On January 24, World Dignity University co-founder Francisco Gomes de Matos (from Recife,Brazil), conducted a Workshop on DIGNITY for 40 teachers of the local elementary-secondary school Colégio Madre de Deus.
Participation in the interaction also included the school psychological and pedagogical coordinators. In his powerpoint presentation, Dr. Gomes de Matos engaged the participants in characterizing DIGNITY as a conceptual composite of human character, conduct,communication and human right-responsbility. There followed a mini-group activity in which educators were challenged to identify many of the salient features of DIGNITY. The use of the ending -IDADE (from the Portuguese word dignIDADE) was useful for collective completion of that task. Thus, among identified features were:
igualdade, solidariedade, espiritualidade, honestidade and felicidade (The school`s motto is Lição 1: Ser Feliz / Lesson 1: To be happy. Madre de Deus educatorsare seen as co-promoters of learners` happiness ).
At the closing of the workshop, peace linguist Francisco Gomes de Matos challenged the group to identify reasons for making educational choices in the perspective of Human Dignity.Such practice was a translation-adaptation of one of the pieces he has written for the WDU website. Mention was made of the visit to Recife,this year, of Evelin G. Lindner.
For further information on the pioneering initiative, contact Francisco:
- Written by: Uli Spalthoff
The former UNESCO General Secretary <strong>Federico Mayor Zaragoza</strong> expresses his support of the World Dignity University in this. The message was recorded for the launch of the WDU initiative on June 24, 2011 at the University in Oslo.
- Written by: Uli Spalthoff
At the inauguration of the World Dignity University,which took place in Oslo on June 24, 2011, Norway’s Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim greeted all participants via a pre-registered video message.
- Written by: Evelin Lindner
