For the month of July, Our Lady of Africa Centre in Equatorial Guinea run by the Teresian Association took a further step in its commitment to education that supports people at every stage of life. To this end, it launched, for the first time, a programme of summer courses for young people and adults. In addition, it once again organised a new edition of the educational and volunteering initiative ‘Super Holidays’.
This initiative was created in response to the educational needs of the local community and the desire to offer learning opportunities that promote employability, personal development and the acquisition of skills suited to new social and technological challenges.
Thirty-three people took part in this first edition, of whom 12 were men (36.4 per cent) and 21 were women (63.6 per cent).
The courses were delivered by two teachers from the Centre’s Vocational Training department. They combined theoretical content with predominantly practical activities, promoting applied learning tailored to the students’ real needs. The feedback from participants was very positive. They highlighted the practical focus of the training and the usefulness of the knowledge acquired for both their professional and personal lives.
‘Through this initiative, Our Lady of Africa Centre has sought to make a small contribution to meeting the learning needs of its local community by drawing inspiration from the educational vision of Saint Pedro Poveda. The positive reception of this first initiative is encouraging us to continue enthusiastically to offer opportunities for learning and personal growth,’ says Silvia Mope.
New edition of ‘Super Holidays’
At the same time, also in July, Our Lady of Africa Centre once again became a space for meeting, learning and socialising thanks to a new edition of ‘Super Holidays’, an educational and voluntary initiative promoted by the Teresian Association. This year, with the slogan ‘Learn through play, grow through enjoyment,’ around eighty children and teenagers spent a few weeks in which study, play and education in values went hand in hand.
The programme benefited from the dedication of 18 young volunteers, including three teachers from the Centre itself. Working together, joint planning and a desire to provide a high-quality educational service made it possible to run a programme that was much more than just a summer course.
Eighty pupils took part in the activities, ranging from Year 3 of Primary Education to Year 4 of Lower Secondary Education. Each participant was able to choose the subjects they wished to receive extra tuition in and the workshop that interested them, thereby fostering a more personalised and motivating experience.
Each day began with a moment of prayer and a reflection on human values such as respect, solidarity and camaraderie. This was followed by remedial classes in Maths and Spanish, followed by various workshops (chess, reading and creative writing, jewellery-making, guitar, English, IT, braiding and football). The day concluded with games and recreational activities that fostered camaraderie and participation.
One of the most motivating elements was the incentive scheme based on tokens called ‘ITs’ that participants earned through their perseverance, responsibility, participation and collaboration. At the end of the programme, they were able to exchange these for items at a specially organised market. This initiative helped to reinforce positive habits and allowed all participants to enjoy a reward for their efforts.
Throughout the month, the volunteers held weekly evaluation and coordination meetings to review how the activities were progressing, share what they had learnt and prepare for the following week. The experience concluded with a final evaluation held in an atmosphere of prayer, reflection and thanksgiving, followed by a simple get-together.
The ‘Super Holidays’ once again confirm that education transcends the classroom when it becomes an experience of encounter, care and shared growth. Inspired by the educational philosophy of Pedro Poveda, the volunteers have brought to life an approach to education that places the individual at the centre, builds community and offers opportunities to learn with joy and hope.
At the end of the programme, the volunteers thanked the Teresian Association for the opportunity to share their knowledge and time in the service of others, acknowledging that this experience had also helped them to grow personally and as human beings.
Esther Abogo and Silvia Mope.
Published in News