Brazilian tent at Carnavalito
We are so happy to have a record number of Brazilian participants in the Carnival this year including Paraiso School of Samba, Street Food Brazil, Sabia Duvida, Canto dos Mafagafos and Mae Zona. Join our brazilian tent for bilingual storytelling, samba workshops, singing and games! Full programme of Carnavalito aqui
See you this Sunday 20th of August at 11 am. Burguess park. FREE ENTRY AND ACTIVITIES!
All Brazilian delights you have been craving. You can read the menu here .
Also they sponsored a £50 prize for the football competition! Obrigado!
Canto dos Mafagafos and Sabia Duvida Portuguese as a Heritage Language School: Family fun activities at Carnavalito, within Carnaval del Pueblo
Join us for a day filled with joy and culture in the heart of London as we dive into the colors, rhythms, and traditions of the carnival! This special program has been carefully crafted to provide unforgettable moments and fun for all ages. Come and experience the contagious energy of the carnival!
Exciting activities await you:
Original Samba Enredo of Bloco dos Mafagafos e dos Sabiás:
Enjoy the performance of the original Bloco dos Mafagafos e dos Sabiás’ Samba Enredo. Let yourself be carried away by the creative lyrics of Jorge Rein and the pulsating rhythm of the music by Altemir Oliveira (Xoko Oliveira). A production by Magali Hochberg and organised by Canto dos Mafagafos and Sabia Duvida Portuguese as a Heritage Language School for our Bailinho de Carnaval 2023.
Thrilling Choreography: Let’s sing and dance together!
Get ready to learn and dance to the rhythm of the Samba Enredo! Isabela Passaro and Magali Hochberg will lead a workshop with a simple and easy-to-learn choreography so everyone can dance along! Whether you’re a beginner or already have some moves, everyone is welcome to join in the pulsating rhythm of Carnaval!
Entertaining Carnaval Storytelling Performance:
Let your imagination run wild as you watch the performance of “A Formiga contabilista e sua poupança descontrolada” a hilarious Carnaval story in Portuguese written by Thais Braga, also known as MãeZona, and starring Isabela Passaro. Felisberto was a grumpy worker ant who took her accounting job very seriously. He didn’t like jokes, smiling, dancing, or company. To him, it was all a waste of time. His focus was on working and saving wealth in the Ant Bank. Felisberto was only ‘happy’ in his name… until he encountered Carnaval, and from that day on, everything changed!
Bloco dos Mafagafos e dos Sabiás’ Parade:
Come dressed up and join the parade with Bloco dos Mafagafos e dos Sabiás!
Carnaval Games:
The fun continues with a series of games inspired by the Carnaval spirit. Come have fun, make new friends, and share laughs and special moments.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate Carnaval in great style, right in the heart of London! Bring your family and friends to immerse themselves in a festive and multicultural atmosphere that will warm your hearts and create lasting memories. We look forward to seeing you all there!
Paraiso will participate in the dance procession at 2 pm and they will offer a FREE intro to Samba workshop for all families at 12:30 in the family village!
Mum and Son together
Melina and Adrian recently moved to London. They are a Brazilian family from San Pablo and would like to read a book that is close to Adrian’s heart as it related to his migration story. The name of the book is ‘A carta de Hugo’.
O Urso Hugo Está Triste: Tony, Seu Melhor Amigo De Todo O Universo Se Mudou Para Bem Longe. E Ainda Por Cima Está Se Divertindo Muito Ao Lado De Seus Novos Amigos. Junte-Se A Hugo Em Uma Grande Aventura Para Entregar Uma Carta Muito Especial E Garantir Que A Amizade Entre Ele E Tony Seja Eterna, De Verdade!
We are so lucky to have a popular Brazilian author coming to the Carnavalito to ready 3 wonderful books.
“A carta que transportava saudade”
“The letter that carried longing” is a children’s book for children who cannot heal their missing
emotions with hugs! It playfully talks about “saudade”, the feeling of missing something or
someone, and helps open the way for this delicate dialogue. This theme is essential for
immigrant families and also has lived in times of pandemic and social isolation! We must work
this out with our children and make them understand and name this feeling.
Publisher: Aquarela Livros
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MaezonaShop
” O que tem no escuro da noite?“
What lurks in the dark of night? Does pitch hold so much mystery, or is it just our imagination
evolving along with fear?
This story revolves around what happens inside a child’s head at bedtime: creatively turn the
unknown into terror! Reality is very different and dull because there is no ghost wrapped in a
white sheet, a giant ferocious monster, or a witch with a large nose and extravagant hair.
The book opens up a chance for dialogue about the fear of the dark and all the reflections that
the night brings. Shall we read together and sleep in peace?
Publisher Ases da Literatura
“ Os mosquitos nos picam e a culpa é do Noé”
This story began thousands of years ago, right after Noah built that giant ark to house animals
and escape the great flood on Earth! This version is told by humans, right? But I bet you’ve
never heard the animals’ performance through the eyes of mosquitoes! A brawl, a rumble!
