Hay Festival Arequipa 2023 – Education

Starting with one of the stories from her book, Las voces de los árboles, the educator Elisa Guerra will talk to teenagers about matters such as climate change, migration and resilience, culminating with an active exchange of ideas, based on the question What is the fire that affects you? Elisa Guerra (Mexico) has a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. In 2015 she was named Best Educator in the Latin American and Caribbean region by the Inter-American Development Bank, and was a member of the UNESCO Futures of Education’s International Commission.

Two major figures from the world of Peruvian education will talk about the subject. Patricia Salas (Peru) is a sociologist and expert in matters related to social development; she has a doctorate in Social Sciences from the Universidad Católica de Santa María and has been both Chair of the National Council of Education and Peruvian Minister of Education. Maritza Ramírez (Peru) is a dedicated Kukama activist who works to revitalise the language, as well as on the promotion of bilingual and intercultural education in Peru through documenting the Kukama language, developing educational materials and creating teaching spaces. Her work has been recognised nationally and internationally for its significant impact on the promotion of inclusive education that respects cultural diversity.

The education/information/citizenship triad is key for strengthening enlightened democracy. This event will involve sharing experiences of the French educational system in terms of education, teaching tools and continuous training on the subject for teachers, particularly including the topics of news, a critical spirit and civic values. With Serge Barbet (France-Argentina), a journalist who specialises in education and, since 2018, Director of the French Centre for Education on the Media and Information, in conversation with the French-Colombian philosopher Nelson Vallejo-Gómez.

Two major figures from the world of Peruvian education will talk to Jorge Bedregal la Vera about the importance of education in strengthening social and community fabrics. Patricia Salas (Peru) is a sociologist and expert in matters related to social development; she has a doctorate in Social Sciences from the Universidad Católica de Santa María and has been both Chair of the National Council of Education and Peruvian Minister of Education. Maritza Ramírez (Peru) is a dedicated Kukama activist who works to revitalise the language, as well as on the promotion of bilingual and intercultural education in Peru through documenting the Kukama language, developing educational materials and creating teaching spaces. Her work has been recognised nationally and internationally for its significant impact on the promotion of inclusive education that respects cultural diversity.

Based on the work of the three guests, who will talk to Natalia Sobrevilla Perea, this event will look at how culture facilitates the understanding of complex phenomena such as migration, paying particular attention to the situation of women migrants. It will also look at how culture contributes significantly to integration, as a key vehicle for social cohesion and mutual understanding among diverse communities in the city of Arequipa. The knowledge and experiences shared by these authors will enable a profound reflection on these matters, underlining the crucial role of culture in the construction of inclusive and resilient communities. With Cecile Blouin (France), Lucero Condori (Peru) and Diana Moncada (Venezuela).