We are Mas Vella Terra

Participating entity: Mas Vella Terra Residence

Description of L-S

This project focused on establishing links and breaking down stereotypes about people with intellectual and physical disabilities living in the Mas Vella Tierra Residential Center. Through educational and social activities, residents were given the opportunity to develop personal and social skills, while fostering greater understanding and integration between them and the community. In addition, a video was created showing their daily life at the center, with the intention of reflecting their realities, interests and talents. This video aims to raise awareness in society, normalize the presence of people with disabilities and break down prejudices.

Participants: coordinators and residents.

Objectives:

• Working on the link
• Facilitate the development of a community vision: To help participants understand the importance of the community and the need for all its members.
• To know the surrounding environment
• Working on empathy
• Work on communication and conflict resolution skills:
• Perform networking.

Reflections of UVic students

• This project has been a transforming personal and collective experience for us. At the beginning, we faced many doubts and fears, because we realized that the reality of community work is very different from the theory we studied in the classroom. We were forced to constantly adapt to circumstances and face unforeseen events that we had not predicted. These difficulties, although challenging, taught us the importance of flexibility and not losing motivation when things did not go as planned. Learning to manage change and adapt was fundamental to moving the project forward.
• One of the aspects that struck us most was the importance of communication and collaboration. Initially, we thought that working with more entities and residents would be an enriching opportunity, but as we moved forward, we realized that we had to adjust our expectations. Some entities were not able to participate as we had hoped, which forced us to rethink the plan and be creative to keep the project going. Learning to work with limited resources, adjusting our plans and maintaining a positive attitude in the face of difficulties was very important to achieving our goals.
• Personally, we experienced great growth in our ability to adapt. At first, we thought the end result was what mattered, but we discovered that the process, the relationships established and the difficulties overcome were just as valuable. Every interaction with the residents, every unexpected change or unplanned decision contributed to our learning. Moments like when the soccer players asked for photos after the activity or when we improvised a song and dance session after a technical problem showed us that even when things don’t go as expected, the outcome can be very positive.
• We also learned a lot about respect and sensitivity when working with people with disabilities. We were very mindful of the importance of avoiding infantilizing the residents and ensuring that activities were appropriate to their abilities and interests. This was a priority for us, because we understood that each person is unique and deserves to be respected in his or her individuality. This experience has made us realize that our role as social educators is not only to manage activities or direct, but also to listen, understand and create safe spaces where people can express themselves freely.
• In addition, this project has given us a new perspective on our future profession. We have discovered that being a social educator is not only about designing activities, but also about creating spaces in which individuals can participate, express themselves and feel heard. We have learned that, as social educators, we will not always have all the answers or control of situations, but the important thing is to be open to learn and adapt to each moment. This experience has taught us that what is important is not the immediate results, but the human relationships, the process and the growth that occurs along the way.
• In summary, this project has taught us that the work of a social educator is not only to offer solutions, but to know how to accompany people with empathy, respecting their needs and limitations. It has better prepared us to face the challenges we will encounter in our future career and has given us a clearer vision of the responsibility that our role entails. This experience has been a great learning opportunity, which has allowed us to grow both personally and professionally, and has shown us that, beyond achievements, what really matters is the commitment, sensitivity and connection we establish with the people we work with.