An article presented by Dianova’s educational team in Chile recounts the significant, existential experience of a group of women and their educational team, who participated in an educational remediation experience in a context of residential treatment for the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs. Read complete article – in Spanish (pdf)
This experience led us to explore new avenues and approaches which helped us develop a practice tailored to the expectations and requirements of a context that remains poorly documented and often ignored: the education of adults within a therapeutic environment.
Among other approaches, we examined the founding principles of adult education, education for at-risk and vulnerable people, and gender-based education. Vetting such educational approaches, in addition to working with these women at the therapeutic center, has been an exciting experience, with the development of a unique educational initiative allowing to switch from mere theory to a real teaching practice based on a common life experience and the emotional bonds established between participants, influencing accordingly the implementation of consistent methodologies and educational strategies.
In accordance with the above observations, the analysis of participants’ experiences and perspectives was undertaken within a main concern: in such educational project, what are the factors that are likely to improve the therapeutic process, and thus contribute to the individual’s process of change? This is why we chose to present the various standpoints of those involved in the process, i.e. the students and the educational team.
We consider the latter as being the voice and the very heart of the analysis and discussion, while focusing in particular on the impact of the educational process on these women, as regards their self-esteem, the widening of their horizons, their self-acceptance as social actors, and even more importantly, the resurgence of personal and relational abilities which were presumed lost, such as dignity, autonomy, respect, acceptance, trust and recovery.
Read complete article (pdf – Spanish version)
Newsletter of the “Innovemos” network with Dianova article
Authors: Ortega Soffia Sandoval, Héctor Olea León (Teachers and members of the educational team Dianova Chile) and Marco Antonio del Río A (Teacher and Director of Educational Project, Dianova Chile)
