Applicant Snapshot

SAUL MIRANDA
Age (as of June 1st): Availability: Course Studying/Studied University Graduation Year Current Occupation Email: Skype address 30 ( 26 Apr 1982 ) 01 May 2012 - 26 Aug 2012 Social Education Pablo de Olavide University from Seville (Spain) 2009 University Teaching Staff saulmirandaramos@gmail.com saulmirandaramos Tel: Other tel: Address 52-233-3311131 52-222-3812787 318 Lucio Blanco St, Tzicuilan, Cuetzalan. Puebla. 73569 Mexico

Interview summary: More details and further skills can be found on page 2 and 3 of application.
Saul's a Psychologist who has worked in the fields of emotional therapy and education. He's traveled to many countries and stands two Master degrees. He's experience working with low income children. His knowledge about learning processes and his personality make him an asset for any camp.

Adventure Trip Leading

Able to lead
Saul lives in a mountain field. He has experience planing hikes and working in the vegetation proper from that environment. He has an excellent physical condition and is able to walk for more than 3 hours in a raw. He's experience camping in uneven surfaces and has planned camps for teens groups.

Trainable Lifeguard
Able to lead
Saul learned to swim since very young. He has done this activity at least for 15 years. He can swim the same in a river than in a swimming pool. He learnt the four swimming strokes while he was studying in Chile and finished polishing his technique in the USA.

Photography (Digital)
Able to assist
Saul has taken photography courses and is able to direct a workshop in this area. He has material for exposition and is able to use digital imaging programs as well as use a reflex camera. He knows all the elements in composition and laws for making Photography.

Ingrid Fuentes, Team Member - Camp Leaders Mexico.

Qualification and Experience in working with children:

I Have worked with children in different spaces. At first, teaching English Classes and I also have developed activities and games to learn. Second,at a Non Formal Education at a Museum where I developed workshops. Finally, I have worked with children in a Psychotherapeutic space.

I am excited about working with...

Day Campers Residential Campers Female Campers Male Campers Family Groups Campers from an underprivileged background Campers with special needs

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and I am happy to work at a camp with...

No electricity No/limited running water Tents/Platform tents

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SAUL MIRANDA

Interview Reports:
Phone Interview:
Saul stands a bachelor degree in psychology and is currently working for a rural school in his hometown. He comes from a little town between the mountains where he had learnt how to live in outdoors and has practiced hiking since very young. He loves interacting with youngsters and worked voluntarily in a local museum where he developed a story telling and human rights workshops. He has been giving emotional psychotherapy to students in the local school where he takes care of children aged 9 to 10 years old. He loves outdoors and in his free time he spends time swimming, martial arts like Taekwondo and Karate or taking nature photographs. Ingrid Fuentes, Team Member - Camp Leaders Mexico

Face-to-Face Interview:
Saul gained various scholarships which gave him the opportunity to live and study in Chile, Spain and the USA. This achievement reflects his abilities to learn and adapt to new environments and challenges. He has done social work for his community. He has taught some workshops related to gender and human rights which demonstrate he is kind and aware of humanity. He is an experienced traveler and very independent. He has lived and studied in Chile, Spain and the USA. He has visited many countries like Morocco, Paris and Portugal. He is very empathic when it comes to teaching. He mentioned that the most important for him is to be aware and propitiate situations for students to learn and develop their abilities to the highest level. He is a self learned and as an example he learned how to play guitar by hearing and imitating moves. He is very smart and optimistic, his participation at camp will be successful for sure. Ingrid Fuentes, Team Member- Camp Leaders Mexico

Video Introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfgkyBXS1Go

Other comments:
He has a positive attitude and has a lot of knowledge worth for camp.

English Language Rating of BB

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SAUL MIRANDA

Employment and Volunteer History:

Job title: Broadcaster and Producer Employer: XECTZ The Voice of the Sierra Norte. National Commission for Development of Indigenous People. Cuetzalan, Puebla, Mexico. Jan 2006 - Aug 2006

Job description: Production, voice and musical radio program "Young people on the radio."

Job title: External advisor, Academic Advisor, and Thesis Advisor

Employer: Development University of Puebla State.

Sep 2006 - Present

Job description: Advise and develop educational projects of the University.

Job title: Psychotherapist and Social Educator

Employer: System for Integral Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 Family Development. Cuetzalan, Puebla, Mex.