I don’t even tell you, or instead, I do! Let’s understand everything that happened on that vessel
and have a good laugh together!
I’ll tell you one thing immediately: If mosquitoes bite us and annoy us with their buzzing, they
have a good reason: IT’S NOÉ’S BLAME!
Publisher: Inverso
Author Biography:
Thais Braga
Communicator, writer, Brazilian, living in London, married and mother of 8-year-old Aurora, not
precisely in that order! I have a blog about motherhood, MãeZona, in which I explore the subject
of motherhood with humour. Adding all platforms, we are more than 170 thousand people
exchanging experiences.
My imagination runs wild, and when it comes to writing and telling stories, I feel my heart beat
faster! My first book, “The Letter That Transported Longing”, was well received by readers and
their families, so I decided to continue this endeavour in the publishing market. This time,
publishing a children’s humour book, “The mosquitoes bite us, and It’s Noah’s Fault”, re-reading
one of the most extraordinary tales of humanity to make people laugh, create fun memories
involving literature, and help them develop critical thinkers. This book is running for the Jabuti
Award in Brazil this year.
My third book, just released, is about the fear of the night and the fourth, which is on the way,
will be about learning disabilities, aiming to help children struggling at school.
I am excited about our reading on the 20th, I will have my three books with me, and you can
choose which one we will read and discuss. We will also have art and craft activities connected
with the “Letter that transported longing” book.
Hope to see you there for a fun day!If you want to know a little more about my work:
www.maezonanoblog.com
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MaezonaShop
Instagram: @maezonanoinsta
Facebook” @maezonanoface
.
Carnavalito Family Village
Latin Hub has teamed up with Carnaval del Pueblo to develop a new Family Village ‘Carnavalito’ to offer families a new experience happening in Burgess Park this Sunday 20th of August starting 11 am! FREE ENTRY!
11:00
Open registrations to sing in Karaoke Party and get free circus tickets! (First come first serve- 11:00 to 12:30 pm)
Open registrations for Arts and Crafts Workshops (First come first serve- 11:00 to 3:00 pm)
Spanish bookshop and face painting stands open (11:00 to 4:00 pm)
Free henna tattoos for adults stand open (First come first serve- 11:00 to 4:00pm)
NHS bus and Community tent open (First come first serve-11:00 to 4:00 pm)
Football pitch opens (First come first serve-11:00 to 4 pm) Outside the gated area!!!
SELCE stands opens: save money and the environment at once! (First come first serve-11:00 to 4 pm)
Food stalls open for brunch!
11:30
Toddlers club and storytelling tent: traditional Latin American nursery rhymes and dancing (11:30-12:00 pm)
Brazil tent: Thais Braga session ( 11:30 to 12:30 pm)
Arts & crafts tent: Mosaic workshop for the family and Free drawing and painting for kids. (11:00 to 3:30 pm)
12:00
‘X’ tent: Eco games: learn about the environment while playing coordinated by SELCE. (12:00 to 1:00 pm) Trilingual! Spanish/Portuguese and English
Toddlers club and storytelling tent: Storytelling time: reading of a book in Spanish (12:00 to 12:30 pm) – Spanish
12:30
Toddlers club and storytelling tent: Various activities: playdough, small world, messy play. (12:30 to 1:30 pm) Bilingual Spanish/English
Brazil tent: Intro to Samba workshop by Paraiso School of Samba (12:30 to 1:00 pm) Bilingual Portuguese/English
12:45
Salsathon Stage: Karaoke Party. Come and sing along with your favourite Latin songs! (1:00 to 1:30pm) – Trilingual! Spanish/Portuguese and English
1:30 pm
Toddlers club and storytelling tent: reading of book in English (1:30 to 2:00 pm)- Bilingual Spanish/English
Brazil tent: Melina and Adrian read a Brazilian book called ‘A carta de Hugo’ that reflects on the impact of migration on children (1:45 to 2:00 pm) – Portuguese
X Tent :Collage workshop (1:00 to 2:00 pm)
2:00 pm
‘X’ tent Andean instruments and music workshop by Johnny F Rodriguez @Kausary (2:00 to 3:00 pm) – Bilingual Spanish/English
Brazil tent: Canto dos Mafagafos and Sabia Duvida will coordinate interactive kids entertainment with fun activities including games, fancy dress, songs and dance ( 2:00 to 3:00 pm)- Portuguese
Toddlers club and storytelling tent: Circle time: traditional Latin American nursery rhymes and dancing ( 2:00 to 2:30pm) – Bilingual Spanish/English
3:00 pm
‘X’ tent: Piñata and big Puppets visit including Paddington, Peter Rabbit and ‘El Cuye’ (3:00 to 3:30 pm)
3:30
‘X’ tent : Pub Quiz, test your knowledge on Latin American facts and will get a £50 voucher to be redeemed in a food stall ( 3:30 a 4:00 pm) Trilingual! Spanish/Portuguese and English
4:00
‘Arts and Craft’ tent: Collage workshop (4:00 to 5 pm) Bilingual Spanish/English .5 pm announcement of the winner of the ALAS Competition.
