facebook-f tiktok Youtube instagram
Become a member
Become a member
Become a member
Become a member
Become a member
Become a member
Become a member
Become a member

+1 million young people developed transformative proposals

The program that responds to the problems of young people in the world

Students from various realities and beliefs come together for 10 days to identify the problems that they face and propose concrete solutions.
watch video

An education that generates meaning

  • Comprehensive development of the young person.
  • Promotion of creativity, critical thinking and encounters between young people from different social and cultural realities.
  • Promotion of citizen participation and social leadership.

Methodology
of the program

Stage 1

Guide training

  • The Scholas team trains 20 university students in the Scholas Occurrentes – Citizenship methodology.
  • It includes theoretical learning, reflection and practical experience with young participants.

Stage 2

Immersion week

  • Between 150 and 500 high school students select the current problems of society and look for feasible solutions.
  • Step 1: Young people deepen their own "being" and the "meaning" of their lives, through games and art.
  • Step 2: The young people identify a series of common problems and vote in the assembly for the most representative one.
  • Step 3: The young people investigate the selected problem and agree on solutions
  • Step 4: The young people present what they have worked on in front of local authorities to achieve a commitment to positive change in the community.

stage 3

Implementation

  • Teams made up of different young people are formed and together with teachers and tutors they carry out the proposals that they themselves create.
  • Work in multidisciplinary teams.
  • Development and execution of proposals.
  • Consensus of proposals with the community through a local educational micro pact.

Latest Citizenship programs

Learn about the problems selected in the latest meetings

Citizenship Iztapalapa, Mexico

  • 250 students, 22 teachers and 58 volunteers
  • Selected problem: “The violence and discrimination that leads some young people to suicide”
  • Proposal: "A City without conscience generates violence": concrete awareness-raising actions.

Córdoba Citizenship, Argentina

  • 150 students, 16 teachers, 8 volunteers
  • Problem: Problematic consumption of young people in the Secondary Schools of the City of Córdoba
  • Proposals:
  • Problematic Consumption Awareness Event.
  • Space for listening and accompaniment of young people for young people.
  • Workshops and training for teachers and students, closing at Expo-Dicci

Citizenship New York, United States

  • 80 students, 8 academic institutions
  • Selected problem: “Isolation due to the use of social networks”
  • Proposals:
  • “Find Yourself” awareness project
  • Presentation of the “Pro-Tech” application for the security of social network users
  • Creation of the organization “Students Against the Abuse of Social Networks (SASMA)” to prevent addiction to social networks in students.

citizenship in first person

Testimonials that demonstrate the effectiveness and human reach of our educational approach.

“You become a child again, you smile again, you play again. And I think it is a very interesting, very practical way of opening up to the other (...) because when you play with the other you trust the other who is going to do what you are proposing. And the other in turn trusts in you for that capacity for ridicule that you have and comes out without fear. And that is where a bond is created, a closer relationship and the most beautiful ideas can come out.”

Daniel, Colombia

“One thing I have loved about the workshops is that there is a lot of tolerance. We learn to see beyond the strokes, the lines, what each one represents and how important they are. They have taught us to tolerate and work in groups. Which is often difficult.” Saintimus, Haiti.

Frequent questions

What is Scholas Occurrentes?

Scholas is an international, non-profit organization of Pontifical Law, created by Pope Francis in 2013. Through various programs it seeks to transform education and promote social inclusion.

No, Scholas invites people of all religions, cultures and social classes to participate in the programs.

Scholas provides its equipment and expertise to carry out the programs, and is financed through donations and global support. If you want to support the cause, we invite you to donate here. Learn more about our financing here.

You can also be part of the

motion

With your help, we can promote intergenerational meeting spaces in more countries around the world, contributing to the fight against social exclusion.