In Focus
Learning to Live Together, a resource material to nurture ethical values needed to learn to live together in plural societies, is now available for teachers and youth leaders. Read more ...
Highlights
Learning to Live Together
Children in World Religions
Children and Media
Child Rights
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Ornella Barros
Age: 19 years old
Nationality: Colombian
University: Los Andes University
How long have you been with GNRC and what got you involved with it?
I am part of the GNRC since November 2002 after my first Latin American Conference in Buenos Aires (Argentina). My main motivation to join was the opportunity to share with other children the responsibility to build a better place for all, from our faith experiences and perspectives.
Which experience with the Arigatou Foundation motivates you the most to work for children?
All the activities in Arigatou Foundation have motivated me to continue preparing myself for working with children. What has specially motivated me was the activity of introduction to Learning to Live Together manual that was held in Bogota, November 2007. I also got motivated by the Youth for Peace workshop in Geneva, January 2009.
What are the challenges that you find in your efforts as a peace builder?
The main challenge is to strengthen and complement the work with adults. Both of us, youth and adults, are important in the creation and execution of projects for children, but the relationship should be based on trust in the capabilities of each part. Additionally, it is a great challenge to identify the best way to initiate a project, taking into consideration all the needs we have in a given context. This is why the session on how to run a project given in the Youth for Peace workshop for GNRC youth in Geneva, January 2009, was fundamental to learn how to identify how to start, how, where, why and what for.
Do you have a message for other youth out there?
A wise message comes from our own dreams. The experiences that we acquire in our own lives and in relation to others are the necessary motivation to be aware of and take responsibility for what happens in the world. The children and youth will always be the cause and the effect of good purposes. And although there will be new difficulties and challenges, we should always be the ones encouraging to continue the ethical fight for building peace.
What activities have you done to bring the message of Learning to Live Together manual with GNRC in your regions?
I have participated in several workshops carried out in my country, but last year I facilitated a workshop with 75 children and young people who are part of the group Leaders, Peace and Living Together of the School Americano in Barranquilla. The activities were based on respect and empathy. I am currently preparing the second session for youth leaders from different institutions and religions, who are part of the GNRC national committee. This activity will be held on the 31st of March.
Pictures of activities by Ornella
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Video by Ornella
The video features GNRC youth in different parts of the world and motivates Colombian youth for action. Click here to watch the video
Nationality: Colombian
University: Los Andes University
How long have you been with GNRC and what got you involved with it?
I am part of the GNRC since November 2002 after my first Latin American Conference in Buenos Aires (Argentina). My main motivation to join was the opportunity to share with other children the responsibility to build a better place for all, from our faith experiences and perspectives.
Which experience with the Arigatou Foundation motivates you the most to work for children?
All the activities in Arigatou Foundation have motivated me to continue preparing myself for working with children. What has specially motivated me was the activity of introduction to Learning to Live Together manual that was held in Bogota, November 2007. I also got motivated by the Youth for Peace workshop in Geneva, January 2009.
What are the challenges that you find in your efforts as a peace builder?
The main challenge is to strengthen and complement the work with adults. Both of us, youth and adults, are important in the creation and execution of projects for children, but the relationship should be based on trust in the capabilities of each part. Additionally, it is a great challenge to identify the best way to initiate a project, taking into consideration all the needs we have in a given context. This is why the session on how to run a project given in the Youth for Peace workshop for GNRC youth in Geneva, January 2009, was fundamental to learn how to identify how to start, how, where, why and what for.Do you have a message for other youth out there?
A wise message comes from our own dreams. The experiences that we acquire in our own lives and in relation to others are the necessary motivation to be aware of and take responsibility for what happens in the world. The children and youth will always be the cause and the effect of good purposes. And although there will be new difficulties and challenges, we should always be the ones encouraging to continue the ethical fight for building peace.
What activities have you done to bring the message of Learning to Live Together manual with GNRC in your regions?
I have participated in several workshops carried out in my country, but last year I facilitated a workshop with 75 children and young people who are part of the group Leaders, Peace and Living Together of the School Americano in Barranquilla. The activities were based on respect and empathy. I am currently preparing the second session for youth leaders from different institutions and religions, who are part of the GNRC national committee. This activity will be held on the 31st of March.
Pictures of activities by Ornella
Video by Ornella
The video features GNRC youth in different parts of the world and motivates Colombian youth for action. Click here to watch the video