Challenges of Catholic educación popular in Latin America and a case study of Ignatian educación popular in a deprived rural region of Ecuador

Abstract

This paper explores the current challenges of Catholic popular education in Latin America, with a focus on Ecuador. It identifies the current economic and political context–threats to democracy and economic crises–that affects the social fabric as well as challenging educational outcomes exacerbated by the pandemic. It focuses on Fe y Alegría, a Jesuit-affiliated network, to explore these issues as well as the transmission of faith, spirituality, and Christian leadership. It then presents a case study of contextualised Ignatian popular education in Ecuadorian indigenous communities. The challenges entailed in fostering individual integral development and community transformation through agency, citizenship and participation are discussed, as well as the difficulties of transmitting faith as underpinning for justice, with implications beyond Ecuador.