4:30 pm
Outside the gated area in the football pitch: Kicking competition. Give it your best shot and win a voucher of £50 to have the most delicious meal at Street Food Brazil! (4:30 to 5:00 pm) Trilingual! Spanish/Portuguese and English
Storey Telling Tent
A FREE story telling tent hosted by Piñata Bookstore @spanish.books.for.kids. Volunteers will read books in English Spanish and Portuguese.
Age: 2 to 18
Time: Book shop will be open from 10 to 4 pm. Stories programme to be confirmed
Toddler’s Club
FREE toddlers club, where the little ones (0-4) can play in a safe environment and engage in games and songs. Kindly sponsored by Tia Ana Nursery Parents are required to stay.
11:30-12:00-Circle time: traditional Latin American nursery rhymes and dancing
12:00-12:30- Storytelling time: reading of a book in Spanish
12:30-13:30-Various activities: playdough, small world, messy play
13:30-14:00-Story telling time: reading of book in English
14:00-14:30-Circle time: traditional Latin American nursery rhymes and dancing
14:30-15:00-Various activities: play-dough, small world, messy play
Arts & Crafts
FREE arts and crafts throughout the day for kids to express their creativity and enter ALAS arts competition!
Latin Hub wants to create a public mural in Maldonado Walk that will include ALAS (wings) and in some ways, represents the Latin American community in the UK. This is a co-creation with the community and some of the designs that come out from these workshops will be included in the final ‘feathers’ of the winds of the public mural.
Age: 3 to 15 Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Supported by United Saviours
Mini Football
Free mini football games for boys and girls!
Age: 3 to 16
Time: 11 to 4 pm
Prize kindly sponsored by Brazilian Street Food
Karaoke
FEE karaoke party! Kids and youth will get to sing their favourite songs in Spanish and Portuguese. Slots will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you want to secure a slot you can email hola@latinhubuk.org.uk
Age: all ages
Time: 12:45 pm
Piñata
No Latin American party can take place without a Piñata! Make sure you don’t miss this fun tradition that extends from Mexico to Argentina.
Age: 2 to 12 pm
Time: 3 pm
Falamos portugues 🙂
We are so happy to have a record number of Brazilian participants in the Carnival this year including Paraiso School of Samba, Street Food Brazil, Canto dos Mafagafos e Mae Zona. Join our Brazilian tent for bilingual storytelling, samba workshops, singing and games!
Collage & Mosaic Workshops
FREE mosaic workshops! Families can get together to produce a work of art that will be part of a public mural, to be displayed in Elephant and Castle. Supported by Mayor of London. Untold Stories
FREE collage workshops where participants will draw and stick colours and images which are relevant to them and their cultural heritage. Supported by Julio Cesar Osorio @juliocesartist8
Age: Everyone ! — Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Dance Workshops
FREE dance workshops for the whole family (beginners) . Come and learn some salsa, samba or folklore!
Age: Everyone !
Time: All day
Supported by SalsaTeca, Paraiso School of Samba,
Face Painting
Face painting for kids and adults all ages. Will you choose animals, flowers or your country’s flag?
Age: Everyone
Time: 11 to 4 pm
Andean Music Workshop
FREE workshops to learn to play and make Andean instruments by Johnny F Rodrigez @Kausary
Ages: Everyone!
Time: 2 pm
Supported by Jhonny Kausary from @KausaryFusion One of the best Andean bands in Europe.
Food served from 11 am !
This year Carnaval del Pueblo has double it’s efforts to be able to offer high quality food that represents the diverse Latin American Cuisine at affordable prices.
Sunday brunch can include empanadas, arepas, pupusas, tacos, menestra, stake sandwiches, churros, ceviche, caldo de manguera, milanesas, cachapas, llapingacho, vegan food, cachapas, chorizos, halal food and more.
Henna Tattoos
FREE henna tattoos to experiment art in our bodies.
Age: adults only
Time: 11 a 4 pm
Supported by BLAS-Bolivian Latin Age Association
Health Advice
FREE NHS bus that will deliver #PrimaryCare #BloodPressure #WeightManagement #BreastScreening #StopSmoking #MentalHealth #SafeClinics #Vaccinations #DrugAlchoolismRecovery #HealthyStartProgramme #SouthwarkWellBeingHub
Age: everyone!
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Coordinated by NHS -Partnership Southwark with the participation of Change Glow Charity
Board Games
Like board games? You can borrow one of our board games including chess and scrabble.
Age: everyone!
