In the first issue of 2022, we invite you to read the article "Bridging the Educational Divide Against the Odds," by Maria Rita Atienza, Director of the Ateneo Teacher Center of Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. 

In this article, Atienza shares with us a practice of cooperation between Jesuit universities, the Catholic Educational Association, and the Islamic schools' volunteer program. These Islamic schools are located in the only autonomous region of the Philippines that has experienced almost five decades of armed conflict and rebellion, with the majority of its population being Muslim in a predominantly Christian country. This region has the country’s poorest education learning outcomes. 

It is precisely here, in the frontiers, that our Jesuit universities, with the strength of their mission of justice and reconciliation and in partnership with other institutions, have responded successfully with faculty formation programs and dialogues.

Maria Rita takes us on a journey through the complexity of cultural diversity, language, stereotypes, but also the need to create inclusive spaces of respect that culminated in enriching discussions on inclusive curricula and instruction.

"At the end of the series, the ATC and Sociology-Anthropology teams all agreed that they were rewarded a hundredfold by the experience of meeting teachers from way down south—of a different religion and different culture—yet feeling very united as fellow educators who are all passionate about their students’ learning and well-being. The asatidz commitment to providing the best education possible for their students and for caring deeply for them, amidst the most severe constraints, was uplifting, inspiring, and a much-needed sign of hope for all weary teachers in the Philippines who have not yet been allowed by the government to return to campus for almost 2 years and who still plod on despite there being no end in sight for the pandemic."