HARGAWAN, India — Ground was broken today for the first local Bahá’í House of Worship in India—an edifice from which will emanate the spirit of worship and service that has been fostered over decades in the local area, known as Bihar Sharif. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction of this edifice, which is among the seven Bahá’í temples announced in 2012.
The ceremony brought together local dignitaries, representatives of the Bahá’í community and residents of the area. The occasion began with prayers and deep prajwalan—the Indian custom of lighting a lamp to signify the attainment of knowledge, purity, and connection with the divine. Children and youth played a special role in the program, contributing to the devotional atmosphere through songs and musical drama.
Slideshow 11 imagesThe groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction of the local House of Worship in Bihar Sharif, India, brought together local dignitaries, representatives of the Bahá’í community and residents of the area.
In his comments at the ceremony, Amod Kumar, the head of the Panchayat (a local civic body) of Hargawan, Bihar Sharif, spoke about his hopes for the temple. “Today our society is divided by caste, religion, and generation. The Bahá’í teachings have contributed to unifying people here, especially children and young people participating in the Bahá’í community’s moral education programs. Now this area has received the House of Worship as a divine gift, and it is hoped that the community here will benefit from this gift and continue to achieve progress and prosperity.”
Slideshow 11 imagesAmritha Ballal, one of the founding partners of SpaceMatters, the architecture firm that designed the House of Worship, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Naznene Rowhani, Secretary of the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of India said, “Unity and harmony in our diverse society has been expressed through India’s proud Vedic tradition of vasudhaiva kutumbakam—the world is one family. … [The temple] will be a shining symbol of vasudhaiva kutumbakam in action—where everybody, regardless of community, caste, colour or creed will be welcome to commune with their Creator. This tradition is affirmed and manifested in Bahá’u’lláh’s words ‘Regard ye not one other as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.’”
Slideshow 11 imagesChildren and youth played a special role in the program, contributing to the devotional atmosphere through songs and musical drama.
The groundbreaking ceremony culminated with the placing of soil collected from villages across the state of Bihar at the temple site. This gesture was evocative of the connection between the thousands of residents of these villages and the House of Worship.
“When hundreds of people—young and old, women and men, farmers, laborers, students, doctors, businessmen—eventually gather together daily in the House of Worship and turn to the Almighty, this further strengthen the bonds of unity that have formed in this community,” said Rahul Kumar, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Ms. Rowhani explained how the Temple will belong to all people of Bihar Sharif. “It is the fervent hope of the Bahá’í community of India that this beautiful edifice will be a place where humanity will enter and find harmony, peace, and spirituality.”
The groundbreaking comes after the unveiling of the design for the House of Worship, which took place last April.
Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, scientists have buried a million seeds and crop samples under a mountain in the Svalbard archipelago – in case an environmental doomsday comes to pass.
That strategy rings true during “this crazy, chaotic season,” when so many are anxious about the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, lost jobs, surging debts and the bitter state of public life, said evangelical megachurch leader Max Lucado in a recent sermon streamed online by the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
“Most of us can’t hide out in a bunker, yet threats of calamity may make us try to do so,” he said. “If the wrong person pushes the wrong red button – it’s enough to make a person purchase a plane ticket to Svalbard.”
But there was a problem. While pre-service publicity stressed that Lucado’s books have sold more than 120 million copies and Christianity Today has called him “America’s pastor,” this invitation alarmed legions of Episcopalians opposed to his history of orthodoxy on sex and marriage. His sermon about God offering comfort in the midst of chaos avoided hot-button topics, but his cathedral appearance triggered an online storm.
Before the event, the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith linked the Lucado invitation to the cathedral’s history of hosting a variety of religious leaders. This has included evangelicals such the late Billy Graham, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and megachurch leader Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Southern California.
