Free “Educational Quality and Social Inclusion” Symposium

On May 22nd, begins the “Educational Quality and Social Inclusion Symposium” organized by the BBVA Group. CLAYSS will conduct academic coordination. Distinguished panelists, teachers, and leaders of civil society organization will participate in the hopes of generating a space for reflection on a proposed relevant theme. Daniel Arroyo, President of Poder Ciudadano, Juan Carlos Tedesco (National University of San Martín), and Daniel Filmus, the former Minister of Education of the Nation, and Axel Rivas (CIPPEC) will be among those participating.

9th International Week of Service-Learning: August 2012 in Buenos Aires

CLAYSS invites you to participate in the 9th International Week of Service-Learning, held from August 20th-24th. As is customary, in the days before the International Conference CLAYSS will offer a few special activities aimed towards our foreign visitors, as well as the socially engaged schools and universities that CLAYSS supports. The agenda for the 9th International Week of Service-Learning can be downloaded here.

15th International Service-Learning Conference

The conference will take place on August 23rd and 24th, 2012 at the Economical Sciences School of the University of Buenos Aires. The event is open to all with no admission fee. As in earlier years, we will feature prominent specialists. We will also include activities directed towards schools, universities, and social and youth organizations. The tentative activity schedule can be downloaded here and more information can be found on our web site. Please do not hesitate to contact us at
paulabasilico@clayss.org.

2nd Service-Learning Research Symposium: Call for presentations

In the hopes of giving continuity to the Symposium that occurred in 2004, CLAYSS will hold the 2nd Service-Learning Research Symposium at the Economical Sciences School of the University of Buenos Aires on August 22, 2012, from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.

CLAYSS is offering the opportunity to present research related to recent advances in the service-learning field, both in terms of theoretical reflection as well as presentations on the systematization, evaluation, measurement of impact, and study of institutional programs or specific service-learning practices.

We are calling out to service-learning researchers and specialists in Argentina, Ibero-America, and other regions, as well as students and teachers involved in service-learning practices, outreach, University Social Responsibility, university social commitment, obligatory social service, university volunteering, and other forms of educational social practices to send in proposals for presentations. The deadline to submit an application is June 10th. More information can be found here.

CLAYSS Provides Technical Support to the University of Chile

CLAYSS is currently conducting a technical support program with the support of the OEA and the University of Chile for the institutionalization of service-learning practices. As part of this program we welcomed five professors from the University of Chile to Buenos Aires. The professors attended meetings with CLAYSS, authorities from national universities, and the Ministry of Education, among others. As part of this technical support, CLAYSS will offer training in Santiago, Chile from May 30th to June 1st.

During their stay, the professors had a series of work meetings with CLAYSS Director, Nieves Tapia; the Extension Secretary of the University of Buenos Aires, Oscar García; and with Sergio Rial, Coordinator of the National Program “Educación Solidaria” from the Ministry of Education; among others. They also visited multiple service-learning projects on site, including a visit to the community organization EnAcción (that works alongside students from the National University General Sarmiento) and a visit to the Comprehensive Community Action Program in Vulnerable Neighborhoods (conducted by University of Buenos Aires).

2012 Presidential Award for Socially Engaged Schools

The President of Argentina has called for all Argentina schools at the pre-school, primary school, and secondary school levels, of all types of administrations and disciplines, that are currently carrying out social engagement projects, to participate in the 8th Presidential Award for Socially Engaged Schools. The educational social engagement experiences must have been in effect during 2011 and/or 2012. All programs must have started before April 30th, 2012. The objectives of the Award are: to recognize schools who integrate curricular learning into social engagement actions aimed towards improving the quality of life of the community, to recognize service-learning experiences that allow for students to widen their learning horizons and encourage students to engage in the transformation of their community with other social agents of change, and to strengthen and promote a culture of participation, solidarity, and social commitment.

