PERU: More than 200 Indigenous youth take part in new educational initiative
Project promotes practical skills, personal development
PERU
(MissionNewswire) Salesians in Peru have launched a new educational initiative for Indigenous youth in the Achuar communities of Kuyuntsa, Checherta and Yankuntich. The Salesian oratory, adapted to the Achuar style, has been welcomed by the communities, especially by the youth. More than 200 youth are a part of the program.
Salesians offer specific courses for youth including an integration workshop designed to encourage socialization and help them learn Spanish as a second language. During the workshop, educators help students engage in group activities to promote communication, trust and friendship.
A work educational workshop helps students develop practical skills in agriculture and artisanal bread-making. The workshop aims to motivate youth to reflect on sustainable ways of generating income for their families, while also strengthening their autonomy, creativity and sense of responsibility toward their community.
A Salesian noted, “It’s not all about work and direct learning. We aim to help the whole person. A personal development workshop helps Achuar youth build self-esteem and improve their communication skills through exercises that enable them to develop skills in public speaking and expression. This activity was designed by educators to empower confident young Achuar individuals with a strong sense of identity and the ability to interact in a positive way with their environment.”
Finally, a cultural promotion workshop celebrates the richness of Achuar culture, strengthening youths’ sense of identity. Activities include storytelling of ancestral myths, practicing traditional dances and crafting local artisanal objects.
The Salesian added, “Through these and many other initiatives, Salesians and their lay collaborators continue to educate the most vulnerable and marginalized youth, such as the Achuar.”
Peru faces high levels of income inequality and has more than a quarter of its population living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Poverty levels are significantly higher in rural areas but urban areas struggle most with inequality, most notably metropolitan Lima. Poverty in the country is made worse by a shortage of productive farmland and a lack of job skills among women entering the workforce, as well as a lack of adequate housing, nutrition and education.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Peru
World Bank – Peru
