Change in Learning Methods to Transform the Future

Background

The Red de Colegios del Sagrado Corazón (the School Network of the Sacred Heart) is a network of the 15 schools of the Sacred Heart in Spain including about 12.500 students and 1.100 teachers.

Our schools are pastoral and inclusive. This reality supposes a privilege for all students, who grow in a climate of realism, tolerance and richness of human experiences.

Our schools offer a family atmosphere of understanding, love and participation, which favours that our students can become agents of their own growth, with freedom and responsibility.

Our schools educate for a social commitment in favour of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.

Our schools maintain an updated pedagogical renewal that makes students professionally competent in the world in which they live.

Objectives

To build, on the basis of the spirituality of the Sacred Heart, an active school community where students focus on the wellbeing of their peers and commit to social action.

Activities

1. Barat Groups. Youth groups that:

develop a sense of identity that supports human growth;
strengthen the sense of family of the Sacred Heart;
incorporate JPIC training and commitment into the above.

Actions include: group dynamics; inner work and prayer experiences; work of values ??and social skills; testimonies; leisure activities, sports, theater and workshops; reflection activities; volunteer activities; celebrations; encounters; participation in Church convocations, etc. ...

2. Students Volunteering (at and out of school)

Students volunteering in a number of Caritas centres
Students volunteering in collaboration with social justice organisations
Students volunteering in summer activities promoted by RSCJ pastoral team
Students participation in the Solidarity North-South project (international volunteers).
Students volunteering in dinning rooms for meal distribution

3. JPIC Awareness Raising

Promoting Fair Trade through the store at Sacred Heart school in Pamplona
Celebration of the day of peace,
Teach techniques of conflict mediation,
Develop systematic action plans,
Include in level curriculum the state of the world, armed conflict etc.
Caring for the integrity of creation: the Santa Magdalena Sofia School (Valence) promoting the Eureka Project, a gathering of ideas to care for the health of the planet.
Food Bank (Proyecto Bocatas - Sandwich Project): weekly collection of food to be given to the volunteers of the Proyecto Bocatas that will distribute food among homeless people (Pamplona School)

4. Service-learning Projects

Students offering their reading assistance (god-parent reader)
Students participating in activities for the organisation of special days.

5. School Solidarity Projects

The Godella School (Valence) carried out a year-long solidarity project to raise funds for the reconstruction of housing in areas affected by the typhoon in the Philippines (2014)
The Sagrado Corazón School of Pamplona is twinned with the Sacred Heart School of Kimwenza in Republic Democratic of Congo

Outcomes

Integration of JPIC values into Sacred Heart development.

Developed a sevice ethos.

Students are more aware of the world situation and feeling empathy and solidarity for their peers.

Experience of the connections and bonds that are created between those who perform the service and those who receive it.