Democracy XXVIII

Harvard Association for Cultivating Inter-American (HACIA) Democracy is an annual conference that simulates the Organization of American States (OAS) proceedings. Twenty Delegations representing ten countries of Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela descended on the Hilton Hotel in Cartagena, Colombia, from March 9th to the 12th along with faculty advisors and, even, some parents. The excited, just over three hundred high school students interested in democratic advancement and development, spent the four intensive days practicing diplomacy, research & methodology, and networking as they engaged in democratic debate and decision-making.

In his welcome address, President of the HACIA Democracy XXVIII Millán González-Bueno Aguirre defined the beautiful aspect of encounters. Preparations for in-person presentations have already taught the delegates so much, yet, re-encountering these topics with their peers exposes different perspectives and opinions.

Delegates received review training on parliamentary procedures before starting discussions, sharing positions, and evolving working drafts to sponsor the final resolutions.

In a spirit of community, the thirty-two faculty advisors echo similarities in their motivations to work with students. Educational Benefits of the HACIA to students include:

• Meeting required dress codes, WBA outlined by Conference

• Actively engaging in decision-making experiences

• Confidence-building activities among peers, public speaking

• Logical thinking as they develop ideas and arrive at a consensus

• Financial literacy as budgets and costs of projects are assigned

• Exposure to historical context, addressing present-day realities and innovative strategies for the future.

Additionally, the conference itinerary includes many exciting activities for students to demonstrate their knowledge of their home country and personal talents as they strengthen old and new friendships.

Empowerment is both a value orientation for working in the community and a theoretical model for understanding the process and consequences of efforts to exert control and influence over decisions that affect one’s life, organizational functioning, and the quality of community life (Perkins & Zimmerman, 1995; Rappaport)

Undoubtedly, the effects of par- ticipation in the HACIA Democracy are far-reaching. On Monday, the students departing Cartagena, Colombia, are empowered. They are official ambassadors of positive attitudes, implanted with the psychological seed of their power as catalysts for change. They have demonstrated their willingness to engage in real-world problems, ability to manage stress, and determination to develop projects to aid their families, school community, and coun- tries.

Belize High School has participated annually in the HACIA since 2013, endorsed as a unique project-based learning experience.

HACIAdelante