“When we only engage with those with whom we agree on every issue, we find ourselves in a dangerous (and lonely) place,” wrote the cathedral’s dean. “That means this cathedral, and this pulpit, are big enough and strong enough to welcome pastors, rabbis, imams, clergy of every faith. … It does not mean we agree with everything they might believe, but it does mean that we exhibit and inhabit a sense of open-handed welcome.”
However, Hollerith issued a formal apology in response to the online backlash, noting: “In my straight privilege, I failed to see and fully understand the pain (Lucado) has caused. I failed to appreciate the depth of injury his words have had on many in the LGBTQ community. I failed to see the pain I was continuing. I was wrong.”
While Lucado is known as an evangelical moderate, Episcopalians were outraged by a 2004 sermon and online commentary stating that he “categorically opposes” gay marriage, as well as his conviction that “homosexual activity” is a sin. Lucado wrote he believes sexual behaviors can be changed “with simultaneous compassion and conviction.”
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God,” he wrote. “This includes homosexuality. Jesus loves his gay children. He made them … and died for them.”
Bishop Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington also issued a statement, stressing that she had assumed “Max Lucado no longer believed the painful things he said in 2004.” To those hurt by the cathedral’s actions, she said: “I made you feel at risk and unwelcome in your spiritual home.”
The bishop’s apology included samples from the many protest letters she received, such as this one: “If you are not hearing and seeing the LGBTQIA+ Episcopalians and allies who are saying, ‘I’m not sure I’m safe, I’m not sure I belong, I’m not sure I can trust the leadership of this denomination, I’m not sure I should keep sharing my gifts in this institution’ … then perhaps you need to do some prayerful looking and listening. … What people see and hear is that Episcopal church leaders claim to have their backs, but do things that hurt them.”
In an additional peacemaking move, Hollerith contacted retired New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson –the first openly gay Episcopal Church bishop – and asked him to preside, in person, at the Feb. 7 cathedral worship service that included Lucado’s prerecorded sermon.
During the announcements, Robinson told the online flock to focus on the positive.
“The world isn’t perfect yet, and there’s a lot of work to be done,” he said. “There are a lot of conversations to be had with people like Rev. Lucado. But we know how it’s going to end. And at least for me, it gives me permission to be just a bit gentler, to be an instrument of God’s grace. I know we’ve won.”
Terry Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.
Brussels has given an initial green light for personal data to continue to flow between the UK and the EU in the post-Brexit era.
The European Commission published a draft decision on Friday concluding that the UK’s data protection regime complies with the GDPR, the EU’s flagship data protection law.
The GDPR, which stands for General Data Protection Regulation, has become one of the most recognisable pieces of EU legislation.
Brussels is particularly keen on promoting and defending its implementation, both in and outside the bloc.
The law, which also applies in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, has inspired numerous data protection laws around the world.
Article 45 of the GDPR grants the European Commission the power to assess whether non-EU countries ensure a level of data protection that is “essentially equivalent” to what GDPR offers to EU citizens
If the European Commission considers that the protection is “adequate”, transfers of personal data between the EU and that third country can take place without being subject to any extra conditions.
This is what Brussels recommends in the case of the United Kingdom.
The decision of the European Commission is not yet final: it now requires an opinion from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the green light from a committee composed of national representatives.
In the meantime, data flows between the two continue to operate through an interim regime included in the EU-UK free trade deal signed last year. This regime expires on June 30.
“Ensuring [the] free and safe flow of personal data is crucial for businesses and citizens on both sides of the Channel,” said Věra Jourová, vice-President of the European Commission. “The UK has left the EU, but not the European privacy family.”
A tale of two GDPRs
Following Brexit, the UK is no longer bound by EU law. Before the country left the bloc, the British government hand-picked the European laws that it wanted to preserve – and those that it wished to do away with.
The GDPR was retained in UK’s domestic law via transposition, in what is now referred to as the “UK GDPR”. The provisions are virtually the same but, after Brexit, Westminster has the power to review them and change them.
With this possibility in mind, the draft decision of the European Commission introduces mechanisms to monitor and evaluate whether the UK regime remains equivalent to the EU’s.