Time: until 3 pm
Community Tent
FREE Community Tent where visitors can learn about the services available such as housing, employment, community kitchens or benefit advice. Participating charities include LAWRS, Latin American House, Aymara, Latin American Disabled Peoples Project, and more!
Age: everyone!
Time: 10 am – 3 pm
Fun Fair
Ramp up your adrenaline in our fun fair! A wide variety of activities to keep all family members entertained.
Age: Varies
Time: All day
Pub Quiz
Test your knowledge on Latin American culture, sports and geography in a pub quiz and you may win some prices! Coordinated by APARU. Asociación de Profesionales Argentinos en el Reino Unido
Age: Everyone!
Time: 3:30 pm
Raffle
You could win:
A Flight to any Latin American destination thanks to the generous donation of Soliman Travel . Over the past 35 years they have taken thousands of satisfied clients to the region, from Mexico all the way down to Antarctica and looked after them while they’ve been there.
Three signed t-shirts donated by FIFA from profession football players.
Age: Adults only
Time: to be confirmed
Save money and help the planet at the same time!
One-to-one FREE, expect, independent energy saving advice from SELCE . SELCE helps people who are struggling with their energy bills, households who want to invest in greening their property, and organisations that are looking to become more sustainable.
#EnergyDebt #EnergyDiscounts #EnergyGrants #EnergySavingTips #SaveWater
Kids can also learn playing at The Guessing Game (how do I save more) or fight against contamination villains in a Tug of War.
Age: Everyone! Time: 11 am to 4 pm
And this is just Carnavalito !
Click on the Carnaval del Pueblo programme below
.
Get paid to get into teaching!
Different Routes For Infant, Primary, Secondary and Higher Education in the UK
Hello everyone! My name is Marina Ravicini and I wanted to share with you my ‘mini-research’ on how you can get the necessary qualifications to be able to work in the UK as a teacher.
My academic background is in design and environment and, although I am still involved in projects and initiatives in this area, I decided to explore a career in education because of the job stability it represents and, let’s not deny it, the generous holidays it offers as well 🙂
Beyond these benefits, I value the importance of working with young people in their formative years and I am excited to be part of their development as learners, citizens of the world and more importantly, as human beings.
If you are not 100% sure if this is the right job for you, you can apply for jobs as teaching assistant, you do not need teaching qualifications and you can get a felling of what being a teacher is. Also it is a good way of practising English!
Teaching salaries vary according to experience. You can also watch this video below to get a felling what being a teacher really is:
One of the main barriers to working in this profession is the qualifications required. Below is a summary of what I have researched and I am happy to answer any questions or comments you may have.
To become a qualified teacher in state schools across the UK you must undertake Initial Teacher Training (ITT) or Initial Teacher Education (ITE).
Entry is generally competitive, but much less so for subjects such as science, maths, physics and languages such as French or Spanish! Because they are in high demand the Government provides grants and bursaries to help with the cost of training.
Yes, that’s right!
Completion of ITT leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England and Wales and Teaching Qualification (TQ) in Scotland. Completion of ITE may not automatically lead to a QTS, so it is very important that you check the additional steps required to get QTS status when you finish your education.
There are so many training courses and programmes into teaching that it can get overwhelming. The following video explains them briefly and we will explain the most popular ones below (adding external links for further information). *Remember that on the top right of this page there is an automatic translator so you can read this information in Spanish if you need to.
Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT)
There are an undergraduate and postgraduate routes for those interested in early years education. On completion of training for early years education, Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) is acquired, which is equivalent to QTS, but only for working with children aged 0-5 years.
Various funding programmes are available.
If you want to learn about early years education please watch the video below.
OTHER ROUTES INCLUDE…
Degree in Education + Teaching Specialisation (with QTS certification)
This is a route chose for those who do not have a degree. To ensure that your degree or qualification allows you to teach in schools, you should choose a degree course that includes Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in the title for your chosen degree.
This is a popular route into primary school teaching and may include the option of a specialisation, such as mathematics. Secondary teacher training courses would have a specialisation such as Physical Education with QTS, or MFL Spanish with QTS.
PGCE : Postgraduate Certificate in Education (ITE)
Another possible route is to do postgraduate teacher training or PGCE.
A postgraduate academic qualification leading to QTS, the PGCE is a one-year course focused on developing your teaching skills and underpinning your knowledge.
You will need to decide in advance if you want to be a primary teacher or a secondary teacher as the courses vary significantly. However they are not mutually exclusive, you will be able to switch if you want to.
For this you will need a university degree, plus other requirements, such as a DBS (criminal record) check.
To be eligible for financial support, you must usually have settled status (for example, indefinite leave to remain and have been living in the UK throughout the 3 years immediately before the start of your course. Exceptions apply in some cases – for example, if you have been recognised as a refugee.
If you meet the eligibility requirements for a tuition fee loan, or tuition fee and maintenance loan, you may also be eligible for a teacher Bursaries and scholarships (only available in certain subjects.)
