Magical Memory of Garachico is a long-term initiative of creative commitment to the rescue and dissemination of the daily experiences of a generation, of a town that has dealt with the vicissitudes of nature, the most tragic social upheavals of the last century and the dreams and aspirations of a more prosperous future for the current generations, the recipients and heirs of that shared memory that acquires the strength and charm of the spiritual heritage of the human being.
This project that links memory, art, and research in oral sources is the most precious treasure of IES Lorenzo Dorta in Garachico, where teachers and students have been seduced by the richness emanating from so many wonderful stories, lessons of wisdom and patience from the students’ own grandparents, which become an invaluable and universal heritage as they are captured on audiovisual media by the project’s driving force, filmmaker David Baute, alongside journalist and playwright Cirilo Leal. The result is pieces that capture their advice on caring for the natural environment, traditions, solidarity values, and good living, as a way to keep alive teachings that would otherwise be lost forever.
From a purely educational perspective, IES Garachico Alcalde Lorenzo Dorta is the only Secondary Education Institute in the municipality. One of the Centre’s objectives is to promote Vocational Training, in order to enrich the educational offer of Isla Baja and provide young people in the region with professional opportunities in line with the demands of the environment, specifically in the Healthcare and Community Services sector.
IES Garachico is a small, welcoming, and family-like institution, which facilitates coexistence and academic performance. However, its educational offer is diverse and promotes the inclusion and well-being of the entire Educational Community.
Currently, the Institute offers Vocational Training Cycles in Nursing Assistant and Care for People in Dependency Situations at Intermediate Level; and in Early Childhood Education and Social Integration at Higher Level, as well as Vocational Training in Basic Commerce Services. However, the training offer is periodically updated according to the needs of the population.
The Centre is ambitious in terms of future possibilities and diversification of teachings, but for this, the creation of new infrastructures and having the necessary resources (new classrooms, a large auditorium, human resources to open the Centre in the afternoon shift, etc.) are essential.
It is worth noting that IES Garachico follows the architectural guidelines of the municipality’s historic centre, making it unique and emblematic. However, being located very close to the sea, it requires expensive and continuous maintenance that requires collaboration from various institutions.
The Institute stands out for the quantity and diversity of projects that confirm good educational practices and the well-being of those who coexist there. A good example of this is participation in Erasmus projects involving student and faculty mobility in European countries. This training not only drives strictly academic knowledge but enriches at a cultural level. It is undeniable that these initiatives pave the way in the European labour market, contributing to the development of current and modern professionals who are moving towards globalisation and the grouping of countries.
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Another strong point of IES Garachico Alcalde Lorenzo Dorta is its involvement in Environmental Education and Sustainability, thus contributing to the fight against climate change and the need to raise awareness among the population about the serious environmental problems that exist.