“Such monitoring is particularly important in this case, as the United Kingdom will administer, apply and enforce a new data protection regime no longer subject to European Union law and which may be liable to evolve,” the text reads.
The first evaluation will come four years after the decision enters into force.
If the Commission considers that the UK’s data protection has worsened or deviated in comparison to the EU, it could subject EU-UK data flows to additional conditions or limit the scope of the transfers.
In a more extreme scenario, Brussels could suspend or repeal the equivalence decision altogether, although this seems highly unlikely given the similarities between both GDPRs and the broad support for data protection on both sides of the English Channel.
All this sounds like a lot of work and homework, so let’s be clear: Picture books are also one of the literary world’s great pleasures.
When I say kids shouldn’t outgrow picture books, I mean ever. According to a 2019 Scholastic survey, whereas 55 percent of kids ages 6 to 8 are frequent readers, only 11 percent remain so by the time they’re between 15 and 17. At a time when we lament the state of children’s literacy, particularly reading for pleasure, surely we shouldn’t tell kids to move on from books they enjoy.
Publishers realize this. Aware of the tough competition for attention from video games and the internet, publishing companies have pushed picture books in new directions. Biographies for children, once a staid genre, are now packed with photos and illustrations. Visual encyclopedias, fact books, massive books about space are as stimulating as any app. These are picture books, too, but often explicitly for children ages 6 to 12.
Think about the explosive popularity of graphic novels — books like “Guts” and series like “Dog Man” and the “March” trilogy — and how they’ve transformed children who didn’t read at all into ones who do, and those readers into voracious readers. What are children telling us but that they want to keep looking at pictures? That they are visual readers as much as they are readers of text? And that perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to steer them away from books that respect children’s interests and the way their minds work. These, too, are “real” books.
I still read picture books, and if you’re honest with yourself, in all likelihood, so do you. What are all those manga and graphic novels and pricey coffee-table books and online comics we’re all staring at — not to mention Instagram stories and TikTok videos — if not, in essence, picture books for grown-ups? Stories with pictures.
Recently, I bought myself a copy of “Marshmallow,” a 1942 picture book about a rabbit that intrudes upon the privileged place of the family cat. The text, which included several poems, holds up; the illustrations capture the peevishness of the cat and the placid Baby Yoda-like cuteness of the interloping bunny. Like any timeless story, it gets at an essential emotional truth — in this case, “we all need our place” — and like any timeless picture book, that story is told through a potent combination of words and artwork anyone can understand.
I insisted on reading it to my 11-year-old, otherwise busy with the latest installment of the “Keeper of the Lost Cities.” My 14-year-old, who enjoys drawing as much as he likes reading the short fiction of Etgar Keret, overheard us when he walked by. “Put that in my room when you’re done?” he said.
My kids were still willing to read my picture books. I felt relieved, and yes, a little proud.
Pamela Paul (@PamelaPaulNYT) is the editor of the Book Review.
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Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills presents a virtual Purim Shpiel, “The Shushan Bunch,” on Feb. 25 on Zoom. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Here is a sampling of upcoming services and events that are online, and some in-person, in the San Fernando Valley area.
