Educational Community in Playa del Carmen
Yoolo'ob is an educational community inspired by Waldorf pedagogy, among dunes, mangroves, and the Caribbean Sea. Here your children grow with awareness, creativity, and freedom.
Yoolo'ob = Awareness in Maya
Yoolo'ob is an alternative educational project with the vision of offering children a second home. In Waldorf pedagogy, the child is at the center. It is always about observing where they are in their development, and from there, accompanying their journey.
Here, when a new child arrives, it is not the child who adapts to the group — the group and the teachers adapt to the child. Because every child is unique, with their own rhythm, their own abilities, and their own temperament.
We don't use textbooks. The children create their own materials. At the end of each thematic block, every child has their own book: drawn, written, felt and lived.
Yoolo'ob was born in September 2025, after three years leading another Waldorf project. When that project closed, Franziska decided to keep the children together. She started with seven students, a borrowed space by the sea, and a dream: to build a community where every child is truly seen.
In five years, I see Yoolo'ob with every classroom full — kindergarten through sixth grade — each group with a maximum of twelve children. A community where teachers and families work together, respect each other, and build a safe place for children to grow, learn, and enjoy life.
Rhythm, nature, community
Every day has its rhythm: moments of activity and moments of calm, like breathing in and breathing out. That's how the children find their natural balance.
The teachers meet to begin the day together, share important information, and discuss any arrangements for the day ahead.
At 8:15, the teachers go to the entrance of our learning community, where parents bring their children. They welcome the children until 8:25, then walk inside together.
Two intense hours dedicated to a single topic for an entire month: mathematics, geometry, grammar, or natural sciences. It begins with rhythm, songs, and flute, then the main lesson.
Each child brings their own lunch. Before eating, we light a candle and give thanks for the food, the community, and Mother Earth. Afterward, everyone cleans up together.
After focusing comes letting go. Between trees, sand and fresh sea air, the children run, play freely and let everything out, so they can return calm and ready for the next class.
Something different every day: watercolor, music, English, eurythmy, knitting, cooking, ancestral dance, gardening, theater, movement, or reading circle. On Fridays after lunch: a free afternoon at the beach, climbing trees, playing in the sand.
A fifteen-minute break with fresh fruit outdoors.
Another special subject from our weekly rhythm, such as handwork, music, movement or English.
We clean up together, close the day as a group and pack up our things.
At 14:15, the teachers walk the children to the entrance of our learning community, where the families pick them up.
More than a pedagogy
Yoolo'ob combines Waldorf pedagogy with elements that no other educational community in the region offers.
We are on the dunes and mangroves of Playa 72, steps from the Caribbean. The children walk barefoot on the sand every morning. On Fridays they end the day playing at the beach. There is no other educational community with this setting in all of Playa del Carmen.
→ the only school among dunes and mangroves
Franziska is a «Seeing Without Eyes» coach: an individual training of 10-12 sessions where children learn meditation, breathing techniques, and to perceive beyond their physical senses. It is also a deep therapy that addresses fears, traumas, and self-confidence.
Our teacher Celia teaches Ancestral Dance — a connection to Mexican roots that awakens the inner warrior in each child. It's not only Mexican children who feel this connection: children from Canada and Germany are also inspired by this strength.
Waldorf pedagogy is our golden thread, but we are not dogmatic. We integrate new methods, we are flexible, adaptable, and open to what today's children need. A steady rhythm with creative freedom — like breathing in and breathing out.
We light a candle every morning and before meals. We give thanks for the food, for the community, for Mother Earth. Not as religion, but as awareness — so the children connect with something greater than themselves.
Heart of the community
A small community where every teacher knows every child as well as their own parents do.
~ with calling, not by obligation ~
Franziska Goebel (center), during the open house day
Director & Seeing Without Eyes Coach
Franziska founded Yoolo'ob in September 2025, after three years leading another Waldorf project in Playa del Carmen. Her vision: to create a community where every child is seen, heard, and accompanied at their own pace.
In addition to directing the community, Franziska offers individual «Seeing Without Eyes» sessions — a unique training that combines meditation, extrasensory perception, and deep emotional work.
Kindergarten Teacher
Brenda leads our kindergarten with deep knowledge of Waldorf pedagogy, and she puts it into practice beautifully. She brings order and a clear structure to every day, and meets each child with great sensitivity.
Ancestral dance · community activity
Lower Elementary Teacher, Ancestral Dance & Kids Yoga
A childhood educator who found her path in Waldorf. She teaches with her heart, connects with every child, and plants the seeds of ancestral Mexican culture through dance.
Personalized attention really is part of everyday life here. Yes, we adapt to the learning and rhythm of each of our students.
Upper Elementary Teacher
Originally a visual artist, painter and sculptor, Rulo brings a creative eye to his classroom. He has a wonderful bond with the children: patient and deeply empathetic, he gives each child time and plenty of freedom to grow at their own pace.
Kindergarten Assistant
Warm, kind and always approachable, Andy is someone the children simply love. She has a special gift for sensing what each moment needs and responds with care.
Our Yoolo'ob team
Special Subject Teachers
English and music, weaving, games and movement, eurythmy. Each one brings their specialty for a truly holistic education.
Voices from our community
The best words are not ours — they are from the parents who watch their children flourish.
Los ninos se llevan muy bien. Entre todos se apoyan, entre todos echan porras. Son como hermanos. Son una mini familia bonita en un espacio bonito. No son mil ninos que se estan peleando por llamar la atencion, no son mil ninos compitiendo entre ellos. (The children get along wonderfully. They all support each other, they all cheer each other on. They are like siblings. A beautiful little family in a beautiful space.)
Los padres estan muy sorprendidos de lo relajados que sus hijos llegan a casa. Llegan cantando, o se sientan solos a escribir o calcular. (Parents are very surprised at how relaxed their children arrive home. They come back singing, or sit down on their own to write or do math.)
Muchos problemas se resuelven solos. Los padres nuevos estan sorprendidos de lo felices y equilibrados que llegan sus hijos. (Many problems resolve on their own. New parents are amazed at how happy and balanced their children are when they come home.)
What I love most is seeing how children awaken their inner warrior through ancestral dance. It's not just the Mexican children who feel this connection — children from Canada and Germany are drawn in too.
Yoolo'ob trata a los ninos con respeto, con amor, en un ambiente super natural. Los ninos necesitan naturaleza para vivir. No necesitas pantallas, no necesitas cemento — necesitas arboles, plantas, playa. Aqui la playa, que mas quieren. (Yoolo'ob treats children with respect, with love, in a beautifully natural environment. Children need nature to live. You don't need screens, you don't need concrete — you need trees, plants, a beach. Here we have the beach — what more could you want?)
one week is enough to feel the difference
Real moments
Everything you need to know
The first step is always a trial week, so your child can experience the community and we can get to know them.
The language of instruction is Spanish. Foreign children who do not speak Spanish learn through total immersion — the fastest and most natural way.
We had two girls from Israel who arrived without speaking Spanish. After two months of immersion, they could already understand everything and communicate well.
Additional languages: English from 1st grade. Starting in 4th or 5th grade, a second language (French or German) will be added.
Yoolo'ob is for all children. There are no prerequisites — just parents open to trusting their child's natural rhythm. We recommend: no screens until age 14, a healthy daily rhythm with enough sleep, and the willingness to walk this path together, as family and community.
In nature, by the sea
We are located right on the beach, on a terrain of dunes and mangroves. A safe, guarded space where children can be in contact with nature every day.
The first step
We offer a trial week so your child can experience Yoolo'ob: walking on the beach, learning with their hands, being part of a small and loving community. No commitment.