Marists associated with the Diploma in Protection of Minors sponsored by CELAM

The Bishops’ Council of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM), together with the Latin American Confederation of Religious (CLAR), is developing a Diploma Course, ”The Care and Protection of Children, Adolescents and Vulnerable Persons”. Their aim is to form a learning community to develop methodologies and promote a culture of child and adolescent protection.

The training which began on 1 August and will continue until 25 November, is being held in person at the CELAM headquarters in Bogotá, Colombia.

Cesar Henriquez Leiva, a Marist Brother from the Province of América Central, is a member of the team of coordinators. He is also a teacher and has worked for the last 16 years in the promotion and defence of child rights, as well as in the creation of national commissions by the conferences of religious in the countries of his province.

In the first module of the diploma course, entitled “Childhood”, the students of the Marist school ”Los Naranjos”, located in the south of the Colombian capital, were invited to participate in a discussion about child rights. The visitors were invited to listen to the children to know their reality better as they work on developing a culture of child care and protection inside and outside the school environment.

As a result of this dialogue, it became clear that children and young people need to be listened to and assisted in monitoring their emotions, as a strategy to provide a safe space for them; likewise, the students expressed their concern for the care of the environment and training in ecological issues.

“This has been a significant experience allowing us to go beyond the theory. Giving children a voice, added an experiential dimension to the training and gave focus to our discussion about safe spaces for minors” said Brother Jose Alberto Galvis Quintero, a participant of the diploma course representing the Marist Province of Norandina.