If your degree was obtained outside the UK you should check with the educational institution to ensure that your qualification meets the minimum requirements; you may be asked to formally legalise any overseas qualifications. For recognition of foreign qualifications and guidance on this, they will want to see a statement of comparability from UK ENIC.
If the concern is the cost of training, there is the possibility of assistantships, scholarships or funding from Student Finance UK. At the moment there are mostly scholarships for PGCE or QTS in science subjects and MFL (Modern Foreign Languages: Spanish / French).
Not all PGCEs offer QTS. To find out what is available, you can look into this search engine or you can access more information on this link.
Train with a school or group of schools
School Direct
You will need an undergraduate degree.
Has a salaried route but availability is limited. The salaried route you will be employed as an unqualified teacher while you learn on the job. You can find opportunities aqui
On the unsalaried route you’ll be based in a school, but will also be taught by the university, college, or school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) that the school partners with. Loans and other funding are available.
Teaching in the Further Education sector (FE)
Further education teachers teach a variety of subjects to students aged 16 and over, as well as to adults. They also work with students aged 14-16, with practical learning, technical qualifications and work experience.
You may not need a university degree or to pass skills tests; this depends on your vocational skills and pre-existing experience, the subject you plan to teach and the route you are taking. Find out more.
Where to find courses?
Schools are free to choose which programme they wish to work with. The main programmes are described below:
Programme: Future Teaching Scholars
Aimed at exceptional students (A-levels) who want to study mathematics or physics at university. Future Teaching Scholars give the option to take this new six-year route into teaching these subjects. The programme provides school experience, tutoring support and a grant of £15,000.
Programme: Now Teach
The programme is aimed at professionals, using the skills and knowledge developed in their career to inspire students. At the moment they are particularly looking for candidates who wish to teach maths, computing, foreign languages (French and Spanish) and geography.
Typically, Now Teach participants are trained on the job by teaching in a secondary school, receiving a scholarship while they train and work a reduced schedule of four days a week.
Programme: Researchers in Schools (RiS)
RiS is a school-based, salaried teacher-researcher training programme. Researchers who are about to finish or who have completed a PhD can apply as trainees in RiS and obtain QTS and NQT degrees at the end of two years.
RiS is open to students completing or having completed PhDs in physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, geography, English and modern foreign languages (French, German or Spanish).
Programme: Teach First
Teach First is a charity that aims to provide a fair education for all, and aims to work with schools that face great challenges, with students from low-income backgrounds and great economic and social disadvantage.
It is a two-year training programme, where you will gain a fully funded Graduate Diploma in Education and Leadership, worth double the credits of a PGCE. You work in the classroom and earn a salary from the start of the programme.
Where to start ?
It is important to register as soon as possible on the GET INTO TEACHING website. Here you will find free webinars, information sessions, tutorials and free personalised assistance with the process of choosing routes and applications.
If you are leaving your job and are considering teaching as an option register with Transition to Teach. Funded by the Department for Education, Transition to Teach is a programme designed to support career changers interested in teaching.
For the salaried training option (funded by the school or an organisation that trains teachers), it is important at the outset to make a list of local schools, academies and/or colleges or institutions of choice, and contact them asking whether they need teachers, whether they provide an initial training pathway and what the requirements are for starting work while training. If they need, for example, an MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) Spanish teacher, then it is best to ask if they offer the initial training there (or where it takes place) and ask for direct contact to enquire about the job and possibly submit an application for it. Also you can find opportunities aqui
By end of this post you will likely feed overwhelmed with so many options. Don’t be discouraged! You can get FREE one to one advice aqui e here.
You can also read the UK Government guidance for international applicants aqui and for understanding the UK school system here.
You can get a felling of the job market aqui e here.
Where to look for more information?
UCAS: ROUTES INTO TEACHING IN ENGLAND
UK ENIC European Network of Information Centres for advice on qualifications
PROSPECTS Website / Routes into Teaching
ARK TRAINING Languages, case study
Where to look for grants and funding?
Training in England as an International Student
PROSPECTS Website funding information for Teacher Training
UK government guidance on teacher training and professional development
Pro Life and Pro Choice debate heats up
The waters are stirred in the debate on reproductive rights of Latin American women.
For decades, politicians in Latin America knew that they would never pass a law that would have the support of the vast majority on an issue as controversial as the decriminalisation of abortion. Only Cuba and Uruguay advanced on this issue during the 20th century to the point that currently some countries in the region still penalise abortion in cases of rape.
Latin America has not remained oblivious to the feminist wave with two issues at the forefront of the protests; the decriminalisation of abortion and the fight against gender violence. The green scarves have spread beyond the borders of Argentina and became a symbol of the struggle for women’s reproductive rights in many parts of Latin America. Argentina has decriminalised abortion during the first 14 weeks of all types of pregnancy, and progress has been made in Mexico, Chile and Colombia.