Los Angeles Religious Education Congress 2021 – Proclaim the Promise!: The 65th annual event is online this year and includes “Sacred Space” (artists and musicians invite the public into their studios and discuss how their relationship with God inspires their creativity) and a virtual exhibit hall. Find the schedule for live online and on-demand liturgies, speaker presentations and workshops, Feb. 20-21 here: recongress.org/schedule. Admission registration, $35, here: recongress.org/registration. Content will be available through March 21. 213-637-7348. Email: [email protected]. www.facebook.com/RECongress
Services with Temple Beth Hillel: Havdalah online, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 (click on the Facebook link from here: bit.ly/3k2hZ7N). A Purim Shabbat service, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 (bit.ly/37tpcbJ). The Reform Jewish temple is in Valley Village. tbhla.org
Freedom in the Fire: The Rev. Rob Denton continues the sermon series “Fear – Faith in Uncertain Times,” 9 a.m. Feb. 21 (outdoors on the lawn; bring your own blanket or chair, shade umbrella, wear a mask and practice social distancing). Readings for the series’ third sermon include Esther 3-5; James 1:12; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Luke 16:10; 1 Samuel 17:20-22 and 32 and also, 17:45-47. Also, an indoor and online service, 10:30 a.m. (go to website for link). West Valley Christian Church, 22450 Sherman Way, West Hills. 818-884-6480. www.wvcch.org; www.facebook.com/westvalley.christianchurch
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church: Two services on Feb. 21: An outdoor, traditional service in the Serenity Garden, 9 a.m. (must make a phone reservation by noon Feb. 20 to attend; see website for rules to follow; bring your own Bible), and a contemporary and live stream service, 11:30 a.m. (register by phone for this service; click on the link found here: bit.ly/2Z5fhnF). 8520 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka. 818-341-3460. Facebook: bit.ly/2FhJvy1. www.our-redeemer.org
Desire and Temptation: Pastor Timothy Jenks explains the message, based on James 1:12-18, at the 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 indoor service. The sermon is available on the church’s Facebook (bit.ly/33bLo8k) and website. Canoga Park Lutheran Church, 7357 Jordan Ave. 818-348-5714. www.cplchurch.org
First Sunday in Lent with St. Luke Lutheran Church: The Rev. Janet Hansted delivers the message, 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21. Musical prelude, 9:25 a.m. Watch here on Facebook: bit.ly/3lJkVX4 or the church website. St. Luke Lutheran Church is in Woodland Hills. Voice mail, 818-346-3070. Email: [email protected]. www.stlukelutheran.com
Do You Have a Healthy Heart?: The Rev. Joseph Choi explains the message, based on Matthew 15:7-20, 10 a.m. (in English) and 11:30 a.m. (in Korean) on Feb. 21. Watch here: youtube.com/numcvideo. The church’s February’s newsletter: bit.ly/39KZyks. 818-886-1555. Facebook: www.facebook.com/northridgeumc. www.northridgeumc.org
Give Up Fear for Lent: The Rev. Bill Freeman, of B Free Ministry, delivers the message, 10 a.m. Feb. 21. Find the Zoom link on the website. 616-796-5598. billfreeman.org
Sunday with Woodland Hills Community Church (United Church of Christ): The Rev. Craig Peterson delivers the message, 10 a.m. Feb. 21. Piano prelude, 9:45 a.m. Watch the service from the church’s Facebook here: www.facebook.com/whccucc. Voice mail, 818-346-0820. Email: [email protected]. www.woodlandhillscommunitychurch.org
Choose Your Path – First Sunday in Lent: The Rev. Steve Peralta delivers the message, based on Mark 1:9-15 and from a new sermon series “The Choices of Lent,” at the 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21 online service. North Hollywood United Methodist Church. 818-763-8231. Email: [email protected]. Facebook: bit.ly/2BPcdo4. nohofumc.org
A Long Story Short: The Rev. Beth Bingham explains the message, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21. Also, “10@10,” a devotional and prayer with either the Rev. Beth Bingham or associate minister the Rev. Curtis Peek, 10 a.m. Monday-Friday on the church’s Facebook. Congregational Church of the Chimes is in Sherman Oaks. Watch the service here: www.facebook.com/churchofchimes. Email: [email protected]. churchofthechimes.org
