MADRID, Spain
We initiated our presentation with greetings to Maite Uribe, TA President, for accompanying us in this activity; to all the people present in this hall and very especially to the directive team of the “Colegio Mayor Poveda” for their warm welcome. We also expressed our deep gratitude to the Castroverde Foundation, to IEPS, to the Secretariat of T.A. Educational Centers, to InteRed and Narcea, all of them entities that made possible the Congress “Educa 2011”, and last, but not least, to the previous and present General Governing Councils for their efforts to make a reality our desire to present one of the fruits of the Congress.
Context and meaning of this event
This afternoon we have been summoned to participate in the presentation of the book “Otra Educación es Posible,” a work that summarizes the content of the “Congreso Educa 2011”: New protagonists, Spaces and Ways to create a new Education. The event took place in Madrid, from December 8-10 within the series of celebrations on the occasion of the Centenary of the Teresian Association, 1911- 2011. The contributions of this publication, that will be known later, reflect the meaning and the searches of the Congress, expressed in its objectives. The central themes of these objectives were:
- Reflection, discussions and the construction of proposals on the central ideas of the Congress: new protagonists, new spaces and ways to create a new type of education.
- Promotion of a shared learning of good practices by means of the exchange of projects and creative experiences in education.
- Reinforcement of social and educational networking through the promotion of alliances and contacts among persons and groups.
- Impulse to democratic and participative processes for a greater strengthening of the right to education, especially in contexts of exclusion.
An event that recreates the memory of “Educa 2011”
The presentation of the book “Otra Educacion es Posible” recreates the memory of “Educa 2011” bringing up to our mind the memory of the relations built, of the shared dissents, the works promoted, and the dreams yet to come to reality. It also recreates the memory of the Congress as an open platform that challenges us to:
Promote the awareness and the commitment of the different sectors of the Spanish society, especially of the political, educational, financial and religious leaders, with a significant contribution in favor of quality education, educational innovation and scientific-technological development with a transforming accent.
Assume as an opportunity for change and socio-educational development the desire of one hundred people who participated in “Educa 2011” who wanted to work and think in coordination and to be actively involved in the field of education and in today’s society.
Strengthen communication and creative dialogue with those educators and social agents who identified themselves with the objectives and proposals of the Congress “Educa 2011”. Those people are channels of diffusion of the emerging questions, of the shared educational experiences and of the horizon of the Congress.
Implement adequate strategies in order to promote the commitment of the T.A. entities, private entities, representative bodies of the Public Administration, university presences, as well as of other formal and non formal educational activities which are involved in the processes generated in “Educa 2011”.
A Great Occasion
From the Council for Culture, an advisory body of the Teresian Association, the presentation of this book is a great occasion to promote and encourage those processes and actions which give priority to a reflective daily life, a spirit and practice of research, not only to analyze reality, but to offer solutions to the many problems affecting society. It is also an exceptional opportunity to confirm the necessity to commit ourselves to the priorities of the Centenary, to the New Evangelization and to the world reality, with a more creative way of thinking and more audacious and courageous attitude.
To respond to these challenges, it is important to act in the direction indicated by Saint Pedro Poveda when he says, “sow, toil the earth, work tirelessly even with pain and difficulties, because God will give fruit when it is convenient, as he pleases and wherever He wills.”
It is our hope that this presentation may inspire and strengthen our efforts to anticipate and make possible another education and another society, builders of a new humanity.
Signed; Dinorah García R.
Council for Culture Director