The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and FLACSO Argentina have announced the results of “Social Movements and the Praxis of Gratitude” research program. The winners are Mariela Pena (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina); Alejandra Naranjo (Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile) and Sebastián Fuentes (FLACSO Argentina). They were selected from 50 applicants from 9 countries including Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Panama and Spain.
The three winner proposals will be supported with US $3,000 grant to further develop and complete the projects that explore the social value of gratitude in the collective actions of social movements in specific cultural, political and economic contexts.
This research project aims to investigate the experiences of gratitude of people who travel in spaces of food sociability. In these places the circulation of food goods is promoted, from the ethic of reciprocity, which strengthens the expression of certain values and the search for the right to adequate food.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of FLACSO, Luis Alberto Quevedo said, “FLACSO and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative have taken a promising step by installing a novel theme about the social forms in which gratitude is expressed in collective action. We are convinced that this can open new doors for critical reflection on the global humanitarian crisis. From these successful experience we are hopeful that the collaboration between both institutions will allow us to strengthen pioneering links in the Latin American region to think about the problem of gratitude and human rights from a conceptual and applied perspective, attentive to critical social situations and its possible ways of positive resolution.”
CEO of Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, Arman Jilavian said, “We are extremely excited for this successful cooperation with FLACSO Argentina. The response to the call for research proposals is overwhelming and we are grateful to all 50 researchers who took their time to explore the concept that drives the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative – “Gratitude in Action”. Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is extending the geography of its programs and impact, and Latin American societies warmly welcome our efforts.”
The selected research proposals Social Movements and Praxis of Gratitude will be carried out within 5 months until August 17, 2018 and the thesis of the research will be presented at the 2018 Aurora Dialogues, to be held in Armenia between June 8 and 10, 2018.