Who are we?

We are a group of eight young leaders from the Latin American region, representative of the following countries: Chile, Perú, El Salvador, Brasil, Mexico, Guatemala and Uruguay.

We participated in the SUSI Programs 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020 - both summer and winter edtions. It was an experience that undoubtedly marked our lives.

We all have different professional backgrounds, likes, interests and skills:

• Cyntia Martinez - Focused on international relations and is interested in learning and practicing foreign languages. Loves flamenco dance and coordinating groups, which she does at her best.

• Fernando Cedillos - Works in international marketing and social projects, where his creativity goes beyond. He is a sports fan whose favorite one is basketball.

• Bryan Viera - Focused on business engineering, he has always had an interest in educational projects. He is in love with traveling and thinking. No wonder why problem solving is the skill he's developed the most.

• Lorena Miranda - Graduated in Commercial Engineering. Her openness to learn matches her interest in public service. Definitely loves to dance.

• Melissa Soto - Pursues a variety of interests in fields like Education, Science, Arts and Languages. Enjoys traveling and knowing different cultures. Her humanistic approach to life makes her a proactive teacher, whose strongest skills go from being a good listener to acting and dancing like a superstar.

• Heide Rodrigues da Mata - Her high interest in the power of media makes her a very assertive communicator. She loves music and has all the positive energy to be the great English Teacher she is. She is now learning Spanish.

• Patricia Berumen de Alba - She is an International Educator, currently School Principal and Project Manager. She likes good conversations and movies. She is interested in making people care and gain better understanding, being very good at developing new ideas.

• Roberto Juarez - Works as a Software Engineer, which keeps him in constant learning.

In a variety of ways, each one in the team is committed to their community, promoting positive change and searching for better opportunities, especially for those in need.

The image that represents the group is "Art in the Streets," by Kiki Suárez (1951 - ), a German-born psychotherapist and artist whose paintings have filled with colors the dreams and realities of the culture in Chiapas, Southern Mexico. Her works are inspired in conversations she has had with different personalities of San Cristóbal de las Casas, mostly women and indigenous people.

Below is a picture of our second session together. We had a blast! We talked, laughed and reflected on our different experiences in SUSI, some of them real turning points. Here Fernando and Haide shared some thought-provoking visuals of their visit to the border in Arizona.

The Issue

Because we have all felt it...

"The exile looks into the past, licking his wounds; the immigrant looks to the future,

ready to take advantage of the opportunities available to him"

Isabel Allende, Author of My Invented Country

Memoirs by Fernando Cedillos at https://youtu.be/LuAlYEP08Xw

Memoirs by Heide Rodrigues at https://photos.app.goo.gl/CN45MaVMeEW4LC1E7

The economic, social and cultural dynamic in each of our countries presents a common phenomenon: a constant and endless migratory movement. From Mexico to Chile, vulnerability is increasing and shows entire families escaping, mainly from poverty and violence.

We believe vulnerability is not chosen, however, it is easily accepted if the lack of education is yet blinded by the idea that the only option to live in dignity is to flee north.

We consider mandatory to include in our educational programs accessible opportunities to learn from the reality each of our countries is living -culture, core values, systems, resources, goals, aspirations, ...- and, together collaborate to change despair and fear with the knowledge that empowers local solutions.

Collaborative education can reshape our culture, help prevent migration and at the same time provide better tools for those who migrate.

"No, Sir., the problem is not immigration, it is education; being different is not being low."

--Domingo Edjang "El Chojín," Spanish rapper

Policy Ideas

We've made a plan to reach Latin American educational authorities and promote the incorporation of migration issues into educational programs. We expect:

Short Term:

1. To organize a Migratory Fair among different schools and other institutes throughout the continent, in order to build migration knowledge and a collective sensibility.

2. To analyze the achievements resulting from the Migratory Fair to strengthen its narratives, making sure they are known by our local educational authorities, more institutes and the media.

Long Term:

1. To replicate the experience to ensure systematic learning and collaboration among scholars and communities in favor of a new migratory culture, taking into action social projects that mitigate the migration intentions and the difficulties of those who, at the end, decide to do it.

2. To incorporate migration issues into the national curricula throughout Latin America.

"Freedom is not given by government, it is given by education."

--Jorge Morales, Speaker at SUSI Seminar 2021

Group S - Contact Information

If you have any questions or advice about our project, feel free to contact us at:

• Fernando Cedillos, cedillos.sv@gmail.com

• Melissa Soto, melissa.soto.h@live.com

• Bryan Viera, bryanviera3320@gmail.com

• Patricia Berume de Alba, coordinacionidiomasitaes@gmail.com

• Lorena Miranda, lorenaisabelmg@gmail.com

• Heide Rodrigues da Mata, heidedamata@gmail.com

• Cyntia Martinez, cyntiamartinezc@gmail.com

• Roberto Juarez, roberto.juarez@int2.io

Thank you very much!