One Mind, Infinite Connections: The Rev. Michael McMorrow explains the message, based on the center’s February theme “One Journey, Many Paths,” 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21 (bit.ly/3riDsLZ). In addition, McMorrow gives a “Mid-Day Reset,” at noon Monday-Friday on the center’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/csl.granadahills). Center for Spiritual Living-Granada Hills. 818-363-8136. Click on the link to watch the service here: www.youtube.com/user/CSLGranadaHills. https://www.cslgh.org
Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful Me: The Rev. Stephen Rambo delivers the message, with an interview with Ani Kunimura, founding director of the Self Care Institute, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21 (click to watch here: bit.ly/37o12iH). Center for Spiritual Living-Simi Valley. 805-527-0870. www.facebook.com/cslsimi; www.cslsimi.org
I Am Radiant with Health: The Rev. Jenenne Macklin gives her thoughts on the center’s February theme, 11 a.m. Feb. 21. Watch the service on Zoom here: bit.ly/2XuhaL9 and use ID: 3148040257. Unity Burbank – Center for Spiritual Awareness’s Facebook here: www.facebook.com/unityburbank. Sign up for the center’s “Words of Light” newsletter here: unityburbank.org
Lenten Worship Service at Canoga Park Lutheran Church: The Rev. Timothy Jenks delivers the message “Betraying Eyes,” based on a series about fixing one’s eyes on Jesus, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24. The Lenten services run on Wednesdays through March 24. Masks and social distancing required. 7357 Jordan Ave. The message will also be available on the church’s Facebook (bit.ly/33bLo8k) and website www.cplchurch.org
Esther Megillah Study with Temple Beth Hillel: Join the class, 9:30 a.m. Feb. 25. Click on the Zoom link and use ID: 84436124283 and Password: torah. 818-763-9148. highholydays-tbhla.org/event/megillah-study/
The Shushan Bunch – Virtual Purim Shpiel with Shomrei Torah Synagogue: The 1970s-inspired shpiel uses parodies of songs by the Monkees (produced by Cantor Jackie Rafii, with music production by Daniel Raijman and original lyrics by Joyce Sachartoff), 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25. 818-854-7650. Click on the link of your choice from here to watch: bit.ly/3jOyuEp. www.stsonline.org
Shabbat with Shomrei Torah Synagogue: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6-7:15 p.m. Feb. 26 and a traditional Shabbat morning service, 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 27 (www.stsonline.org/calendar). The Conservative Jewish congregation is in West Hills. Voice mail, 818-854-7650. www.stsonline.org
Shabbat with Temple Ramat Zion: Evening service, 6 p.m. Feb. 26, and the morning service, 9 a.m. Feb. 27. The Conservative Jewish congregation is in Northridge. Voice mail, 818-360-1881. Watch on the YouTube link from the website. www.trz.org
Purim Shabbat with Temple Judea: Use the Facebook link to watch the service, 6:15 p.m. Feb. 26. The Reform Jewish congregation is in Tarzana. 818-758-3800. Email: [email protected]. The temple’s Facebook: bit.ly/3fEI0G5. templejudea.com
Shabbat with Valley Beth Israel: Rabbi-Cantor Mark S. Goodman leads the evening service, 7 p.m. Feb. 26, and the morning service, 9:30 a.m. Feb. 27. Watch on Facebook: bit.ly/3gTUZ8o. The independent Jewish congregation is in Sun Valley. Email: [email protected]. myvbi.net/home
Send information at least two weeks ahead. [email protected]. 818-713-3708.
India and the European Union (EU) on Friday expressed hope to forge a host of bilateral cooperation arrangements with a view to boost bilateral trade. At a bilateral meeting with the EU, India shared structural reforms priorities of the country and various steps taken to revive economy hit by COVID-19 crisis. During the 11th India-EU Macroeconomic dialogue held virtually, the EU informed about the economic challenges and outlook of their economy due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and their recovery plan.
“The dialogue concluded with the hope that both sides would be able to build stronger and deeper relations by entering into various bilateral cooperation arrangements which are of mutual interest to both sides,” an official statement said. Both sides have been negotiating on the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) for many years but still not reached a consensus. The European Union is seeking greater market access for its automobiles, wines and spirits, and have raised concerns over high duties by India.
