Community participation initiatives expand in Chile and Uruguay

In Chile, the CESFAM Los Volcanes is establishing a Youth Territorial Table to address adolescent mental health and wellbeing. The initiative has successfully engaged between 70% and 80% of educational establishments in its territory, including various high schools and technical colleges. The program aims to provide tools for community participation and listen directly to the concerns of teenagers regarding their families, schools, and communities. Due to its high participation rates, the project is expected to continue through 2027.

In Uruguay, the 4th National Congress of Education has extended the deadline for territorial assemblies until October 31. These assemblies, which have already seen participation from approximately 3,793 people across 19 departments, focus on four key pillars: education as a right, education and participation, lifelong educational trajectories, and the opportunities and obstacles presented by virtuality and Artificial Intelligence. These regional discussions will serve to develop proposals for a national plenary session scheduled for December.