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In Querétaro (Mexico), this school-year 2021-22 we had as a transversal pedagogical-pastoral axis "Care for the Common Home". We set out, as an educational team, to reflect deeply on the different areas of care: of the environment, of people, of ourselves in our different dimensions (physical, nourishment, spiritual, etc.). Then, starting from there, we devised different ways to work on it through the academic and pastoral areas of each level.
Teachers and students carried out fact-finding visits and investigations of the concrete context and built inter-disciplinary projects from the subjects of the school curriculum.
We carried out at all levels, from pre-school to baccalaureate, environmental care projects: separating rubbish and recycling it, linking up with associations. caring for the green areas of the campus and putting up vegetable gardens and compost plots by studying the type of soil and climate, human nutrition, saving water with drip irrigation, etc.
Preschool involved families in separating waste and channelling rubbish at home. The children learned how to take care of a small school garden.
Those in the Primary grades dedicated themselves to collecting plastic caps to support projects to help children with cancer.
The Secondary closed the school year with the activity "the model of the United Nations AsunMun". The children, representing around 30 countries, debated issues such as migration, child exploitation, care of/for water, soil and sea pollution, the place of women in society, etc. At the opening, the children told us: "This year we have worked on reflecting on the "Care of the Common Home", looking for alternatives towards the resolution of problems of community interest. We want to light a light, to contribute our grain of sand to the construction of a more just, supportive, humane and committed world. Therefore, delegates from each committee, before starting the debates, will light a candle, thinking about the needs of each country that we represent today and on behalf of whom we will raise our voices to generate awareness and reflection".
In high school, the children built "sustainable business" projects in the circular economy, structuring them based on research into the administrative process of a micro-enterprise. They also created an urban garden, in coordination with several that already exist in the city and that aim to multiply urban green areas. At the inauguration they told us: "Laudato sí" invites us to reflect on the possibility of changing our habits and ways of life towards those that respect the environment and promote social equity. It invites us to generate a change of vision of life and the meaning we give to it. Personally, this reflection leads me to ask myself what is truly valuable...".
https://sites.google.com/asuncionqro.edu.mx/huertourbano/implementaci%C3%B3n?authuser=0
This project included chemical analysis of different types of soil, climate and local ecosystem, types of seeds and crops accessible at the household level. To do this, they involved younger children from the whole school.
All these concrete proposals are the fruit of reflection, collaborative work, as well as a great passion of pupils and teachers.
Through all these learnings we have taken up the calls of Pope Francis in the Global Education Pact and the calls of the Manila Meeting. Each project has taken up the "see-judge-act-evaluate-celebrate" methodology of our Assumption education model.
We are happy to celebrate, at the end of this cycle, that God is counting on us in the construction of a world that is more just, more human, more in accordance with his plan of life for all.
Sr. Ana Sentíes r.a.
Community of Querétaro