It has not been a normal start to the year for the students of the Villa Independencia School, who had to face the mega fire that affected Viña del Mar in the summer, where families suffered the loss of loved ones, the loss of their homes and property, and also losing their pets.
As if that were not enough, the fire also destroyed part of the school’s infrastructure and today they have a sector with emergency modules. And it was in this school where an experience took place during the last two weeks that deeply touched the girls and boys of seventh and eighth grade, who were part of the “Dialogues in motion”, an initiative of the Reading Plan that consists of mediated review of a book, to later hold a meeting with the author, an event that took place within the framework of the Book Month activities.
On this occasion the “Dialogue in motion” it was around the publication “Story of a bear”, along with the vision of the animated short film that was recognized with an Oscar Award by the Hollywood Academy. The students also made drawings of the work, made representations of the scenes from the short film and this week they closed these dialogues with a visit to the director’s school, Gabriel Osorio who told them the personal story that inspired this production, allowing the students to interact with him, ask questions and give their opinions, instances that motivated this school community to develop their creativity from a reading and reflect on the messages it raises. this realization, such as the value of family unity and respect for human rights.
The seremi of Cultures, Javier Esnaola, who also participated in the activity, says that “The experience of seeing students outside the traditional context in the classroom, having the opportunity to share with an Oscar winner, reaffirms the conviction of how fundamental artistic education is as a pedagogical tool. This makes us realize the skills and potential that each and every student carries with them, and that only these spaces should be encouraged that allow them to expand their creativity and reflection, always from a rights-based approach.”
For the director of the Villa Independencia School, Viviana Rodríguez, the dialogue “It was a wonderful experience for the students and the teacher, who are amazed to meet the artist with this cultural intervention that is very important in the context we are in, because the school and the village burned down, the girls’ and boys’ houses and the school staff were also burned, and this cultural experience has great value, because they are a socio-emotional protection and also a way to repair the losses they had.”
For his part, the director of “History of a Bear”, Gabriel Osorio, expressed that “We must support where we can, and it is important that in these instances the boys and girls can express themselves, talk about art, music, reading, I hope activities like this continue to be generated, because through art is where “They can channel emotions, impressions, the possibility of creating culture, especially in communities that have had to face situations as terrible as the one they experienced here.”
For the closing of this “Dialogue in motion”, Gabriel Osorio brought a surprise and took out the Oscar statuette from a box that the boys and girls were able to touch and have their pictures taken next to it, thus closing an experience that allowed them to channel the pain they have experienced through art.
