecuadorian crafts, local CSA shares, original local art, books, CDs, food and beverages plus many many more items. All proceeds will benefit the junior class Global Connection service-learning trip to Ecuador. Donations for the auction are welcome.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for kids and students, and $45 for families. Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting the school at 802-463-2525, or at the door.

About the Compass School Global Connections Program

The Global Connections Program focuses on social change and cultural immersion. It is an integral part of the junior class curriculum, which inspires students to broaden their horizons, bond as a group, and work for social justice.

This year the school is partnering with Nahual Expedicions, founded by Mathias and Thomas Dammer, who work with Marlow, NH based Kroka Expeditions. Students will travel for two weeks this February to the Ecuadorian Highlands to live with and work alongside Ecuadorians on a small organic farm, learn indigenous crafts from Quichua villagers, and join with village schoolchildren on service learning projects. Before their departure, students will study the effects of U.S. foreign policy on developing countries and relations between indigenous populations and colonial powers. Upon their return to Vermont, participants will reflect on their learning through writing and art and offer public presentations throughout Windham County.

The Global Connections Program began in 2003 and since then Compass has sent seventy participants to travel to the Mexico/Arizona border, India, and Nicaragua. Former participants have been inspired to make social activism a key part of their lives. For example, Jake Saunders of Westminster returned to the Mexico border for his senior project to volunteer with No Mas Muertos, an organization that gives aid to lost migrants in the Arizona desert. Katelin Wilton of Putney dedicated her college years to working with HIV-infected teens in West Africa and was nominated for a Rhodes scholarship for her work.

This fundraising dinner and concert is key to making this travel program affordable to all 11th graders, regardless of family income. Come out, hear some great music, eat delicious food, and support this unique opportunity.
If you cannot attend the event, but would still like to make a donation, visit www.compass-school.org and click on the “donate” link. If you would like to arrange for a student presentation at your organization in the spring of 2010 email amir@compass-school.org.
For more information call 802-463-2525 or visit www.compass-school.org/globalconnections where you can also begin bidding on items.

The Compass School is an innovative, nonprofit, nonsectarian independent day school in Westminster, Vermont founded in 1999. It offers an exciting educational option for area students in grades 7 – 12.