At the beginning of October, the Continental Seminar on the Socio-Educational Proposal (PSE) of the Teresian Association in America was held in Montevideo (Uruguay), focusing on environmental education and integral ecology.
Opening of the Seminar: Silvia Anesetti, Carolina Mancini, Susana González and Eliana Corbett.
In a participatory, fraternal atmosphere, full of joy and commitment to the Socio-Educational Proposal of the Teresian Association in America (PSE) and the theme proposed for this year, the Continental Seminar ‘Educating in Difficult Times: Dimensions of Integral Ecology and Processes of Critical Environmental Education’ was held in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Framed within the TA Lines of Mission 2023-2028, the PSE Lines of Action and inspired by the Encyclical Laudato Si', fifty-four educators from educational centres, social projects and members of the PSE International Advisory Commission gathered in this rich institutional space, from 1 to 5 October, to share knowledge and experiences, rethink practices and deepen their understanding of the different dimensions of integral ecology and the development of environmental education processes that are being worked on in the countries of America.
Susana González and Lurdes Figueiral from the TA Governing Council, Aitziber Barrueta, Executive Director of the NGO InteRed, Mariana Facciola from the TA Council for Culture permanent commission, and PSE links from different countries were present at the meeting.
The seminar began with greetings from Carolina Mancini, TA Delegate in Uruguay, Silvia Anesetti, President of ACIT - Uruguay, Eliana Corbett, Coordinator of the PSE International Advisory Commission, and Susana González, who conveyed greetings from TA President Gregoria Ruiz.
Round tables
In a dynamic atmosphere of lively, in-depth discussion, interpellation, openness and listening, the days passed with round tables, reflections, group work, communications on the experiences of the centres and projects in the different countries, and the deepening of significant ideas in reference groups and challenges around the theme for the development of PSE on the continent.
Reflection group.
The round table discussion on the first day featured Carolina Ramírez (Uruguay) and Sonia Manzur (Bolivia) in person, and Ana María Barón Sánchez (Colombia) virtually. The proposed theme was: ‘Recognising all elements of nature as subjects of the law deserving of protection, care and appreciation.’ After the interesting proposals were shared, there were opportunities for reflection and dialogue in reference groups, and questions were prepared which each of the speakers answered, broadening the reflection.
Each afternoon, presentations were given on experiences related to integral ecology, care for our common home, critical environmental education, and other topics in the various educational centres and social projects present. There were around thirty presentations of great diversity and richness that showcased the work of educators committed to transformative processes in each of their realities.
On Friday, 3rd October, the round table discussion with Yamile Ordoñez (Colombia), Roxana Esqueff (Uruguay) and Mayara Silva Vaz from Lima (virtually, from Brazil) called for reflection on the need to move towards ‘A paradigm shift from anthropocentrism to biocentrism.’ Concerns, resonances and challenges were then shared.
Successive round tables and final round table.
On Saturday, 4th October, the speakers at the round table, Estrella de Mar Tena (from the Dominican Republic, virtually), Carolina Mc Manus (Chile) and Alejandra Juárez (Mexico), shared their reflections on the imperative to ‘Promote actions that guarantee the dignity of Mother Earth and her biodiversity’.
Every day, in the morning and afternoon, participants from each country prepared moments of prayer to give thanks, ask for blessings, admire, heal the wounds of the world, be silent before the wonder of creation, and commit their minds, hearts and hands to the care of nature, our common home.
On the last night, there was also a beautiful moment of enjoyment and gratitude for diversity in the ‘Celebration of Cultures.’ The music, landscapes, dances, sweets, drinks, and typical souvenirs from each place were shared during a joyful evening that united the group in a true festive atmosphere.
This is how they experienced it
Alejandra Juárez, from Mexico, invited as a speaker for her work at CESDER (Centre for Rural Development Studies), said that sharing these days gave her hope. Seeing so many young people... educators...who were made aware of creating a different kind of education in their real contexts, seeking concrete solutions for each context and open to ‘thinking and doing’ together to transform their realities, is very encouraging.
Nancy Palacios, an educator at the Children's Club in Montevideo, Uruguay, was ‘impressed’ by the richness of the experience, the knowledge, the ability to inform, the humility and depth of sharing, the integration and horizontality among the participants... and she said: "You can feel the Charism present, how it is lived in each place... I take with me a great deal of richness, joy and amazement at other cultures, sadness at so many difficult realities and poverty shared, and the challenge and commitment to incorporate what I have learned, heard and shared into not only my work in the Project, but also into my own lifestyle, in order to care for people and our common home."
The Vice-Principal of the Secondary Level at the Pedro Poveda Institute in Buenos Aires, Daniela Lazzaro, also shared her testimony. She said that the experience had a profound effect on her... "It filled me with the desire to take on these challenges, to commit myself... I am proud to be part of this good idea. It is powerful that Poveda's idea continues to live on in such different cultures, with different ways of life... but his idea unites us... there is a common identity. I take with me lessons learned from listening and openness to the diversity that we are and the challenge of not losing this. I learned another way of looking at nature and it calls me to connect with it and make what we share a way of life. It is a call to reflect on our daily practices, why and how we do things, and to have and promote this care."
Transmit and transform
Finally, the proposal during the closing prayer, before the closing words of the meeting, invited us to think about what had made our hearts ‘burn’ during these days, what remained ‘lit in our souls’ ... By country and team, words were written on a heart, which resonated and reflected everyone's feelings: gratitude for the youth, creativity and commitment to the identity of the PSE, hope to continue the journey of our centres and projects... A new look at the territories, the certainty that some dreams are possible and strategies to turn them into action, new knowledge and renewed commitments... Faced with new challenges, we seek together and build together... Deconstructing in order to learn... New commitments to inhabit our common home... Being a light for our planet... Being a community, weaving networks of support, encouraging and inspiring... An invitation to offer our feet to continue walking, our hands to build and sustain, and our hearts with love to transmit and transform.
Lurdes Figueiral, Carolina Mancini and Eliana Corbett closed the seminar with words of appreciation and gratitude for the richness of the experience, the invitation to look at ourselves and see things in a new way, the call for ecological conversion, the call to ‘regain our voice and utopia’, to recognise that we have been “visited” and the certainty of ending with our hearts ‘expanded’. The final applause of gratitude to the TA community of Uruguay for their welcome and attention to every detail was unanimous and sealed everything we had experienced.
Marta Olmedo (Link - PSE of Argentina).
TA Translation Team.
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