“Mabel, Mabel, Mabel.” As they file out of the Vaz Ferreira Auditorium on Wednesday, September 25, dozens of students chant her name. They’re waiting to applaud her at the end of the 2024 ReachingU Award ceremony for Uruguayan educators. To these kids, she’s already the winner.
Although the top prize of the evening went to Marcel Romero —a physics teacher at the Trinidad Agricultural School (Flores)— Mabel Guinco was one of the five finalists for the 2024 ReachingU Award for Uruguayan Educators.
Encouraged by the administration of High School No. 4 in Mercedes (Soriano), where she teaches visual communication, the graduate of ORT’s Master’s in Education program decided to apply for the award.
The director and deputy director not only encouraged her by telling her that she met the established profile and criteria, but they also provided “essential support for the project’s continuity” by motivating her and giving her the freedom to develop it.
The ReachingU Award recognizes teachers across the country who are changing the lives of their students and their communities through innovative practices.
Mabel proposed a project to restore the Cañada de los Hornos —which runs through a neighborhood facing significant economic and social challenges—where large amounts of trash often accumulate. The goal of the initiative was to find a way to protect the environment, improve the neighborhood, and address the flooding issues that her students’ families face whenever the water rises.
And, to raise awareness within the educational community, the teacher coordinated an interdisciplinary and collaborative project that drew on the subjects of computer science, geography, biology, and science. She also integrated the educational content with a “learning by doing” approach to help reclaim public spaces.
The proposal focused on empowering students, as they gathered feedback and ideas from neighborhood residents to propose improvements. In addition to conducting historical research, they produced a book, published articles in the press, and showed the children in local schools everything that had been accomplished.
The significance of the project, therefore, lies in the fact that it addresses a real problem in the city of Mercedes: the ravine is located very close to the high school, and many of the students live nearby or use the ravine.
I chose to become a teacher because, through art and self-expression, we can inspire our students to create and find solutions to the world’s problems.
Mabel Guinco, during the 2024 ReachingU Award ceremony for Uruguayan educators
“Here comes this teacher, who has this crazy idea that we’re going to change the neighborhood,” a student told Mabel. During the awards ceremony, she shared that anecdote, which—in her view—reflects one of the most important lessons learned from the experience: that the students were finally able to see that, by working collaboratively as a team, they can achieve “a lot.”
In addition, the response from the educational community was very “positive and meaningful.” “Not only do we feel the affection and appreciation of our students and the community, but it has also encouraged other teachers to reach out and share experiences about their classes, to take the initiative to innovate, and to work more collaboratively, ”he said.
For Mabel, being named one of the five finalists for the 2024 ReachingU Award for Uruguayan Teachers—the local version of the Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize—was “a great joy”: “It confirms that I’m taking the right approach to my work, and it’s also recognition of the achievements I’ve made, which have often required me to put in extra time outside of school hours.”
This recognition celebrates, honors, and highlights the work of teachers who, through their dedication and commitment, are transforming their communities.
Completing the Master’s in Education at Universidad ORT Uruguay “a complete turning point” in Mabel’s professional life. As she put it, it was a “before and after.” “It helped me reflect on my teaching practices, learn more about the educational model I work with, and gain greater confidence, which enabled me to lead this project and reach this stage, ”she noted.
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Although she didn’t win the grand prize, the graduate continues to work enthusiastically on the ravine restoration project.“The students are our driving force, since they’re the ones who come up with new ideas. Plus, the neighborhood and the community look to us as role models and come to us with suggestions, questions, and concerns,” she explained.
This year, together with her teaching team, she decided to involve the students in designing a sensor-equipped boat that can monitor the water and the condition of the ravine.
And, looking ahead, the goal is to ensure ongoing monitoring and management through accessible information and data, as well as a methodology that can be replicated in other urban water areas in Mercedes.
“It’s very important to keep educating people in order to bring about lasting change and improvements,” Mabel concluded.