But the path to decriminalisation faces resistance from pro-life movements, under the slogan “save two lives” and represented with light blue handkerchiefs. Views are increasingly polarised and there have been additional restrictions in Brazil, Honduras and other Central American countries.
In addition to the pro-life movement, the Catholic Church (indirectly) added its position during the key days of the debate in Argentina.
Latin Hub UK is an independent platform, a group of volunteers with different opinions united by a vocation of service. The premise is to listen and respect all opinions and amplify the voices of those who are working in our community.
Our only enemies are individualism and indifference. That’s why we include different voices below for those who are open to learning and (perhaps) changing their position. At the end of the blog you can also find sources of information for those who want to learn more about the subject.
‘Morally, I have always opposed to the idea of deciding on the lives of others and I never agreed with “It’s my body, I do what I want” mantra. If abortion is the product of carelessness, it is always regrettable. I’m not saying it from a pedestal, I chose to end two pregnancies (…) fortunately I did it in the UK, so I didn’t have to feel worse about walking into a clandestine clinic and putting my life at risk or fearing arrest’ Romina. More here
‘Let’s not forget that there is (…) a man who cannot decide to raise the kid alone and loses the right to be a father. Only women have have this right. I also think women should be properly informed about the possibility of giving their babies up for adoption, where there are couples waiting for years due to a bureaucratic judicial regime.’ Valeria. More here
‘The biological fact is that human life begins at fertilisation. This is not a matter of opinion, or religion: it is what science has shown. (…) Abortion thus becomes an instrument of discrimination and social eugenics: instead of fighting poverty, the poor are eliminated. We see this daily through the women we support.’ Julieta. More here
‘(The legalisation of abortion) is a great advance for our society, which empowers pregnant women to be able to decide about their bodies and their lives, avoiding many deaths and traumatic situations resulting from illegal practices. The right to decide is based on a correct and clear sexual education, access to all contraceptive methods and, if necessary, the possibility of terminating a pregnancy safely and free of charge.’ Cecilia. More here
‘I am for and against abortion. If a professional shows me that there is a period of time that confirms that until a certain week of gestation the baby does not feel physical or emotional pain, I would immediately lean in favour of abortion (until that week). There are ways to enrich the laws so they can be fair to everyone, but it takes time. And it is important that we respect the different positions and listen, because there is always something more to learn.’ Flor. More here
More information
For those women who think that abortion should be prohibited in all cases, we recommend the case of Honduras covered by the BBC in this video.
Social networks play a strong role in the debate. 200 pro-life organizations in Hispanic America made a call to post messages on social media against abortion #NoHablenPorTodas #Primero la vida. UnidadProvida is a network of more than 150 organisations that promotes the right to life of women and unborn children.
Pro Choice content can be found in #Abortolegalya and #abortosi, on Instagram @redperiofeministas. For those women interested in feminist struggles in Latin America, I recommend visiting LatFem.
For those women who want to help, there is an organisation that accepts donations of thousands of flights to pay for trips by Brazilian women so that they can carry out the procedure safely outside the country. Listen to this podcast for more information about this organisation.
This blog intends to publish different views on a controversial topic, we are open to publishing more content as long as they contribute some new argument to those that have already been raised. Otherwise we invite you to comment at the end of the blog, the comments must be approved by the administrator of this page to ensure that respect and cordiality prevail above all.
Female voices on reproductive rights
This blog includes the full statements of all contributors of the main blog post Pro Life and Pro Choice debate heats up
The premise is to listen and respect all opinions and amplify the voices of those who are working in our community. Our only enemies are individualism and indifference. That’s why we include different voices below for those who are open to learning and (perhaps) changing their position.
Hi everyone, I’m Romina. Morally, I have always opposed to the idea of deciding on the lives of others and I never agreed with ”it is my body, I do what I want” mantra.
In cases where there was violence or medical conditions it is very clear to me. I recently had to terminate a pregnancy (much desired) because my baby suffered from Edward’s Syndrome and I don’t think anyone expects a mother to have a child to see it die in months?
For the other cases I think there are no morally ethical options. “If abortion is the product of carelessness, it is always unfortunate.” I am not saying this from a pedestal, years ago I myself chose to end a pregnancy because the minimum conditions were not met. It was the worst of evils, but it was still wrong. I remember watching on Youtube how a 14 week old ‘fetus’ was and it was clearly a baby, a life that I had decided to end. I did not want to bring into the world a child without maturity, family or economic solvency. I don’t regret it, but I remember crying in bed for weeks.
Luckily I did it in the UK, so I didn’t have to feel worse about walking into a clandestine clinic and putting my life at risk or fearing that the police would arrest me.
