OneWorld.net (U.S.)

AMAZON SCHOOL EMPHASIZES 'LEARNING BY DOING'

Bringing together representative leaders of multiple indigenous and campesino groups throughout Central and South America, the fourth session of the Amazon School, a joint initiative by CDES, AP's partner in Ecuador, and Earth Rights International, begins the first week of August.

The school is intended to strengthen the advocacy capacity of Amazon indigenous and campesino organizations as they fight for their rights in the face of common problems, such as those caused by extractive industries. Participants learn skills such as media campaigning, workshop design and facilitation, documentation, networking, and public speaking.

School session last from one to three months, and work to boost the first-hand knowledge of participants and their organization with a teaching philosophy of "learning by doing." Participants live together and attend classes and workshops for eight hours a day, which emphasize practical approaches to current issues.

Participants and teachers come from broad backgrounds, organizations, and countries. Over the years, 14 different indigenous groups from Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Guatemala have taken part in the seminars. Additionally, the campesino-mestizo peoples of Ecuador have taken part, with 4 representatives participating in past sessions. Such diversity fosters exchange of knowledge unavailable from other sources, and encourages the development of networks between groups.

Christina Fetterhoff, an AP summer intern working with CDES this summer, will visit the school and report on this year's session in her online reports, or blogs, available at http://www.advocacynet.org/cpage_view/CEDS_CEDS_25_67.html. The school runs to September 10.