Latin America: Representative Tsewang Phuntso visited Colombian cities of Tulua and Bogota from 25 to 30 April 25 to speak at different forums about SEE Learning (Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning).
During his two-day visit to Tulua, a major industrial and commercial center in the heart of Valle del Cauca in Colombia, Representative Tsewang Phuntso gave a presentation on the SEE Learning to principals and education councilors of all the 28 public schools in the Tulua city as well as staff member of Education Secretary of the City.
As coordinated by the Education Secretary, Tsewang Phuntso also visited three different public schools, where Education Secretary Mr Willinton Rodriguez initially wanted to introduce the SEE Learning program. Tsewang Phuntso shared information on the SEE Learning to select teachers and students at each school.
Apart from the public schools, Tsewang Phuntso also visited the Guillermo Ponce de Leon school, a private high school funded and administered by Levapan Foundation which has already signed the MOU with the Emory University’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion Based Ethics to introduce the SEE Learning in their school this year. At the school, he gave a presentation on SEE Learning to all the teachers, staff members, and a member of the family who owns the Levapan Industries in the city and Levapan Foundation.
Tsewang Phuntso also gave a shorter presentation on SEE Learning to the heads of universities and members of the Chamber of Commerce in Tulua City, apart from speaking to the media in the city.
Before leaving for Bogota, Representative Tsewang Phuntso also met with Mayor of Tulua, Mr. Gustavo A. Valez Roman and his senior colleagues at his office.
In Bogota, the capital of Colombia, Representative Tsewang Phuntso had an opportunity to meet the officials of the Department of Preventive Education of the Ministry of Education of Colombia and discuss about the SEE Learning. The department officials took serious interest in the SEE Learning, as the department deals with the problem of drug abuses, gender violence, suicide, psychological trauma, and mental problems among the students.
Tsewang Phuntso also gave three separate presentation on the SEE Learning at the Manuela Beltrán University, Iberoamericana University, and Gimnasio Moderno school in Bogota.
Gimnasio Moderno is a private elite bi-lingual (Spanish & English) school founded in 1914 where all the rich families in Colombia send their children for schooling. The alumni of the school include former presidents of Colombia as well as Colombian neuroscientist and eminent writers. The school has classes from Montessori to high school.
Later, Tsewang Phuntso also met with Vice Rector of the school, Juan Sebastian Hoyos, to discuss the SEE Learning. Vice Rector Juan Sebastian Hoyos was very impressed with the framework of the SEE Learning and the structure of the curricula.
After completing the Colombian trip, Representative Tsewang Phuntso returned back to Sao Paulo in Brazil on May 1, 2019.
-Filed by Office of Tibet, Latin America