The situation in Latin America has to change urgently. Based on the Argentine experience, I hope that the new laws that are approved do not normalise this practice as a simple procedure. It is important to take the time to think about all the options and when there are couples I think that the man’s opinion is very important too. After all, if we decide to have him, we demand commitment, so I wonder if it is fair that the woman has the last word, in every situation.
I think it should legitimise the woman’s (or couple’s) right to choose, although personally I would put a limit on the number of interventions allowed so as not to discourage prevention.
My final words are advice to those women who decide to have an abortion in the UK based on my past experience. I suspect that to save costs they are ‘incentivising’ women to go for the ‘chemical option’ which involves only taking medication. With all the women I talk about this experience, they had a very bad time. My pregnancy was very advanced and they gave me medication before the operation and I had a horrible time. They didn’t let my partner in either, until they saw me so badly that they let him in because I made a scandal. This should not be the case, it is a physically and emotionally painful process, so I recommend contacting the clinic in advance to clarify these issues before the day of the intervention.
I am Julieta, local coordinator and part of the National Network of Support for Women with Vulnerable Pregnancies in Argentina. When we talk about abortion, it is very important to know what is in the womb, when human life begins. The biological fact is that human life begins at fertilisation. This is not a matter of opinion, nor of religion: it is what science has shown. The embryo IS in the mother’s body, but it IS not her body. It has its own DNA code from the get-go. It has its own heart that beats from 17 days after conception at its own pace. Abortion is deliberately ending that human life. If science has established that the embryo is a human being, then it should be considered a subject of rights, regardless of the circumstances in which it was conceived. Life is the first of rights, since without it, no other right is possible. This is recognised by many international treaties. For ex. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of his person” (art 3). The American Convention on Human Rights clarifies that “a person is every human being” (art 1 inc.2). And that “Every person has the right to have his life respected. This right will be protected by law and, in general, from the moment of conception. No one can be arbitrarily deprived of life” (Art. 4, sub. 1). The State, then, has the obligation to ensure the right to life of all human beings, including the weakest, the unborn.
Many argue legal abortion is safe. The truth is that the only sure thing is that a son dies. The second victim is the mother, since, legal or illegal, it brings serious physical and psychological consequences. There is a danger of infection, haemorrhage, ablation of the uterus, and death. Here in Argentina we already have several cases, such as Keila Jones (Chubut) or María del Valle González López (Mendoza).
In addition, the promoters of abortion never mention the psychological damage caused by induced abortion. Anxiety, depression, addictions, self-injury, etc., are some of the symptoms that appear in the short or long term, in many women who have gone through it. These consequences, of which I am a witness, have been extensively studied in countries where abortion is already legal, and have even been recognised by the American Psychological Association. (The Impact of Abortion on Women’s Mental Health, 2008).
On the other hand, in countries like ours (with a high rate of poverty), when abortion becomes legal, it becomes the only solution offered to women who are going through a bad economic or family situation. Instead of solving the real problem (unemployment, marginalisation, domestic violence, etc.) she is offered an abortion, but they return to the same situation they were in, adding a new one to all their wounds: that of eliminating their own son. Abortion thus becomes an instrument of discrimination and social eugenics: instead of fighting poverty, the poor are eliminated. We see this daily through the women we support.
Let’s also take into account what the experience in other countries shows us: by legalising abortion, it increases exponentially, even being used as another method of contraception. That is, a human being is eliminated simply because it bothers. There are many reasons that I cannot put here due to lack of space. Even in cases as difficult as rape, the unborn child is still another innocent victim who must also be defended.
In conclusion, the law cannot support or promote a practice that causes not only the death of an innocent human being but also physical and psychological damage to women and their environment. There are other exits. More difficult and expensive, but more humane. We advocate for the material, psychological, medical and emotional accompaniment of these mothers, so that they can carry their pregnancy to a successful conclusion, heal their emotional wounds and can raise their child, and if this is not possible, that they have the possibility of giving it up for adoption.
Hello! I am Flor. I grew up in a Christian family, so I went to a convent school. Whether you like it or not, religion indoctrinates you a bit, about “what is right and what is wrong”, but my rebellious spirit led me, over time, to move away from the church. I had and have incredible family support. Friends that I keep from school who are the family I chose. I had the opportunity to study what I wanted and travel the world, which gave me perspectives and teachings that made me the woman I am today.
I never had an abortion, nor did I have the emotional or physical need to carry it out. My first (conscious) pregnancy was the product of a 4-month relationship. He was not wanted but he was already 32 years old, had a secure job, his own roof and iron human support. I never doubted having León, who is now 4 years old, alone or accompanied. I was lucky that León’s father felt the same uncertainty and emotion that I did, and since we felt super in love (with our scarce 4 months together) we carried out the pregnancy, with a lot of love. Today we also have Jasmine, who is 2 years old. My story has all positive overtones, like that of a Disney movie. But the reality is not only the one I lived, the context in which other women live is not the same as mine, so I understand that the decisions that other people feel they have to make are different from the ones I have made in my life .
