MALAGA, Spain.
With a turnout of over forty participants, the XXXIX Week on Fellowship and Cultural Exchange was held in Malaga from July 19-23. This is an annual event that brings together a group of people who wish to learn and incorporate new ideas and practices that arise in the defense of human rights through dialogue, fellowship, and exchange of experiences while at the same time enjoying a few days of rest by the sea. The theme of the conference was: "Debate on Work." The event was organized by a team of the Teresian Association (TA Andalucía-Extremadura, Education and Culture).
2016 will mark the fortieth anniversary of this conference series, which focuses on vital issues and is attentive to the everyday concerns of ordinary people. The methodology used in preparation for the conference by the organizing team is a dynamic approach around a main theme that is complemented by other activities related to culture, humanities, and spirituality. All of this is compatible with enjoyment of the beach, relaxation, and conviviality in the heart of Malaga.
This time, the main theme, "Debate on Work," was developed in three sessions in the morning by Sociologist Andrés Toribio Aganzo who chose three main lines:
- Analysis of the Status of Work: Conceptual review of work, Report of the International Labor Organization and Report on the Labor Force Survey (Spain); Changes and transformations in the production system.
- Responses to the social crisis, experiences and inchoate: Survey on living conditions, the strategy of the poor to survive the crisis and the emergence of NGOs and other aid agencies.
- Proposals for the future: Social Protection Systems, Basic Income, Redistribution of the work schedule, economy for the common good, and the local community as a center of human activity.
The presentation continued with an interesting conversation and a rich exchange of views, opinions, and experiences.
In the evenings, activities designed by the speakers, who were also attendees, took place. This was done in a context of cooperation and collaboration, thus contributing to a climate of fellowship and cultural exchange.
The Conference of 2015 was opened by Maria Fernanda Raposo, who gave an overview of the central themes of the conference series throughout the years since its inception. This analysis highlighted the close relationship between the content and the issues of each moment, addressing, in each case, knowledge of the situations that affect us all, both nationally and internationally.
With delight we remembered Paco de Lucia, presented by Maria Rosa Sanchez de Medina, and we admired Saint Teresa as a model to break glass ceilings, presented by Teresa González Pérez.
Teresa Lozano Díaz delighted us with "A Song to Life," a presentation of her beautiful and mysterious paintings nesting the fullness of beauty, love and life.
To complete our stay in Malaga, we dedicated an afternoon to Art in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, "Russian Art: Icons of the twentieth century," a display of 100 representative works of the evolution of Russian painting, from icons to the mid-twentieth century. The museum is housed in the building of the former Tabacalera.
Juan Francisco Garrido closed the conference on July 23 with a presentation on "Debate on work from experience" in which he addressed issues like "rethinking the meaning of our humanity, recovering the meaning and value of work beyond employment, fighting for the extension of social rights and the need to unlink these from employment.
The time for community prayer was very special because of its beauty, simplicity, and unifying value.
Once this conference ended, the team started thinking about the 40th edition, which will be, no doubt, a happy event.
Choice of themes
The choice of the main theme is made by the organizing team, based on the suggestions from the participants and the evaluation surveys of the conference. Once the topic is set, potential speakers are recommended. The evening topics are selected in the same manner, focusing on those that have been most in demand or in accordance with the celebration of some centenary or special commemoration.
The team works on the conference throughout the year. They meet at the beginning of the year and then throughout the year they focus on the subject, share literature, and establish and delimit the content.
Nona Padial