“When I get home, I tell my Mom everything I have learned,” shared one HDC student from the Escuela Publica Defensores del Chaco, in Paraguay. Another student agreed, saying that she shares her lessons with her grandmother, so that she can learn about her human dignity, too. This effort is the result of a group of young leaders from the World Youth Alliance who volunteer to teach the Human Dignity Curriculumin the local school.
“I decided to get involved as a HDC teacher because I believe it is important to train children on….seeking respect for the human person and their dignity as they are pillars in individual life,” said one WYA volunteer.
The HDC’s unique approach to teaching dignity education enables students to think deeply about what it means to be a human person. Teaching students about the pursuit of human excellence redefines their understanding of what they are capable of and what it means to be a hero.
This particular implementation of HDC was its own testament to heroism. Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the HDC team in Paraguay was able to teach HDC through a hybrid setup of virtual and in person classes. “We thought they were not going to be able to adapt but it was the opposite. Since I arrived, it has been a success in the institution,” shared Teacher Delma Barreto, an educator at the school.
The team of WYA volunteers witnessed how the weekly lessons began to make an impact in the students’ lives, as they would hear from parents about what was happening even at home. Parents expressed their surprise at the behavioral change they saw. One parent said, “My daughter misbehaved and used bad words, but with these lessons, she changed her behavior. She feels more content and happy to be who she is.”
Another parent shared that he didn’t know anything about human dignity until the HDC: “I thought it was a normal course where they were going to learn writing or something. My son told me that he wanted to participate and when he told me what he learned, I liked it more.”
Students were also able to relate the lessons to the challenges they were facing in school – particularly in bullying. “Some children said they suffered from bullying and now with the help of the program, they have overcame their fears. They have learned to respect and love themselves. The HDC has inspired them and made them happier,” shared one teacher, Ms. Delma.
