The project Dissemination Workshops in Educational Environments forms part of the National University Voluntary Work Programme in Argentina. The initiative came into being at the Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in 2005. The aim of the UBA is to promote citizenship-building in children and teenagers by running workshops that examine their rights and open a debate so that they are able to express their concerns about their status and prospects with regard to social integration. This contributes to establishing common ground between the school environment and the life experiences of the university’s law students.
The practice described above forms part of the National University Voluntary Work Programme in Argentina. The initiative came into being at the Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in 2005.
The project Dissemination Workshops in Educational Environments promotes citizenship-building in children and teenagers by running workshops that examine their rights. One of the main issues dealt with at these meetings is the active participation of young people in school environments, whether by sitting on social harmony boards, student councils or by taking part in other group activities that involve social commitment. They also open a debate so that young people are able to express their concerns about their status and prospects with regard to social integration. This contributes to establishing common ground between the school environment and the life experiences of the university’s law students.
The idea is not to list the regulations in force, but to serve as an opportunity to seek and encourage the active participation of students. The workshops are coordinated by a group of lecturers, graduates and students from disciplines such as law, social anthropology and education sciences. They are given ongoing training by the Teacher Training Management Unit at the Faculty of Law of the UBA. The sessions are designed so that the group dynamics make them enjoyable experiences. The aim is to promote exchange and reflection based on specific experiences with which the participants are able to identify. This is achieved through creative workshops that reduce the need for formal classroom sessions and favour reflection by the entire group.
General objectives
1. Disseminating the Convention on the Rights of the Child in formal and informal educational environments.
2. Implementing innovative teaching methods that make it possible to create a space for understanding and dialogue in which the life experiences of the participants can be built upon.
3. Training students and university graduates to undertake a wide range of solidarity activities.
4. Holding exchange seminars that promote participants' personal development and skills.
5. Contributing to the development of university extension and research about issues related to the project.
6. Taking an interdisciplinary approach that brings about the renewal and modernization of family law.
Specific objectives
1. Holding four annual meetings free of charge in secondary schools in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires.
2. Conducting one-off workshops free of charge at trade union headquarters (a letter of intent is attached).
3. Conducting one-off workshops free of charge at children’s institutes.
4. Conducting one-off workshops free of charge at civil society organizations (a letter of intent is attached).
5. Holding monthly skill-building seminars for the participants in the projects under the supervision of experts in law, education sciences and anthropology.
6. Keeping the website (www.niunomenos.com.ar) up to date to disseminate the project and attract new volunteers and organizations.
7. Giving lectures on the Convention on the Rights of the Child at academic seminars and disseminating the experiences of participants in the volunteer scheme.
8. Publishing the research carried out and the experiences gained in book form in an effort to promote the dissemination and specific application of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The general work plan for the workshops were drawn up at four meetings at which issues were raised related to a number of articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The following outline was used:
Meeting 1. Presentation: words
Presentation exercise. Putting the Convention on the Rights of the Child into context. The use of words. Conflict resolution. Integration based on dialogue. Accepted ways of preventing and resolving conflicts. Words and the ability to listen in current society.
Reflection on the right to be heard (article 12.1).
The right to freedom of expression and to participate (article 13).
The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (article 14)
Meeting 2. A place in the world
Examination of situations that respect or violate human rights. Identifying the procedures organizations and individuals use to demand that an established right be respected (e.g. legal resources, public demonstrations, direct claims, etc.).
Reflection on the right to identity (article 8) and the right to liberty (article 37).
Meeting 3. Necessary protection
Study of conflicts in the family, classroom and the local community. The feeling of justice and injustice in immediate interpersonal relationships at school and in society at large.
Reflection on the right to wellbeing (article 3) and the right to an education (article 28). Protection from economic exploitation. Protection from the use of drugs (article 33). Protection from sexual abuse (article 34).
Meeting 4. Solidarity practices: equal rights
Exploration of the issue of respect for individuals' dignity. Self-respect, respect for others and for differences. Acknowledgement of one's own values. Appreciation of others and their beliefs. Identifying acts of intolerance and discrimination in everyday situations and examples taken from the mass media. Gender and origin in the frame of difference and equality.
Reflection on equality for mentally and physically disabled children (article 23). Respect for ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities (article 30).
In 2008, 15 workshops were run in a number of formal and informal educational environments.
Six secondary schools in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires
Two children’s institutes
Two soup kitchens
One management and participation centre
In addition, the project undertook a commitment with the National University Voluntary Work Programme to publish a book with a summary of the experiences. To date, the following two books have been printed:
Enseñanza de derechos y ciudadanía en la escuela (Teaching Rights and Citizenship at School)
La enseñanza práctica de derechos en ámbitos educativos (Practical Teaching of Rights in Educational Environments)
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