AIM
For students to see empowered women in Latin America through a case study, and learn how women struggle to survive against the impact big multinationals have.
MATERIALS
Facilities to play an internet video.
Video in English: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz8eZx8V4Uo
Video in Spanish: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0Cf1WclOrk
LINKS TO THE CURRICULUM
Junior Cycle: Strand 1. Communicative Competence, linked to LO 1.3, 1.4 and Strand 3: Strand 3: Socio-cultural knowledge and intercultural awareness, linked to LO 3.4
Senior Cycle: III. Cultural awareness 5
METHODOLOGY
Play the video about Maxima Acuña and learn about her struggle to defend her land. Ask the following questions:
- For how long has Maxima lived near the lake for?
- Name two events that happened in 1994 near the lake?
- What impact does mining have on water?
- What did the company do when Maxima refused to sell?
PRACTISE YOUR SPANISH
- You can ask the questions in Spanish and ask them to answer them in Spanish too.
- For higher levels, you can ask them to imagine they are Maxima and think of what they would do in her situation. Students should use the conditional and subjuntivo, ex: Si estuviera en el lugar de Maxima, venderia mi tierra y me iría a vivir a otro lugar.
CONNECTIONS WITH IRELAND AND TAKING ACTION
Maxima Acuña has received messages of solidarity and support from the international community. Solidarity is a way to support human rights defenders and to raise awareness about the pressures they have. Explore some of the human rights organisations in Ireland and invite students to take some action of solidarity with women in Latin America. You can look at Amnesty International (www.amnesty.ie/), Front Line Defenders (www.frontlinedefenders.org/), or Peace Brigades International (www.peacebrigades.org/).
