Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC): Inspiring women’s workshop on dialogue was held in La Araucanía
This workshop is part of the actions being carried out by the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, in response to the request of the seven rectors of the universities of La Araucanía to promote dialogue and help resolve the conflict situation in the region. Among these universities is the UC through its Villarrica Campus.
Peace and violence prevention processes are unsustainable without the presence and participation of women . Women maintain daily life in processes of conflict and war, and provide knowledge about needs in spaces of power, historically occupied by men. For this reason, the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue , together with the universities of La Araucanía, held four workshops exclusively for women.
Almost 70 women from different sectors and occupations of La Araucanía participated, from the Mapuche world, academia, municipalities, private sector, public services, social organizations, among others.
The rector of the Temuco campus of the Santo Tomás University , Rosemarie Junge, also a workshop participant, pointed out: “It is very significant to hear and see the diversity of women who are being part of this journey. This is the first time that we meet only women and it seems to me that it is of great value to be able to understand each other and learn to dialogue thanks to the tools provided by the Nansen Center through its facilitators. Each of the women who is present in this activity is an important part and a contribution to our region.”
“The women of the region are the way out of the conflict situations that affect the lives of men and women in La Araucanía. It is necessary to listen, with time, with respect and great humility” – Alfredo Zamudio, Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue.
Pilar Egaña, from the Nansen Center in Chile, expressed: “The feminine energy and confidence that was experienced in this meeting of powerful women is probably an inspiration for other people and spaces. In these meetings, cooperation, vision of possible paths and generation of inclusive networks are experienced to address the peaceful transformation of conflicts”.
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Mónica Cornejo, Mapuche therapist at the Kiñewün center : “I think that the Nansen Center’s approach to dialogue has a different perspective. From my profession, from the worldview of my people, I relate it to an act of opening consciousness to humanity, better as human beings, and become what we once were: Norche, which means being a correct, spiritual, complete person. And I hope to be able to return to that path. I also feel that this work among women allows us to put in I value the importance of our role in society, because I feel that in some way we are always mediating to promote or achieve peace in all spheres”.
“Each of the women who is present in this activity is an important part and a contribution to our region” – Rosemarie Junge, rector of the Temuco branch of the Santo Tomás University
Violeta Palavecino Cayunao, from the Department of Gender Equality of the Municipality of Temuco: “I am happy with this format, we are women leaders in different fields and that makes the learning process much richer among us . Learn with tools for an effective dialogue, generate changes in the way we listen in our work, listen to different ideas and from those differences, build changes. That is the role that those of us who are in jobs that entail a certain leadership have to play.”
Cristina Ciudad Bazaul, architect of the regional technical office of the Monuments Council of La Araucanía: “It was quite a magical experience, very beautiful. The position of women in the face of the reality we are experiencing is that it is an area where dialogue is too necessary and we can do it from a harmonious point of view, a much more loving point of view, even though there are problems. We need to begin to see the solution of the conflict from the affection and respect, it is a great challenge but necessary. A thank you to all the women who share in the workshop because it is incredible the amount of power when a group like this comes together”.
Silvana Pichunman González, from the Office of Productive Promotion and Business Development of the Municipality of Padre Las Casas: “I liked it a lot, I have been able to meet women from many places and that is very nice and a moment of encounter. It seems very important to me that women can take a voice with tools, everything that is learning in proven methodologies for all types of dialogue in any situation, is always a contribution”.
“The women of the region are the way out of the conflict situations that affect the lives of men and women in La Araucanía. It is necessary to listen, with time, with respect and a lot of humility”, says Alfredo Zamudio, from the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue.
next meetings
Other mixed workshops will be held in the coming days, in addition to the presentation of the Mapudungun translation of the Nansen Manual. All activities are carried out in close collaboration with the seven universities of Araucanía.