Youth Assembly of the Province of Mediterránea
With the slogan “Your Voice Matters”, for the first time children and adolescents from the Province of Mediterránea gathered in an assembly to reflect on institutional child protection. Representatives from each school in Italy, Lebanon and Spain and from the socio-educational projects in Syria, up to a total of 120, accompanied by teachers, traveled on April 19 to the Faraya (for students from Lebanon and Syria) or Madrid (for those in Italy and Spain), with the idea of continuing the local process that had started in November 2023.
During the Assembly, the adolescents were encouraged to play a leading role, both in the analysis of their reality and in the presentation of the proposals worked on in their respective schools or educational works, as well as in the debate necessary to reach a consensus. The first days were devoted to rotating workshops on children’s rights, safe spaces, risks in school environments, risks in virtual environments and child abuse.
The highlight of the Assembly was a dynamic where the children reflected on the wounds caused by any type of abuse, which paved the way to discover that “their voice was important” in the search for solutions. On the last day, proposals from both the local phase and the various activities of the provincial meeting were compiled, discussed and approved by the assembly.
it is important to highlight that every day there were online connections between the Faraya and Madrid headquarters to share the reflections, to feel the provincial communion and pray together, tasks that have required a great technical and translation effort, and that have contributed to the goal of connecting and working together for child participation and protection.
The conclusions of the assembly will be passed on to the commission that will prepare the next strategic plan, so that the children themselves will contribute to making their schools or educational sites the safe environments they need for their growth.
Speak, contribute, participate, act…, and transform
On the last day, Br. Aureliano Garcia, Provincial, received the conclusions of the participants and addressed some words of encouragement to them to make their lives historic opportunities for others: to speak, to contribute, to participate, to act…, and to transform. He spoke to them about the importance of the word: “With words we can care, heal and cure”. He also invited them to never keep silent: “Don’t be silent, share what you think and feel; your voice matters, because it can make a difference and make a better school, a better, more beautiful, more humane world. Lastly, he gave them a final thought: “the most important events in history are love stories, which have to do with respect, inclusiveness … May you be able to create important and unrepeatable events and stories that will be your – and our – lifeline”.
