The International Office of Catholic Education (OIEC), based at the Generalate of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, has come up with a series of didactic materials aimed at educational communities, especially boys and girls, adolescents and young people, in order to further promote awareness and ownership of the seven goals proposed by Pope Francis for the Global Compact on Education (GCE).
“Posters with illustrations have been designed to help us to know, understand and deepen the meaning, sense and scope of these objectives,” says Brother Juan Antonio Ojeda, representative of the Institute to the OIEC and responsible for Projects of this Church entity.
According to the Lasallian religious of the Arlep District, “we want to use this material to reach all ages, from the youngest to the oldest in our educational and social contexts, because we have all been called upon to achieve the objectives of the GCE and to make them come to life in all the places where we live”.
The illustrations have been designed by the Spanish artist and caricaturist Patxi Velasco – better known as “Fano” -, who has a broad educational commitment to the most empoverished, and who is actively involved in the pastoral mission of his parish and Diocese of Malaga.
Resources for Catholic schools
“On the OIEC website, four easy-to-use and highly inspirational files or materials are available to help us understand and act on the seven goals of the GCE,” says Br Juan Antonio.
In this way, education communities have free access to seven posters, each containing a verb, an illustration, and a technical and descriptive title for each objective. These posters are available in 20 languages.
The OIEC also proposes a booklet for educational communities, which not only describes each illustration, but also suggests activities to understand and take on board each objective of the GCE at a local level and with global openness.
Finally, these resources are complemented by a booklet for children from 1 to 5 years old, and another for adolescents and young people. The first contains vignettes to colour in, and the second uses the Design for Change methodology to empower them in each objective.
“We are convinced that these materials will help us to unite as Lasallians as a large network to make this invitation of Pope Francis reach all corners of the world,” urges Br Juan Antonio.