Comprehensive Community Action Program for Vulnerable Neighborhoods: Secretary of Outreach, University of Buenos Aires

As part of this program, University of Buenos Aires (UBA) students from a variety of majors and disciplines offer community support in vulnerable neighborhoods in the areas of health, education, and communal development. In the area of health, students from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Orthodontia participate to offer information related to nutrition, disease prevention, and sexual and reproductive education. Students also conduct free physical exams, check-ups, and blood analysis tests for children and adults, in addition to informative workshops and lectures.

The informal education courses offered include labor training, vocational training, literacy programs, and scholarly support. Students from the Faculty of Philosophy and Language assess the needs of each participant according to their literacy level, and offer classes and workshops. There is also a scholarly support program for children and youth who are currently in school. The labor training program offers important tools to encourage entry and re-entry into the labor market, especially among youth and older adults.

Community development includes legal support and athletic activities. The athletic social program provides a medium for children and teens to exercise and play in a safe and fun way. The program also offers legal counseling and legal literacy.

This program has received various awards and honorable mentions, including the prestigious McJannet Award of the Talloires Network.
To learn more, visit http://www.uba.ar/extension/barrios

The Support Program for Socially Engaged Schools 2012 has begun for ORT Argentina

At the request of ORT Argentina, in 2012 CLAYSS will conduct a support program offering service-learning training in-person and online for teachers and directors of the institution. Both schools are carrying out valuable service-learning and social engagement programs: http://campus.ort.edu.ar/aprendizajesolidario 

As part of this project Nieves Tapia participated in a service-learning conference organized by the school on April 25th, 2012. This conference also included a presentation of online courses by Luz Avruj, coordinator of online training at CLAYSS. 55 teachers and directors attended these lectures.
 
If you would like to request a training program for your institution, email info@clayss.org.ar

2012 University Support Program: Training held in La Paz, Bolivia

As part of the Latin American University Support and Strengthening program, CLAYSS held the first faculty professional development course at the Catholic University of Bolivia in La Paz on April 26th and 27th. Alejandro Gimelli and María Gabriela Malacrida were the instructors from the CLAYSS team. They conducted an onsite 2 day training course at the University for 40 authorities, teachers, and students. An article on this program can be read here, on the website of the Catholic University of Bolivia.

13th Meeting of the Ibero-American Service-Learning Network

The 13th Meeting of the Ibero-American Service-Learning Network will take place on Saturday, August 25th from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm at CLAYSS’s new headquarters at Yapeyú 283 in the City of Buenos Aires. Institutions interested in joining the network or participating in the meeting should contact Paula Basílico.

Summer Workshop for members of the Talloires Network

The Talloires Network and the Kettering Foundation are collaborating on a new initiative: a summer workshop for 12 leaders of civic engagement programs in the Talloires Network. The workshop will take place in Dayton, Ohio (United States) from Monday, July 23rd through Wednesday, July 25th, 2012, and will have Latin American representatives.

IANYS carries out its 2012 global conference in India

ICP (Innovations in Civic Participation), currently in charge of the Global Office of the Secretary of IANYS (International Association for National Youth Service, organized a global conference under the theme “Strengthening the International Field of National Youth Service: Assessment and Strategic Directions.”

On March 5-9 in Bellagio, Italy, opinion leaders, experts, and innovators in the youth service field met to evaluate the current state of national youth service on a global level, and to develop an action plan to address the needs of the field and guarantee future opportunities for youth.

For more information on the conference and the materials presented, click here.

• May 21: 6° Pare Pense International Conference, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
• May 22, June 8, 15, and 26: Educational Quality and Social Inclusion Symposiums. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• July 4: Service-Learning in University: University and Society ApS(U)3. Barcelona, Spain.
• July 12-15: International Baccalaureate Conference in Las Américas, Mexico. This year, the Conference will include two sessions on service-learning, one led by North American Specialist Cathryn Berger Kaye and the other led by Nieves Tapia.
• August 20-24: 9º International Week of Service-Learning. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
• August 21: Visiting program to service-learning projects at higher education institutions and schools.
• August 22: 2º Service-Learning Research Symposium. 
• August 23-24: 15º International Service-Learning Conference.