Focolare Movement

A hope for Europe’s future

Dec 1, 2009

2009 was a year packed with meetings and seminars designed to spread the “pedagogy of communion” in the academic world and beyond

A very full year in Europe and beyond, in which the ideas of the pedagogy of unity were brought to the attention of university teachers, educators, teachers, young and old people interested in educational matters. In 2009, there were numerous meetings, seminars, conventions, and round table discussions, in Catania, Benevento, Milano, Varese, Tortona, Vienna, Barcelona, London, Cordoba, Buenos Aires, as well as in Slovenia, Macedonia and Croatia, according to the annual report of the Central Commission of the “EdU-EducazioneUnità”. The theoretical presentation of the pedagogy that has developed from the charism of unity was accompanied by the presentation of educational experiences promoted by the Focolare Movement. Among these are the “Raggio di Sole” (Ray of Sun) nursery school in Croatia, “Fantasy” in Serbia, and “Perle” (Pearls) in Macedonia, where through the use of simple and natural educational materials, children are encouraged to exercise their imagination together with their classmates, developing their ability to collaborate and integrate.  The method provides hope for peoples who have suffered years of strife and whose ability to relate to others has been severely affected. On 15 May Michele De Beni, member of the EdU commission, took part in a seminar organised by the Faculty of Education in Skopje, Macedonia.  There were 120 Christian and Muslim teachers from various disciplines and countries. At“Raggio di Sole” the “pegagogy of communion” was presented to a team from Croatian TV, who transmitted a 7 minute report. And on another occasion, forty students from the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb made a study visit. Giuseppe Milan a member of the EdU commission as well as director of the Department of Educational Science at the University of Padova, was invited to take part in the “Europe Week” organised by the commune of Skofja Loka in Slovenia, where he presented the “pedagogy of communion” to academics and civil and religious leaders. On that occasion the idea emerged of a collaborative project between the universities of Padova and Ljubljana. In the photo: a group of 4th year students and teachers from the faculty of Philosophy Zagreb, during their visit to the “Raggio di Sole” school in May 2009.

___

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

Together to strengthen hope

Together to strengthen hope

In a divided and polarised world, can Movements and new Communities contribute to unity within the Church and in the world? On the eve of the great Jubilee of the Movements in St Peter’s Square, at which Pope Leo XIV will be present, some of the moderators of different ecclesial movements describe the value of the path of friendship and collaboration.

Up2Me for Children: a new educational opportunity

Up2Me for Children: a new educational opportunity

A training course on emotional and sexual education for children and families, offering the chance to grow together as a family unit by developing positive relationships with oneself and others and gaining relationship skills for family and community life.

Family: to forgive and to be forgiven

Family: to forgive and to be forgiven

We would like to share the testimony given by Aureliana and Julián from Paraguay during the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly held in Rome on 31st May-1st June, 2025, attended by 50.000 people and in the presence of Pope Leo XIV.