Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI)

Module 1: Be engaged

welcome

This module invites you to reflect on a key issue for democratic life in our educational communities: the importance of youth participation.

Article 16 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter (OAS, 2001) states:
"Education is key to strengthening democratic institutions, promoting the development of human potential, and alleviating poverty and fostering greater understanding among our peoples."

Young people are not only the future of democracy—they are active agents today, transforming their environment through different forms of expression and organization.

To address this topic, we now propose the following activities:
  • 1. Write a brief introduction about yourself: who you are, your workplace, and your role in the institution. Post this on Wall 1: Have we met?
    • Locate your school or community on the map.
    • Add your details and a sentence explaining why you believe youth participation is essential for democratic processes.
    • 2. Complete the diagnostic survey to assess your prior knowledge of the course topics.
    • 3. Read the document for Module 1: “Be engaged” and review its infographic.
    • 4. Reflect on how youth participation is promoted in your school/community using Robert Hart’s “Ladder of Participation” (1992). Consider:
      • Which step are students currently on?
      • What actions can we take as educators and administrators to help them move toward authentic, critical, and transformative participation?
    • 5. Post on Wall 2: Youth Participation:
      • At what level of the ladder do you place your institution’s participation spaces?
      • What good practices have you seen or implemented?
      • What obstacles exist in your context?
    • Include your name, country, city, or community for context. Feel free to comment on colleagues’ posts respectfully and constructively.
    • 6: Read the guidelines for the integration activity to be submitted in week 4 and start reflecting on your proposal.

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