Telling our stories with Dignity: Presentation of the Ethno-Educational Toolkit
- Gaby Arroyo
- Apr 7
- 5 min read
After the RECLAMA webinar presenting a new Ethno-Educational Toolkit, Gaby Arroyo from the Ethno-Education panel shares her reflections.
My Role in the Ethnoeducation Committee
From an early age, I have been deeply moved by the injustices and inequalities faced by Afro-descendant communities around the world. Growing up in an environment where stories of resistance and the fight for human rights were part of daily life instilled in me a passion for justice and a determination to be an agent of change.
My academic and professional journey has been marked by a constant interest in social justice. I obtained a degree in Education, and one of the most significant experiences of my career was starting my professional life in one of the cantons of Esmeraldas with a high Afro-Ecuadorian population. There, I witnessed the profound inequalities affecting our communities. This experience not only exposed me to the social realities these communities face but also made me realise the transformative power of education.
I have been part of the Afro-Ecuadorian Ethnoeducation Committee since 2012, which allowed me to serve as a national delegate between 2020 and 2022. Currently, I am the provincial coordinator for the Committee in Esmeraldas. Along with my colleagues, we are advocating for the recognition of Afro-Ecuadorian rights, working with educational institutions and society at large to promote knowledge of Afro-Ecuadorian history, ancestral knowledge, and culture.
In February 2024, I became a member of the Casa de la Cultura Benjamín Camón Núcleo Esmeraldas.
In March 2024, the National Assembly of Ecuador awarded me recognition for promoting the ethnoeducation of the Afro-Ecuadorian people.
Always open to progress and innovation, my actions throughout my life reflect my deep commitment to addressing the educational challenges facing my country at every stage.
The Importance of a Pedagogical Toolkit for the Ethnoeducation Process of the Afro Community
A pedagogical toolkit is a collection of resources designed to enrich the educational process with strategies, activities, and content that promote learning from a culturally situated perspective. In the case of Afro-education, this tool delves into the Afro/Black cultural heritage and collective memory, bringing together stories, recipes, music, community methodologies, and reflections that allow students to understand, value, and project their Afro-descendant identity.
As the coordinator of the Afro-Ecuadorian Ethnoeducation Table in the province of Esmeraldas, I have had the privilege of participating in spaces for reflection and collective building that aim to transform pedagogical practices from an Afro-descendant perspective. The Table has played a key role in the development of the pedagogical toolkit we are presenting today, contributing knowledge, methodologies, and experiences that ensure its cultural and educational relevance.
This tool has been developed collectively with secondary school students and teachers, deepening the Afro/Black cultural heritage and collective memory. It brings together stories, activities, recipes, music, and community methodologies, providing a learning space that honours students’ roots, values their present, and inspires them to imagine an Afro-futurist space. Through joint work with the Ethnoeducation Table, ancestral knowledge, intercultural approaches, and critical pedagogies have been integrated, thus strengthening the teaching-learning process.
Benefits for Teachers
Having a pedagogical toolkit focused on ethnoeducation offers teachers numerous benefits that positively impact their teaching practice:
Contextualised Materials: The toolkit includes resources adapted to the realities of Afro-descendant communities, facilitating access to meaningful content that is often missing from traditional curricula. This enables teachers to work with accurate and representative information, moving away from stereotypical perspectives.
Inclusive and Participatory Methodologies: The toolkit provides strategies that encourage active student participation, with hands-on activities based on oral traditions, art, and community work. This enriches classroom dynamics and caters to different learning styles.
Continuous Professional Development and Critical Reflection: The toolkit not only offers materials but also encourages teachers to reflect on their practices, questioning educational structures that have historically overlooked Afro-descendant history. It empowers them to strengthen their role as agents of change in a more inclusive education system.
Enhanced Teaching Process: By providing clear, flexible, and culturally relevant resources, teachers can plan and deliver their lessons with greater confidence and creativity. The toolkit becomes an essential support for integrating Afro-centred content across different subjects.
Benefits for Students
From a student perspective, a pedagogical toolkit provides deep and transformative benefits:
Recognition and Affirmation of Their Own History: Through the activities, narratives, and methodologies included, Afro-descendant students see themselves reflected in the content, which strengthens their sense of identity, self-esteem, and belonging. This recognition allows them to connect with their roots and feel valued within the educational process.
Meaningful and Relatable Learning: The toolkit promotes experiential learning, drawing on community experiences, music, gastronomy, oral traditions, and other cultural expressions of the Afro community. This makes the knowledge acquired directly relevant to their daily lives and surroundings.
Encouragement of Creativity, Autonomy, and Critical Thinking: By engaging with methodologies that promote dialogue, research, and collective creation, students develop skills that go beyond academic content, enabling them to become active participants who can question and transform their realities..
A Vision for a Dignified and Afro-Futurist Future: The toolkit not only focuses on the past but also encourages young people to imagine a future where their culture and knowledge are fundamental pillars. It inspires them to envision a future where dignity, equity, and recognition are a reality.
Reflections on the Webinar: 'Nos Narramos en Clave Dignidad' [Telling our stories with Dignity]
The presentation of the pedagogical toolkit took place during the webinar Nos Narramos en Clave Dignidad, a space for dialogue and learning that brought together teachers, students, and key members of the educational community. Participation was highly engaged and enriching; teachers from various regions shared their experiences and valued the toolkit’s relevance to their educational practices. Attendees particularly highlighted the community-based and culturally situated approach of the toolkit, as well as the way it integrates Afro-Ecuadorian memory and creative methodologies.
From the Ethnoeducation Committee, we are proud of the collaborative work achieved, and the positive reception of the webinar confirms the need to continue strengthening spaces where education is built upon our roots, promoting dignity, diversity, and the recognition of Afro-descendant histories in the classroom.
You can access the ethnoeducation toolkit here (English version will be available soon!):
Conclusion
The implementation of a pedagogical toolkit for the ethnoeducation of the Afro community is a crucial step towards ensuring a more just, equitable, and representative education. It not only enables teachers to diversify their methodologies and enrich their classes but also provides students with the opportunity to learn from their identity, history, and culture. The experience of the webinar reaffirms that initiatives like this are essential for transforming the education system and creating spaces where Afro-descendant memory, dignity, and future aspirations take centre stages.
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