Fourth World People’s University: learning one from another
| The Fourth World People’s University, a new orientation in our planning for 2007-2011, started in September 2007.
It allows people who live in poverty to gather, to express what they are living and to reflect about it together. It is also a meeting place between people living in poverty and others who have not experienced poverty. It allows us to dialogue and learn from one another to better fight against poverty and exclusion from where we are. Every two months we approach a significant topic for the fight against poverty. |
Little by little, groups of preparation are being put in place: in Montreal (in an underprivileged neighbourhood due to the initiative of two mothers, in a family home, in an accommodation centre), in Lanaudière, in Rouyn-Noranda, in Thetford-Mines, in Sherbrooke and also in Toronto. With the invitation letter, which formulates some specific questions, these people prepare for the big meeting which takes place at the Fourth World House in Montreal. A guest, an expert who knows well the approached topic joins us sometimes. First, he / she listens to the words and thoughts of those who live in poverty, then brings an interesting illumination, complementary or contradictory, to finally enter in dialogue with the participants of the Fourth World People’s University.
The first meeting was held on September 28th, 2007. 28 people were present and 75 persons had prepared on the topic ‘living in peace ’. Jeanne Hubert, from the training centre Marie-Gérin-Lajoie of Montreal, was our guest. We learned how poverty prevents peace and that there cannot be peace without justice. But we also shared how we try nonetheless to find peace and to live peaceful moments in the family or the neighbourhood in which we live. The second meeting was held on November 23rd. The approached topic was ’work’. From the experiences of one another, we searched for what is a good job, and also what are the obstacles and support systems to find a job. January 25th we approached the topic of ‘Being Useful’. We noted that many people living in poverty do volunteer work and/or make themselves useful in different ways. The last two meetings (March 14th and may 9th) we spoke about health, access to care and information and we were able to talk with Dr. Pierre Pluye from McGill University.
Do you wish to know more about it? Do you wish to join us? Contact Marianne de Laat (514 279 0468)
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