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Jenny Silva is an educator with MCC Nicaragua partner, Accion Medica Cristiana. Jenny works in violence and bullying prevention with schools and communities in Bluefields, on the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. She participated in a regional education encounter in Colombia, along with other MCC partners that work in education. Julie Aeschliman, the MCC Nicaragua education coordination, had the opportunity to speak to Jenny about her experience in the encounter.
TRANSFORMATION
“Before I arrived in Colombia, I had various expectations of what Colombia would be like as a country, but when I arrived at the encounter, it was not only an experience of getting to know Colombia, but also of interacting and getting to know many different parts of Latin America, and to see specifically what education works looks like in these different contexts. The chance to see such a diverse panorama in Latin America and to interact with different people, who are all connected with MCC, was very impacting.”
The Nicaragua group at the encounter. Anna Vogt.
CONNECTION
“I liked the way in which we shared about the work that we are doing with other participants and vice versa. For example, it was very exciting to be able to see the work that EDUPAZ does in school, in the peace clubs, because that is also my line of work. To feel that others are doing work similar to mine in a different context is one way of making a link and a connection with others. I’m using a peace manual to plan trainings and activities with a group of student peacebuilders and it has been a really positive experience to see school violence prevention work in another context.”
School visit in Cali with EDUPAZ.
LEARNINGS
One of the challenges we are facing in our work is how to work with student with disabilities, who need personalized strategies and attention. During the encounter, there was a space to share and dialogue with other participants who were also interested in this theme. I am carrying those conversations and exchanges to my own work, in order to keep learning strategies that benefit the students and teachers we support as Acción Medica Cristiana.
Group of peacebuilders in Nicaragua.