This year, the 19° International Service-Learning Conference will take place on 25th- 26th August 2016, in the San Agustín Conference Hall of Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (Av. Alicia M. de Justo 1300, City of Buenos Aires). As every year, it will be attended by outstanding international specialists and will be a space to meet and exchange with other students, teachers, researchers, civil servants and social organizations leaders from Latin America and other regions of the world. Attendance is free and registration is now open. To register please click here.
Tentative agenda for the Seminar activities, please click here.

CLAYSS at the Vatican

“Between university and school, a wall or a bridge” was the title for the International seminar organized in the Vatican by Scholas (Schools for encounter, an initiative promoted by Pope Francis in favor of education), with the support of the Roman University LUMSA. The meeting, which was held on May 27th - 29th in the Vatican, gathered around 80 participants representing 37 Universities from around the world, and also more than a dozen Social Organizations that work in the educational field -among them CLAYSS represented by its Director Nieves Tapia.
The seminar marked the beginning of the “Scholas Chair”, a proposal to link universities (private and public, secular and from diverse religions) with schools and organizations developing educational projects that connect solidarity action, arts, sport and technology with a comprehensive and inclusive education, in the spirit that Pope Francis proposed.
On Sunday 29th, the official closing of the meeting, was attended by students, celebrities of the Arts and Sports and had a direct dialogue between the pope and youth. On Tuesday 31st Nieves Tapia had the unexpected opportunity to greet the Pope after mass had finished in the Casa Santa Marta. They held a brief and warm personal chat.

Advances in the Eastern Europe Program

Starting in April, as requested by various organizations and Universities from the region, interested in the Latin American Service-Learning model CLAYSS has started contributing with training sessions, material development and other activities that aim at conforming a Service-Learning Network in Eastern Europe. Ten partners from the region are currently taking the online course, adapting its contents to their context and translating materials.
The Program also includes two scholarships to participate in the International Service-Learning Conference to leaders from regional organizations that participate of the program (the New Horizons Foundation from Rumania and MIOS from Bosnia Herzegovina) as also teachers and directors from participating Universities.

Support Program to Educational Centers in Uruguay

From April 12th to May 30th and led by 13 tutors from CLAYSS Uruguay headquarters, training sessions were developed in the 20 Educational Centers that participate of the Support Program to Educational Centers in Uruguay 2016. These training instances were attended by 1250 people including teachers, students, families, technicians, authorities and community actors coming from the Early Childhood and Primary Education Council, the Secondary Education Council, the School of Social Communication and Graphic Design, the Education Training Council and social organizations.

Meeting with educational authorities

On May 10th CLAYSS Uruguay coordinators Lic. Eugenia Puglia and Lic. Catalina Thölke met with Mag. Edith Moraes Undersecretary, Ministry of Education and Culture. Among the meeting objectives, the Promotion of Service-Learning Program held with the Ministry of Education and Culture in accordance with the current agreement and resolutions from the National Administration of Public Education was presented. Ministry of Education and Culture priorities include working towards achieving a more inclusive education in the Secondary Education Basic Cycle in which most educational dropout occurs and it is here where the undersecretary visualizes possible alliances. The undersecretary considers that Service-learning is a possible answer to this problem that concerns local educational authorities and involves mainly the Directorate of Education, Ministry of Education and Culture.

Schools sowing learning and future

The Technical Secondary School N°740 EMETA from Trevelling, Chubut, aims at improving its students’ knowledge so that they can replicate them at home. For that purpose they train them in rural work, so that they not only have all capacities required to graduate but also to start their own productive entrepreneurship.
Just like other Schools from the Patagonia, as the emblematic case of the Provincial School N°25 from Villa Futalaufquen –that devotes itself to afforest burn forests, among other activities that allow their community to know and learn about the environment and at the same time obtain tools to protect it.
During May they developed numerous activities: the first autumn sowing, restoration tasks in the Forest Reserve Epuyén, in the Puerto Patriada area. They became the first institution to afforest over the Los Alerces National Park near the dam (Futaleufú hydro-electrical complex) where they planted 250 cypresses.

XVIII Service-Learning Network Meeting

As usual, the Networks annual meeting will be held in August within the International Service-Learning Week, on Wednesday August 24th from 2 to 5 pm (argentine time). At the meeting, there will be a virtual space for all those that cannot personally attend the meeting. The meeting is ONLY for Network Members, one person per institution. To register your participation or request virtual participation, please write to internacionales@clayss.org.ar
For further information visit: http://clayss.org.ar/english/redibero.html

Service-Learning Award 2016 - Spain

The Spanish Service-Learning Network, Educo Foundation and Edebé Editorial launched in Spain the call for the Service-Learning Award 2016, aimed at infant and primary education centers, Secondary education centers- baccalaureate and Professional training, as also social entities that are developing Service-learning practices. For further information visit the Award webpage (in spanish): http://www.aprendizajeservicio.com/

New board of directors - IARSLCE

The International Association for Research on Service-learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE) is pleased to announce the election (or reelection) of the following individuals to the board of directors beginning in September 2016: Burton Bargerstock, Glenn Bowen, Tim Eatman, Andy Furco, and Monica Kowal.
The Association thanks all candidates and members who voted!

Recognition to the Javeriana de Cali University

After competing with more than 4,5 million Acts of Peace registered in the world till April 2016, the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali has been selected winner of the One Billion Acts of Peace in the category Best University Act, an award that strengthens the work and inspires to continue in the conflict resolution process between communities, the state and private companies and to contribute to peace construction with a territorial approach.
We congratulate our colleagues and friends from Javeriana de Cali in this important recognition.

MacJannet Prize 2016 Winners announced

This year, 48 candidates from 38 Universities coming from 18 countries presented candidates for the prize. The top three prize awardees have much in common: they are dedicated to serving and empowering the less fortunate members of society.
The Civic Engagement and Community Engagement (CCECS) initiative at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon is the first place winner. They are addressing therefugee crisis in Lebanon through student-led projects with six refugee schools.
The Ziauddin Sikanderabad Community Partnership at the Ziauddin University in Karachi, Pakistan is the second place winner. The partnership focuses on holistic family medicine and empowering the community to contribute to their own welfare and health.
Third place winner is Tecnologías para la Comunidad at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara in Mexico. It supports and empowers people with disabilities by linking science research and social engagement.
We congratulate al winners and especially to the Tec de Monterrey, who have been working with us for a number of years.

2016:

• August 8th-11th: Territorial Social Responsibility, Trends in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. More information: orsalc@unesco.org.ve or www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve

• August 25th-26th: International Service-Learning Conference. Buenos Aires. Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1300, Buenos Aires, Argentina. More information: http://clayss.org.ar/english/conference/index.html

• September 26th-28th: IARSLCE Conference 2016, Roosvelt New Orleans, EEUU. More information: http://www.researchslce.org/conferences/

• October 14th - 16th: The VII National and II International University Service-Learning Conference. Faculty of Education Sciences, Campus Vida. University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. More information: www.usc.es/congresos/apsu7

2017:

• March 22nd – 25th 2017: Dare to Dream. The 28th Annual National Service-Learning Conference®, in Disneyland, Anaheim, California, EEUU. Organized by the NYLC (National Youth Leadership Council). More information: http://www.nylc.org/conference