AMMAN, Jordan.
A meeting with immigrant workers, many Filipinos along with some nationals from India and Sri Lanka, was held on March 7, in the city of Amman, where people of the Teresian Association in Jordan offer hospitality and human and religious formation to people who want to get closer to the Association. On this occasion Dr. Nenita Tenefrancia presented the pedagogy inspired by Saint Pedro Poveda. Later there was an interesting exchange of ideas and experiences.
Many of these migrants are professionals who nevertheless have left their homes and families to find better job prospects in Jordan. In Amman, some work as engineers, architects, artists, teachers, while others do services in hotels, embassies, and commercial centers and in homes. For the first time they listened with great interest to a topic which sounded familiar, yet was novel in its presentation and application. It refers to an Education that extends far beyond the borders of the formal classroom, and encompasses their home and workplace, in situations which have a direct bearing in their own lives. They saw that the educational principles of St. Pedro Poveda and the noble task of the educator can be applied to all of them. They understood that they are educators in their own right, whether in the academic circles or in the marketplace, and more, they can be applied to everyone whether rich or poor.
In her talk Dr. Tenefrancia highlighted some Povedan principles of education, first and foremost of which is the centrality of the human person. As educators, we are tasked to “unfold the dream of God” for that person “with eyes to see the invisible”, in our children at home, in our students at school, in our subordinates at the workplace, in those entrusted to our care.
Key pedagogical elements
Some key pedagogical elements that the participants can apply in their own life’s circumstances are:
- The person as the core of any educational process, who possesses unique potentials and capabilities that must be developed to the fullest.
- Acceptance of the person as God wants her/him to be.
- The ‘family life’ atmosphere, conducive to education, where a person is allowed “to be joyful, to grow in liberty and freedom, to communicate, to express her/his ideas, to relate, to pray, to work, to have fun, to relax, to belong, to feel good, to dream…”
- The vocation and continuing formation of the educator: to teach, to be profoundly motivated, to dedicate time and energy for the option taken. As Pedro Poveda said, “Vocation is needed for noble and great endeavors.”
The talk elicited an active exchange of ideas and experiences from the participants, especially with the probing questions posed to them. The ensuing input, sharings and discussion was for them a kind of examination of their way of life in terms of how they educate their children, the values they implant in their minds, the challenges they face in being away from their loved ones while trying to build a stable family, the difficulty in deciding which is more important at the moment – to be with the family, or having bigger financial gain? The event was indeed a learning tool for each participant and a guide to be a better person. At the end of the session some confirmed their desire to know more about the Teresian Association and be part of it.
The TA is a place of refuge
The event is one of the many ways that the two AP members of the Teresian Association in Jordan, Elisa Estrada and Amabel Sibug, respond to the socio-educational thrust of the TA. They provide encounters to accompany migrant workers in their life and faith journey. Aware of the plight of migrants, the members provide a place of refuge where they feel accepted, loved and cared for. Aside from providing a place of refuge, they are given monthly workshop for Personality Development, Value Formation, Retreats and Religious Education. A special time is dedicated for Children Catechism as preparation for receiving sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first Holy Communion. Some of these beneficiaries have become active collaborators of the members in their evangelizing work, especially in preparing the weekly Friday and Sunday Masses.
An important Filipino community
Currently, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan estimates that around 26,000 to 28,000 Filipino nationals live in Jordan, although only around 16,000 to 18,000 are documented. This is due to lack of awareness on the part of migrants to register for their security and safety. In most cases the reason is refusal or restrictions of employers to give them some time off from their work - a direct violation of their human rights. There are more serious cases of abuse of migrants - physical, verbal, psychological, irregular remittance of salaries, poor working conditions, among others.
TA presence: Work of God that brings light and hope
The presence of the Teresian Association in Jordan is small, yet it is qualitatively significant. The work being carried out by the members may be a drop in an ocean of human problems, yet for those whose lives have been touched and changed, it is a work of God, that brings a ray of light and hope to their sad and broken existence.
Text and Photos: Amabel Sibug