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Pensamiento y libertad (Thought and Freedom) (Venezuela)

Pensamiento y libertad (Thought and Freedom) was a Changing the Story Phase 2 ECR project.

 

Under the Bolivarian Revolution, since 1999, Venezuela has become increasingly polarised. In political rhetoric, the news, and social media, we find multiple antagonistic narratives: chavistas versus the opposition, rich versus poor, as well as a narrative that Venezuelans have become ‘a submissive people’. Tensions have grown exponentially, erupting in violent protests between 2014 and 2018, featuring young people predominantly, which have left over 200 people dead and around 20,000 people injured. A generation of Venezuelans have grown up in a context where violent confrontation is the predominant expression of political polarisation, and where it is difficult for them to conceive of themselves beyond the frame of conflict.

Pensamiento y libertad (Thought and Freedom), a project between the Escuela de Teatro Musical de Petare and researchers from the Central University of Venezuela and the University of Exeter, aims to develop creativity and critical thinking among young people through arts education and skills training, leading to improved understanding of the relationship between power and language and how to use language to move beyond violent conflict. 

In the first phase of the project, we studied the divisive language of Venezuelan politics and hold focus groups with a cross-section of young people (15-25) from Caracas to determine how this language has shaped their understandings of themselves and of their capacity to overcome conflict. We then developed and implement a series of weekly arts education workshops, following the hypothesis that arts educational practices can develop young people’s critical thinking skills and active citizenship. As well as developing skills in writing, filming and performance, the 100 young participants developed the ability to think of themselves beyond the current conflict and to take an active role in leading change in the country. A group of these participants worked with professional web designers to create a website to share both the materials used in the workshops, to be used by other youth groups around the country, and to create a forum for discussion, bringing together a community for change. 

Focus group at the Escuela Musical de Petare (photos Marcelo Rodríguez)

Focus group at the Escuela Musical de Petare (photo Marcelo Rodríguez)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bajo la Revolución Bolivariana, desde 1999, Venezuela se ha polarizado progresivamente. En la retórica política, las noticias y las redes sociales, se encuentran múltiples narrativas antagónicas: chavistas contra la oposición, ricos contra pobres, así como una narrativa de que los venezolanos son "un pueblo sumiso". Las tensiones se han aumentado de manera exponencial, estallando en violentas protestas entre 2014 y 2018, en las que predominan los jóvenes, que han dejado más de 200 muertos y alrededor de 20.000 heridos. Una generación de venezolanos ha crecido en un contexto donde la confrontación violenta es la expresión predominante de la polarización política, y donde les resulta difícil concebirse a sí mismos más allá del marco del conflicto. 

Pensamiento y libertad, un proyecto entre la Escuela de Teatro Musical de Petare e investigadores de la Universidad Central de Venezuela y la Universidad de Exeter, tiene como objetivo desarrollar la creatividad y el pensamiento crítico entre los jóvenes a través de la educación artística y la capacitación, lo que conduce a una mejor comprensión de la relación entre poder y lenguaje y cómo usar el lenguaje para superar los conflictos violentos. 

En la primera fase del proyecto, estudiaremos el lenguaje divisivo de la política venezolana y organizaremos grupos focales con una sección diversa de jóvenes (15-25) de Caracas para determinar cómo este lenguaje ha formado su comprensión de sí mismos y de su capacidad para superar el conflicto. Luego, desarrollaremos e implementaremos una serie de talleres semanales de educación artística, siguiendo la hipótesis de que las prácticas educativas artísticas pueden desarrollar las habilidades de pensamiento crítico y la ciudadanía activa de los jóvenes. Además de desarrollar habilidades en escritura, filmación y teatro, los cien participantes jóvenes desarrollarán la capacidad de pensar más allá del conflicto actual y de tomar un papel activo para liderar el cambio en el país. Además, un grupo de estos participantes trabajará con diseñadores web profesionales para crear un sitio web a fin de compartir los materiales utilizados en los talleres, para ser utilizados por otros grupos juveniles en todo el país, y para crear un foro de discusión, que reúna a una comunidad para efectuar un cambio. 

Focus group in Los Salias municipality (photo: Jesús Flores)

Focus group in La Baruta municipality (photo Marcelo Rodríguez)

Project Location

Static google map

Venezuela

Pensamiento y libertad (Thought and Freedom) is a Changing the Story Phase 2 ECR project

Resource Archive

Search or browse the resource archive for films, reports, toolkits and other resources produced by the Changing the Story and its commissioned projects. Items relating to Venezuela are listed below:

TitleSummaryAuthorCategoriesTagsdoc_categories_hfilterdoc_tags_hfilter
Meet JesúsJesús is from San Isidro, Venezuela. Hear from Jesús about his work with children and young people in his community and what quote inspires Jesús most. With English subtitlesJesús Campos, , , venezuela changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-spanish
Mobility Fund Report, 2020In 2019, Changing the Story (CTS) launched a Mobility Fund, offering financial support of up to £1000 designed to enhance the mobility and professional development of CTS grantees based in …, , , , , , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina colombia india nepal south-africa venezuela locationreport language-english subject-policy youth
Meet JesúsCheck out the video to hear Jesús from the Changing the Story Youth Research Board talk about what his motivations were for his research and where he is going with …Jesús Campos, , , venezuela changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-spanish
#CTStakeover: Pensamiento y libertad (Venezuela)Blog (2019/10/28) #CTStakeover: Pensamiento y libertad (Venezuela)Katie Brown, , , phase2 venezuela locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Thinking togetherBlog (2019/12/13) Thinking togetherJesús Flores, Mirla Pérez, , , , colombia phase2 venezuela locationblog language-english subject-reflections
International Conference on Human Rights, Democracy, Cultures of Peace and Nonviolence (DEMOSPAZ)Blog (2019/12/11) International Conference on Human Rights, Democracy, Cultures of Peace and Nonviolence (DEMOSPAZ)Mirla Pérez, , , phase2 venezuela locationblog language-english subject-reflections