On March 18, 2024, the RASDELE Project organized an innovative ECO Meeting titled “My Cooperative Self.” This event brought together volunteers committed to teaching Spanish in the Sahrawi refugee camps for a day focused on exploring their cooperative identity and preparing for their humanitarian mission.
During the two-and-a-half-hour session, participants reflected on their commitment to development cooperation, empathy, and the social impact they wish to create. The ECO methodology (Explore, Create, Offer) was key in guiding the volunteers through a process of self-awareness, helping them define concrete actions for their work on the ground.
Among the actions and commitments that emerged from the meeting were:
- Collecting educational materials adapted to the refugees’ needs.
- Creating a safe and trusting environment to facilitate learning.
- Designing conversational workshops and inclusive activities to improve linguistic integration.
- Promoting empowerment in health and the well-being of the refugees.
Additionally, a decalogue of guiding principles was presented to direct the volunteers’ work, focusing on values such as empathy, pedagogical innovation, respect for cultural diversity, and the promotion of intercultural dialogue.
These kinds of meetings not only strengthen the volunteers’ commitment but also ensure that the actions carried out in the camps have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of the refugees, contributing to the development of a more just and equitable community.