Job description: Psychotherapy and Crisis Intervention. Coordinate the Comprehensive Care Program PAIDEA Adolescent pregnancy and Psychosocial Risk Program Chimalli

Job title: Psychotherapist

Employer: Human Rights in Santiago de Chile

Mar 2009 - Apr 2011

Job description: Individual Systemic Psychotherapy, Couple Psychotherapy, and Crisis Intervention.

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SAUL MIRANDA

Skills
Adventure Trip Leading - Able to lead
I have lived in cities and mountains. At mountains I have acquired the knowledge we need to survive here, had fun and learn. First of all, I have taken nocturnal and diurnal walking in the mountains. I know about some prevention we must take to evade risks. Second, I have gone camping with friends and I have lead some camping at the mountain or at the river which I can plan and take it to action, is marvelous. I have gone swimming at river that is near to my house which I have visited since I was a child. In many times, I suggest people what to do to reamin safe when swimming in this places. I know about wild animals or plants. In my home town there are a lot and we have to stay alert so we are not harmed for them. I can hike for several hours and I have actually lead groups of people even in the dark.

Trainable Lifeguard - Able to lead

Swimming is for me one of the most intense experiences I can do. As a teenager I have learned. Some friends taught me in a pool and after, in a river. I learned all the different strokes at the University of Chile where I receive classes. I learned crawl, breast stroke, and backstroke. Also, I practiced butterfly stroke. Second, increase your self confidence for the achievements obtained. Swimming teachers use to give you challenges that increase little by little. When you overcome one of them you continue to other more difficult. I learned how to teach and lead a warm up and stretching exercises specific of this activity.

Photography (Digital) - Able to assist

Since I was a Child, a camera was one of my wishes. When I was a Teenager I was able to buy one of them and take a photography course. I own a digital SRL camera and also have developed this activity for several years. I have taken lots of pictures in many parts of the world and I have all the rules of photography related to composition. I have taken pictures for a lot of time and have enough material to make an exposition. I feel ready to lead or help the leader in this activity.

Handicrafts - Able to assist

When I was a child I learned making handicrafts. I grow up in an indigenous zone where traditional art are diverse. My aunts, cousins and neighbors have taught me how to make several types of bracelets, necklaces, textiles, and figures in wood. Also, I worked in a workshop where Traditional art was made and sold. I live in a community that lives from tourism. This place is called Cuetzalan and is a community that hasn't changed the culture and many aspect in society remain still although the time has passed.

Martial Arts - Able to assist

When I was at college, I used to practice Karate do and Tae Kwon Do. I love martial arts and if I would have time I practiced every day. In Karate do I'm advanced Yellow belt and in Tae Kwon Do I'm White Yellow belt. However, I have practiced more than the grades imply because I have no presented the test but I have practiced for higher grades.I am able to teach the basics and also I can lead a general and specific warm up as well as give some exercises to stretch and develop elasticity.

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Skills ranked by participant's preference

Guitar
Since when I was child I used to play guitar and other instruments in a traditional Mexican group. Playing in my father group I learned to execute several musical instruments. I learn how to play on a lyric and I am able to reproduce songs easily. My experience in the group was from 8 to 19 years of age. I can teach how to play and how to do many exercises to develop the ability to play.

Folk Dance
Dancing for me is great. At first, I have taken some dancing courses and I have learned other rhythms by myself. I can match some rhythms with others to make more interesting a style. Even, I have taught to dance to several groups. Sometimes I catch steps in classes and other times watching dancers and repeating steps. Dancing is interesting to me because it let me know about my own culture and other cultures and their festivities. Finally, I believe the movement of the body is beneficial for the physical and psychological health.

Social Care/Work
My context asks me to work with indigenous people. I live in the mountains from Puebla where many indigenous people live. I used to work with indigenous people and I have to find accurate ways to attend them. Most people here live in the poorness, weak health and educational services, sexism, and many others. I have to be attentive to how to encourage the development for themselves and for the communities.

Teacher (Ages 11-16)

A long my professional work I have had some experiences with children. At first, I have worked Teaching English to Children in my home town. There, I used was the assistant of an Irish teacher and my tasks were plan the activities, prepare materials, implement the activities and monitor the safety of children. Second, I studied the course Education for the development at the school and Tenderness`s Pedagogy which were courses focused for worker children and teens in Latin- America. Third, I provide a Socio- cultural Animation program to a children community in Christian Children Fund, next to my hometown. The children acquired abilities and knowledge necessary to defend themselves in their environment. Finally, as a Psychotherapist, I have worked with children attending their emotional problems accompany their families. I have broad experience and love the work with human beings, I am well prepared and hoping to share my knowledge abroad.

