Decolonial Praxis in Latin America: (re)Imagining our ways of Doing and Understanding the World

We face a complex reality as a result of the violence perpetrated by a colonial, patriarchal and oppressive system that reigns over the ways in which we live and relate to each other. To navigate this complexity it is important to establish new dialogues and imagine other scenarios of collaboration. It is increasingly clear that collective efforts are the driving force for transformation, therefore, spaces for dialogue and reflection play a fundamental role in shaping alternative paths.

In shared reflection, tensions and uncertainties converge, but also opportunities to build a more just world. We propose to focus on questions rather than solutions. Questions drive collective reflection and inspire a (re)imagination from our ways of doing and understanding the world. Asking questions with others, building meaningful dialogues as tools to decolonize doing and knowing from different places of enunciation can drive social change.

This seminar aims to raise questions through intercultural dialogue, weaving together diverse ways of doing and understanding the world. We intend to explore practical experiences from both academia and social movements that can help exemplify and amplify social justice and epistemological efforts. We are aware of the complexity of this journey, but we believe that the spaces of reflection-action built in solidarity and commitment are those that potentiate resistance.

This seminar is part of an associative and cooperative process with professionals from different countries in the Americas and Europe working in the field of education. It is important to distinguish that the proposal does not come from the academy, but from an This seminar is part of an associative and cooperative process with professionals from different countries of America and Europe working in the field of education. It is important to distinguish that the proposal does not arise from academia, but from an initiative between Voluntario Global and Omprakash, social organizations that work around critical and intercultural education and seek to facilitate dialogue and learning among diverse agents of social change around the world. Therefore, this proposal, despite being formalized through a curricular content plan, does not (per)follow the logic of academia.

Our instructors work together with grassroots organizations in different parts of Latin America and some of them are experts in intercultural education, post- and decolonial studies, gender, agroecology, youth and social movements.a initiative between Voluntario Global and Omprakash, social organizations that work around critical and intercultural education and seek to facilitate dialogue and learning between diverse agents of social change around the world. Therefore, this proposal, despite being formalized through a curricular content plan, does not (per)follow the logic of academia. Our instructors work together with grassroots organizations in different parts of Latin America and some of them are experts in intercultural education, post- and decolonial studies, gender, agroecology, youth and social movements.

The main objective of the seminar is to create spaces for dialogue that promote the construction of new networks along with spaces of action and resistance, connecting the academic worlds with social and community organizations in different parts of the world. Rather than conceiving decolonization as an abstract concept, we approach it as an active process that leads us to question what, who(s), where, how and for what purpose to decolonize. Furthermore, we seek to open a reflective dialogue with and from other epistemologies, other ways of seeing and understanding the world.

To address this objective-challenge, we have established two interrelated specific objectives, focused on intercultural education. On the one hand, to provide participants with the theoretical and conceptual tools necessary to reflect and discuss our practices. On the other hand, to approach social research through a de(s)colonial lens in order to (re)think other ways of constructing knowledge.

The seminar is divided into four units that will take place over six weeks. In each unit, participants will have access to a variety of resources, such as readings, videos and supplementary materials, designed to suit people with different levels of familiarity with the discussions raised. Essential materials will be provided for those new to the subject, along with suggested contextual resources. In addition, there will be supplementary resources for participants with prior knowledge of the main theory of the unit.
Throughout the seminar, collaboration and knowledge sharing will be encouraged through open forum discussions, giving participants the opportunity to share their perspectives and experiences. At the end of each unit, we will gather in a synchronous meeting (assembly) to discuss the contents, explore how they apply to our practice, and deepen the dialogue on building possible alternative pathways.

• Unit 1 introduces the theme of interculturality and asks why we should talk about intercultural education.
• Unit 2 focuses on decolonization and challenges participants to deconstruct this term and ask what it means in their own contexts.
• Unit 3 focuses on intercultural translation and we ask about the challenges of this position in practice.
• Unit 4 explores various forms of collaboration to produce knowledge.