The Indian side, led by Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj, shared fiscal policy response and medium-term fiscal strategy including financial/structural reforms priorities. “India shared its policy response to COVID-19 crisis and steps taken to revive the economy from COVID-19 impact including well calibrated stimulus packages announced by the Government of India as also the vaccination-related efforts,” an official statement said.
The delegation from the EU was led by Maarten Verwey, director general (economic and financial affairs) of European Commission, who informed about the economic challenges and outlook of their economy due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery plan. “India-EU relationship has evolved into a multifaceted partnership. Today, it covers all dimensions – political, economic, security, trade and investment, environment, research and innovation,” it said.
The 27-member EU is one of our largest trading partners, one of the largest investors in India and an important source for technology, innovation and best practices. The dialogue also covered sharing of their experiences to enable both sides on various aspects such as collaboration in the G20 on finance track matters, including through G20 Framework Working Group deliverables, and international taxation of digital economy, it said.
Yoga guru and co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved Limited Baba Ramdev launched Coronil, a medicine which he claims is the first evidence-based medicine for Covid-19. It was launched in the presence of Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan. At the launch, a research paper was also released on Coronil. Along with him, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari was also present at the event. The company claims that the medicine called Divya Coronil tablet is part of the treatment for the coronavirus.
At the event, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that post Covid-19 pandemic, the growth rate of ayurveda has risen to 50-90 percent which used to be 15-20 percent in the previous years. Saying that ayurveda has a Rs 30,000 crore economy, he said that this rise indicates that people are accepting it. Harsh Vardhan added that there are improvements in exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) as well.
Patanjali CEO Acharya Balkrishna was also present at the event that was held at the Constitution Club, New Delhi.
The ayurvedic medicine was initially launched in June 2020 with the claim that it is a cure for Covid-19, however it was approved as an immunity booster by the central government. In an absence of medical research that could support the claims of the company, Coronil kit was being sold as an immunity booster.
Ramdev claims that the medicine has also received certification from the World Health Organization and can be exported to as many as 158 countries.
“This certification will remove the misconception about it in people’s mind as it cures COVID also,” Ramdev said, adding “it will work against asymptomatic, symptomatic and severe (cases) also. We have data for that.”
“It received a huge response despite all controversies. We have data which suggests that more than one crore people have consumed it,” he added.
Ramdev further said Coronil will help humanity while providing sustainable and affordable treatment.
“Some people manufacture medicines for their business but we have done it for treatment and welfare of the public (upchar aur upkar ke bhavna se),” he said.
Currently in advanced medical science, there is no known cure for Covid-19, and vaccines are the only way to protect people from the virus. If infected, there is a combination of drugs and other treatments that can be used to control the symptoms of Covid-19.
Patanjali spokesperson S K Tijarawala said Coronil has done a business of ₹500 crore in the last seven months.
Coronil has been developed by Patanjali Research Institute. It had started work on an ayurvedic remedy for COVID-19 in January 2020.
The sudden outbreak of European Union bashing among Irish politicians following the European Commission blunder on the Northern Ireland protocol is a serious overreaction that threatens damaging consequences for the country’s credibility in the years ahead.
<p class="no_name paywall">It has been noted widely in Brussels and across the EU that Ireland appears oblivious to the extraordinary solidarity shown to us over the Border issue during Brexit negotiations. On a more parochial level the tone of the response will undoubtedly encourage the anti-EU forces in this country to rear their heads again.</p>
Ms. Rosas, a UN Young Leader, is the founder of El Origen, a foundation that provides at-risk youth with a second chance at education. O-lab, the app developed by El Origen, is adapted for indigenous students, who have some of the world’s lowest education attainment levels.
In an interview with UN News, Ms. Rosas expressed her firm belief that inclusive digital education is the solution to bridging many of the world’s economic, social and educational gaps.
Tania Rosas, a Colombian education advocate, has developed the O-lab app. Tania Rosas
“It is not enough to give the internet to everyone, you have to create specific tools that are customizable, and their impact must be measurable. We must think in terms of communities when we create technology, and not simply build generic tools, with a community aspect bolted on later.
