International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Every person has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
There is no freedom without knowledge. The members of the Àgora-CdA Association of Verneda-Sant Martí have been committed, since 1978 and more than ever today, to ensuring that citizens can freely make informed choices based on scientific evidence. From the beginning, the educational, social, and community project was built on the best available pedagogical and social proposals worldwide. This is why the school has become a global reference point and the origin of successful educational actions that now number over 15,000 worldwide, such as the Dialogic Literary and Scientific Gatherings. The former are based on reading universal literary classics, while the latter focus on scientific articles and books. These gatherings allow participants to rigorously understand scientific evidence first-hand.
In the 21st century, in a society where information is key, the Àgora Association has led the desinfoEND project: Developing Critical Thinking to Combat Misinformation in Europe (2022-2024) (Erasmus+). Within the framework of a dialogic society and from the perspective of dialogic learning, the organization has already developed European-wide strategies for participants without university degrees to acquire the tools to distinguish between hoaxes, fake news, and scientific evidence. Article 27 of the Human Rights Declaration must also be promoted by social movements that aim to transform society and improve people’s lives. Citizens have the right to know about scientific advancements that can improve any aspect of their lives. Therefore, although the European project has ended, we continue organizing training courses so that neighbors have a place to find education that provides them with the tools to make free and informed choices.
Co-Coordinator of the Verneda Sant Martí Learning Community
President of the Àgora Association