On June 7 and 8, Salesian Social Works of America held a training meeting aimed at those who carry out daily communication work in Salesian Social Works of America, in which the theme: "Digital communication planning, identifying actors and managing communication" was developed.
With the participation of more than 60 people, the professor from the Salesian Polytechnic University of Ecuador, Dr. Patricia Villagómez, highlighted the importance of planning processes and identifying the interests and profile of the audience to achieve effective communication that meets the institution's objectives. She also explained how to build a communication strategy, and offered suggestions on its elements and how to structure them in the different realities of each social work. At the end of the meeting, several collaboration agreements were reached to strengthen communication processes at the regional level.
On June 16 and 17, the seminar "Psycho-emotional Strategies to Motivate Learning in Social Works" was held, an appointment that included two lectures to provide educators of Salesian social works in America with tools to apply in their daily work with children, adolescents and youth in situations of abuse, violence or vulnerability.
On the first day of the seminar, Dr. Roberto Ravera, founder of the NGOs "Ravera Children" in Sierra Leone and "FHM Italia Onlus," gave the lecture, "Emotional, Brain and Mental Implications of Traumatized Children and Post Covid-19 Educational Problems: a reflection from neuroscience." During his talk, he explained that children, adolescents, and young people who have experienced situations of trauma, abuse, or violence suffer from "emotional cynicism," that is, they do not allow the emotional development of love, trust, and good relationships with others. It is therefore important to pay attention to the way people express their emotions so that through their actions they can strengthen their ability to build empathy and trust. To meet these challenges, RASS educators must offer healing educational experiences, provide protective environments where these children feel trust, and safety, and most importantly, feel love and that they have value as human beings.
On the second day, Dr. Alejandro Rodríguez, SDB, Deputy Director of the Salesian Institute "Don Bosco Hall" in Berkeley, California, U.S., gave a talk entitled: "Educator's Motivation as a Meaningful Learning Environment," in which he explained how important the role of an adult person interested in the growth of children and adolescents is for their learning processes. In fact, where there is interest, the impact can go as far as changing the life perspective of a child, adolescent or young person participating in social work by 30-40%. In this sense, educators must be constantly motivated in their work and, for this, elements such as: the specificity of the individual (his or her personal interests), the context in which he or she develops, temporality, and idiosyncratic elements (culture, beliefs, values, and experiences) must be taken into account; as well as ensuring an emotional pay including: a family environment, a non-toxic organizational culture, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
For RASS, it is of great importance to promoting training processes to strengthen local technical capacities and empower educators, administrative and management staff of the various Salesian social works so that the mission of accompanying the integral development of children, adolescents, youth, and their families is best fulfilled.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/15709-america-formative-processes-for-social-works-of-america#sigProId84b72c6efe