In 2011 I started a social assistance NGO, and since then I have been a volunteer in provinces such as Chaco and Misiones, in Argentina, and also in India, Cambodia and Mozambique. The experiences and experiences that I have had have shaped my beliefs, thoughts and emotions. I am for and against abortion. I believe that there are valid arguments in both positions, and I think it is important to be open to debate. I never had any doubts about the legality of abortion in cases of rape, disability, lack of education and low resources, even in pregnancies at risk for both the mother and the baby (I will call them type A pregnancies from now on). On the other hand, the legality of abortion for educated and upper-middle class women who, due to lack of care, get pregnant and then decide to have an abortion (I’ll call them type B pregnancies) always made me noisy. Without raising an accusing finger, I simply confess that I find it difficult to take lightly this topic, because these are women with whom I can identify in terms of education and social class, so I immediately believe that they have many more tools to avoid pregnancy than wanted.
That said, there are variables that differentiate me from other women who share my level of education and social class, and cause them to act very differently and make decisions that are far from mine –emotional support, personality, experiences-. This also has an impact on their actions. I understand it, that’s why I think the law should exist, but with regulations and sections that evaluate each particular case, because all cases are different. The abortion law must not only contemplate the action of aborting, but also take into account a time before and after the action itself. I believe that when a woman requests an abortion, she should have access to a therapist and the doctor in charge of carrying it out, who can offer her support and containment -before, during and after-, as well as information that covers all the possible variables that exist, that is, that the woman knows all the options she has – carry out the pregnancy, have a child, give the baby up for adoption, abort – that she has time to evaluate them and then make a decision. And that they understand that this decision entails a responsibility, to become aware of their actions and avoid repeating it in the future. There is another point that questions my position in favour. When does the fetus/baby become aware and feel pain inside the woman’s body? If a professional shows me that there is a period of time that confirms that until a certain week of gestation the baby does not feel physical or emotional pain, I would immediately lean in favour of abortion (until that week). Always talking about cases of type B pregnancies, which are the ones that test my pro-abortion loyalty.
In certain cases, there are arguments that seem poor to me, for example “it’s my body, I decide”. I feel that it is not enough nor is it real, because within that body there is another that cannot decide, and that unlike those who support that argument, I consider that this fetus is a life. That is why I think it is extremely important that my doubt in the previous paragraph be clarified. Abortion cannot only be a right, it must carry a responsibility. It should not be clandestine, but neither should it be a simple procedure. And I don’t think that in all cases it should be paid for by society (type B pregnancies).
The debate is just beginning. There are ways to enrich the laws so they can be fair to everyone, but it takes time. And it is important that we respect the different positions and listen, because there is always something more to learn.
Hi ! I am Cecilia. My position in relation to the legalisation of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy in Argentina, was and is in favour of it.
For many years it was a struggle carried out by many people, mostly women, to bring these practice out of hiding.
I believe that when we talk about legal, safe and free abortion it is about understanding and accepting that the person who has decided to interrupt her pregnancy will do so in any way, legally or clandestinely.
Clandestine means an enormous risk, especially for people from the most vulnerable social classes who, due to lack of resources, carry out the interruption of pregnancy at home, or by going to a clandestine centre, without any security, hygiene, or control. . These interventions often end in infections or haemorrhages, which if not treated in time, are fatal. Not only are both lives not saved, but both are lost.
One thing that always caught my attention is that, until a year ago when voluntary abortion was illegal, there was the ILE (legal interruption of pregnancy) which established that if the life of the mother was at risk or if it had been the product of a rape, abortion could be performed safely in a hospital. There I had certain questions and reflections about it. Was an embryo produced by rape different from one produced by a consensual and joyous sexual relationship? Would it be then that what is penalised was having become pregnant enjoying? “If you enjoyed it, now tease yourself! Carry a pregnancy even if it is not the best for you, even if you cannot or do not want to care for and raise a baby, even if you had decided not to have children, not to put the body for a gestation and childbirth at that time or perhaps never in your life. ”
Hello everyone, I am Valeria. Many times one thinks that it is very difficult to give an opinion on a subject without going through that experience, but abortion is something that makes me very sensitive, I always thought that we have to bet on life and I think that the birth of a child is the most wonderful What can happen to both a man and a woman is a unique act, which is why I think that before making this decision to have an abortion, the issue must be addressed by professionals who accompany the couple or the woman who makes the decision.
Many times I listened to my 14-year-old son when talking about this topic, saying that women are free to decide with their bodies what they want in this feminist culture that currently wants to impose itself, but let’s not forget that there is a life that doesn’t have the possibility of deciding to be born and that is very sad. Also maybe a man that cannot decide to raise him alone either and loses the right to be a father because the only one who has this right is the woman. I also think women should be properly informed about the possibility of giving their babies up for adoption, where there are couples waiting years due to a totally bureaucratic judicial regime.