Low Ropes
Since I worked as a Social Psychologist I have developed several skills to lead groups. First of all, at a University (UNIDES) I have leaded educational projects where I implemented activities such as games, roll playing from which we acquire knowledge. Second, I have taught the "Leadership and groups manager" course at the same University. In this course we provide to the students to lead a group with activities. Other aim is make the group follow rules, make team, creating confidence between others. With these, we encourage the reflection about the activities and the life, and the learning this can provide us. All in all, my experience working with groups and outside activities makes me a great person to lead low ropes.

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Questionnaire
My motivation to work at camp
I want to work at camp for several reasons. First of all, I would like to develop International experiences in an American job. In these days, is important to share perspectives since different cultures. Second, I want to improve my English language skills. Working at camp let me learn more and more in English. Finally, I Would like to share my knowledge with other people. I have lived in many countries and I have learned many things and a Camp is a special place to teach my abilities. That is why I want to work at camp.

The positive impact I believe I can make

In my opinion, I can impact positively to the camp because of my academical background in Social Education and in Social Psychology. Second, I can impact positively to the camp because of my personal experiences in Arts, dance, sports, and in the life style in the countryside. In short, my personal lifestyle (Academical and personal) match very well with the life in a camp.

My understanding of camp
I believe Camp Directors want their staff to be: Responsible having something to teach being careful with his work the groups have fun with the work of the counselor and fulfilling his work.

Why I think children want to go to camp Children go to camp for some reasons. One of them, they go to camp because they want to learn something (Arts, sports, etc.). Another, children want to have fun in the summer. In conclusion, there are two different reasons to go to camp.

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Personal Statement
I am:
Committed Responsible Fun Athletic Environmentalist.

In Cities and countryside (mountains) I developed my leadership working with groups; I have obtained knowledge about the use of free time in productive activities and developing abilities for life. Learning inspired me in several ways. First of all, I love learn every day and everywhere. Second, when I was teenager I was responsible of a communitarian museum. In this educational opened space I used to work with children in painting, music, dance, and alphabetization workshops. Third, I have used the services Universities provides to their students such as gyms, pools, theaters, cultural rooms, and others. In this non formal education my spirit has grown and I love it. In short, I know people can learn a lot in opened spaces and I would like to generate learning in a camp. Through the years my leadership has been empowered. As a professional, at a University (UNIDES) I have developed social and educational projects. Furthermore, at the same University I have worked like a teacher. One of the courses I enjoy more is Leadership and group's manager. To sum up, I feel myself a person with the preparation to work with any kind of group and adapt myself to the needs of the group. Others interesting abilities I can share in a camp are Swimming, adventure trip leader and dancing. At first, I love swimming: is an important practice in my life. For a year I took a swimming pool course. Next, all my life I have lived in a mountain. Here I have learned to survive and enjoy the life. Since child I had night walks, day walks, camping, go to rivers and swim. Finally, I love dance LatinAmerican rhythms. In summary, a long of my life I have learned lots of thing I can share in a camp. In conclusion, Working at a camp will let me grow up because of the sharing of experiences between me and people from the camp. I am really convinced a camp will let me encourage my work directing groups and I will learn other ways to spend time in creative ways obtaining knowledge for life.

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Camp Type Preferences

Campers with special needs
Why would you like to work at a camp, which serves campers with special needs? Because, People with special needs have a lot to teach us. I do not have experiences in it but, there are opportunities to learn. Please select which special needs populations you have experience working with (professional or as a volunteer): Emotional disabilities If you have experience, please describe (ie- ages, specific special needs, your responsibilities, etc.): I have worked in psychotherapy with Children with emotional problems. Some of them experienced anxiety or depression. Please select which special needs populations you are willing to work with at camp this summer: Emotional disabilities Please select which special needs age groups you are willing to work with at camp this summer: Children, Teenagers, Adults, Elderly Adults Are you willing to provide personal care to campers (helping with lifting, showering, toileting, dressing etc)? Yes

Other Information
Driving licence No Smoker No Tattoo / Piercing No

Do you have any pre-existing medical No conditions? Are you currently receiving or have you ever received psychiatric or psychological treatment? No

Do you have any dietary restrictions? No

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