MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay
With the theme "We are young, let's turn the world together," on May 2-4 the 3rd Encounter of Young Facilitators of the Schools and Projects of the Teresian Association in Argentina and Uruguay was held in Montevideo. The meeting had a service activity to help young people recognize that it is in solidarity that we encounter others.
The participants were sixty young people, leaders of Neike School in Paysandù (Uruguay), facilitators of group leaders and Timbúes of Poveda School in Montevideo (Uruguay) and leaders of the Youth Ministry of Poveda School in Buenos Aires (Argentina). They lived a rich and intense experience, observing their own reality and the world. They shared experiences, unique cultural aspects, desires, and their search for faith in an atmosphere of joy, openness, a family-like environment, and commitment.
Agostina Ferreira, one of the participants, described the experience: "The meeting was great because we were able to meet young people like us and experience an amazing cultural exchange ... Seeing that culturally we have many differences that but we have very strong commonalities made us feel "like family,” and sare the charism of Poveda, the school climate, the proposals, wishes, and desire to do good things." Belén Puig Hernandez also shared that "the meeting allowed us to see with new eyes, have another look, and also see that we all want to engage in our reality..."
The encounter took place at Poveda School. Participants experienced a variety of proposals, group dynamics, games, parties, celebrations, prayer experiences, and interesting workshops. Through sharing, they created strong links, in tune with the theme of the gathering.
There were workshops on service ... on the life of Jesus, Father Poveda, and also on the experience of Father Cacho (founder of San Vincent Organization, where the solidarity activities were conducted). The workshops on change the way we look, transform our outlook to transform the world, and solidarity prepared young people for a day of service in the suburb of Possolo. Father Richard, pastor and friend of the Teresian Association, accompanied us and was present in these activities.
Some young people fixed and painted benches and chairs in a classroom, painted walls and games on the floor of the courtyard, and decorated the corridors by a kindergarten classroom at a public school. In an early childhood education center another group painted murals at the request of the authorities of the school. A third group guided recreational activities with neighborhood children and mothers in the parish grounds. Maria Arias, one of the Argentine youth, said about this experience: "for me it was important and interesting to see how we all have different ways of living our faith, but all of us we are moved to do something for others and share solidarity actions; it was very good... ‘It was the best".
At a Eucharist at the close of the encounter they reflected on the experience; it was a special moment to give thanks and, to the delight of everyone, to announce the continuation of the encounter. Recalling the experience Camila Sosa said, "the meeting in Uruguay was a unique experience. Being able to share so much with people from another country and feel at home, with trust, to see how much we can do together because, although we are different, we have many interests in common, was very good. Now we continue to communicate all the time, we want to see each other again, to meet again, to keep doing things together."
Background
Members of the Teresian Association who accompany young people came up with the idea for these encounters, with the desire to provide a space for exchanging experiences, sharing formation, deepening in their faith and connect youth who are leaders, community facilitators of Youth Ministry (students and alumni) or volunteers involved in activities in the Schools and Projects inspired by the charism of Poveda.
• The 1st meeting took place in 2011 in Montevideo, with the theme "We are young, let us risk our life."
• The 2nd meeting, in 2012, in Buenos Aires had the theme: "We are young, we have reasons for joy."
• In 2013 the proposal was to gather in Rio de Janeiro, on World Youth Day, with Pope Francis and with other young people of the Teresian Association of America.
The richness of the lived and shared experiences, and the bonds of trust and affection that are generated in such meetings make possible that on both sides, Uruguay and Argentina, we continue to echo that it is possible to "turn the world ... to transform it.
Info.IT
Information and photos: María Marta Olmedo