I was born in La Guajira in 1991, the year in which indigenous people such as the Wayúu, who live in the region, a peninsula shared by Venezuela and Colombia, were officially recognized as Colombian citizens for the first time. Before that, as non-citizens they were only allowed to attend Catholic schools, and were barred from state-run schools. However, La Guajira is still the region with the largest indigenous population in Colombia and also the one with the highest rates of school dropout and illiteracy.
My interest in finding customized solutions to the educational crisis is the result of observing the many shortcomings in this area, such as the marginalization of children and young people from the most vulnerable communities.
The project is the result of my life and experiences. I come from a family of educators. My grandmother, who was of African descent, had a school in her house, to help indigenous and non-indigenous children who had trouble adjusting to the regular school system. Since I was little, I have been very interested in finding solutions to problems with the education system.
A student uses the O-lab application in Colombia. El Origen Foundation
Coming from a family which is descended from Africans, I had more opportunities than indigenous people. During my time at school, I remember that the indigenous people wanted a new, inclusive form of education. When I was in fifth grade, a lot of kids from different communities were just entering. They were the same age as me but they were starting school for the first time, so they weren’t able to adapt to the system, and usually dropped out. Today, this is still happening.
I also have indigenous members of my family, who were forced to renounce their culture. For example, my paternal grandmother does not speak her indigenous language because at school they told her that it was a devil’s language.
La Guajira and El Origen
This is why, when I finished university, I wanted to return to La Guajira and try to give many more young people a second chance. This is how the El Origen project was born: our mission is to ensure that any child or young person in a vulnerable community can access digital education, without any barriers. We’ve been going for five years now, we have helped some 2,500 children and the number is increasing day by day. El Origen Foundation
Indigenous students from the El Origen Foundation in La Guajira, Colombia.
The O-lab app allows children and young people from rural or marginalized communities to gain access to a range of educational materials that are appropriate for their age, and approved by local schools or educational institutions close to them. The key advantage of this app, is that it works with or without an internet connection. and that it meets the particular needs of each student.
Pupils can take part in the courses that their classroom teacher gives them access to. To learn how to use the application there is a tutorial in Spanish, in English and another in the Wayuunaiki language, the most widely spoken indigenous language in Colombia. We want to translate it into other indigenous languages as well.
Providing the tools for success
It has long been evident that many children in urban areas are able to access electronic devices, whilst children from rural areas are being left behind. It is important to distribute equipment more widely.
El Origen is working with the Ministry of Education and international organizations, to donate tablets to community schools, which they, in turn, distribute to their students.
We have also seen that many students, especially in high school, already have cell phones. Our app is designed to work on these devices, even very cheap ones. We want them to see their phones not only as a way to access social media, but also a way to get education and better opportunities once they leave school.
Although we have mainly focused on working with indigenous children, and youth between the ages of 6 and 18, the system has proven useful for other vulnerable groups. For example, those teaching Venezuelan migrant students have created a course adapted to their needs, which is helping them to progress through the academic system.
There is a huge world of information online, but we want students to be able to access knowledge that is useful and convenient for them to use. Rather than being confused and overwhelmed, we want them to see digitization and technology as an ally for the sustainable development of their communities”.
When Sylvia Chiinda’s husband died, she was left to raise seven children on her own. As extreme weather hit more frequently, her farm became less productive, forcing her to look for other ways to make money.
Women in the village of Kanakanatapa in Zambia’s Chongwe District have more economic independence as a result of diversifying their farming activities. UNDP/Moses Zangar Jr.
Help came in the form of a UN-backed project which is supporting vulnerable women like Ms. Chiinda, by training them in goat-rearing and providing them with a stable income, as demand for Zambian goats grows.
Read more here about how women supported through the initiative say they have benefited financially as well as gaining a new sense of independence and respect within their villages.
