High ceilings, lots of natural light, open spaces and a courtyard with three huge holm oaks surprise us when we arrive at the old, restored stone house that today houses Sa Llavor. Surrounded by clay figures and full of curiosity to learn about this initiative, we chatted with Sofía and Gloria in a large room where, in the background, cheerful instruments can be heard.
Sofía, one of the founders of the school – which was originally located in Mancor de la Vall – remembers and dates back to 2007, when a group of professionals and families decided to start a project with a clear and forceful purpose: "to sow a change in society through education".
The first school year, he tells us, began with eleven students and five professionals, "but soon it began to grow." The proposal was very well received and in 2017, ten years later, Sa Llavor "was configured as an Infant and Primary school in holistic pedagogy". In fact, this was the first centre approved by the Ministry of Education and University of the Balearic Islands in this methodological discipline.
One of the differentiating aspects of Sa Llavor, we immediately understand, is its way of teaching: here the common and regulated curriculum is followed, but the subjects are interrelated and developed respecting the learning periods of the students, each in a vehicular language -Catalan, English and Spanish-.
"There are many ways to reach a goal, just like climbing a mountain".
In line with this vision, in Sa Llavor individual freedom and deep respect for the rhythms of each one are unquestionable pillars since, as Sofía reflects, "there are many ways to reach a goal, content or element just like to climb a mountain one can go very fast, another entertaining oneself and someone take an alternative path".
Another surprising feature of Sa Llavor is the formation of the groups: here, the pre-school students learn together and the primary students do the same in unitary groups with differences of one year in age, a common system in rural schools and which allows them to work in small groups, since the maximum number of students that the school can bring together is 145.
However, it is the values that underpin the educational project that undoubtedly attract the most attention. The philosophy of Sa Llavor is based on four pillars closely related to four human capacities: integral development, freedom and trust – "freedom in the learning process and confidence in the capacity of the human being" – connection with life, with oneself and with the environment, and community and service to others – understanding that "education is a process in which the objective is to give what each one has as a capacity to society, like a tree that offers its apples".
Given so many particularities, it is not surprising that the project – novel and unique – attracted the attention of many families from the beginning. "In Mallorca, at that time, there were no similar options, so the initiative was well received by families looking for a different path," recalls Sofía. The profile of these families, she says, is very diverse – especially as a result of the pandemic – but they all "support the transformation in the sense of ecology and sustainability".
"We have started a music school integrated into school hours. Girls and boys can choose an instrument and play for half an hour a week the instrument of their choice".
Sa Llavor's project, "ambitious and utopian", as Sofía describes it with a smile, is part of a foundation in which the educational branch coexists with the School of Culture, a proposal aimed at adults that proposes training focused on artistic creation and cultural exchange, always with an eye on social transformation.
Stimulate, inspire and empower are verbs that take on their full meaning in this school. We see this while we take a walk through its facilities and discover that, while the secondary students experiment through music, the little ones make their own bread – with which they will later have lunch. The primary school students, on the other hand, are not in the building: today is Friday and this day of the week they move to the field.
Music, art and nature are three fundamental concepts in Sa Llavor, as they are understood as ways of connecting with human beings. In fact, Sofía tells us, "we have started a music school integrated into school hours. Girls and boys can choose an instrument and play for half an hour a week the instrument of their choice: clarinet, trumpet, piano... even the cello."
Since it opened its doors in 2007, the project has expanded and evolved: currently, more than a hundred boys and girls attend this school daily and the team of professionals is made up of seventeen teachers and eight music teachers. However, the objective is not to grow in the number of students, but in synergies and initiatives: to continue building bridges with institutions from different countries to carry out collaboration programs within Escuela Cultura and enhancing human and professional relationships.
A give and take – so close to his philosophy – that is developed consciously, inside and outside the classroom, through music, creativity and culture, thanks to this tireless will to transform the society of today and tomorrow. An ambitious challenge, as Sofia said, yes, but also admirable. An achievement that fills us with hope.
