The Centro Cultural Guadix in Villa El Salvador (Peru), a social project run by the Teresian Association, opened its doors on 17 April 2015. Since then, it has focused on training people with the aim of addressing the challenges facing the country.
The Teresian Association has been present in Peru for 80 years, and in Villa El Salvador for 54 years (the same as the district) where this social project is located, funded by the InteRed Foundation, the Association’s NGDO. Eli Guerrero, a member of the Teresian Association, is the coordinator of the Guadix Cultural Centre, and the team currently consists of five people, plus a number of collaborators.
Purpose
“The mission of Centro Cultural Guadix is to promote transformative education that fosters active participation and commitment among people in support of justice, human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability. We recognise and prioritise, above all, individuals and groups in vulnerable situations. Because here, in Villa El Salvador, there is a very stark social divide; there are those who have sufficient resources and those who do not,” explains Eli Guerrero.
The socio-cultural workshops they run aim to develop each person’s human potential and skills: “Here we say that the workshops are like an excuse to work on solidarity, hospitality, mutual respect and the appreciation of differences through interculturality, inclusion, and so on.”
Experiences and testimonials
The teachers who work here feel this to be true. Ana Mª Guevara, the teacher in charge of the drawing and painting classes, says that “Guadix is a place that empowers the young people who take part there”.
This view is shared by Luis Arbildo, a teacher who runs various art workshops. Furthermore, from a personal perspective, collaborating on this social project run by the Teresian Association allows him to develop his creative side.
Drawing on her experience of working with the Teresian Association, social worker Liliana Beltrán shares her view: “I discovered that Guadix is a space for social interaction for children, teenagers, young people, families and women.”
One of the people best placed to describe the work carried out by the Centro Cultural Guadix is Maribel Sacayco, who has been bringing her son Diego, who has Asperger’s syndrome, to its workshops for many years: “It has helped me a great deal, both as a person and as a mum, because it has made it easier for my son to socialise and communicate more.”
Edilia Gamboa, ACIT member, says with emotion that seeing these children smile and talk is a joy. She is in charge of the playroom and ensures that the boys and girls who come to the Centre not only do their homework but also play and read. “All of this helps us to bring Pedro Poveda’s good work to life.”
If you’d like to find out more about the history of Villa El Salvador and the socio-educational work carried out by the Centro Cultural Guadix, we recommend you watch the video featuring all the interviews.
Click on the video to learn about this social project run by the Teresian Association through a series of testimonials.
Teresa Rey. Info IT.
TA Translators Team.
Published in News