With a deep spirit of gratitude, hope, and territorial commitment, the Amazonian Intercultural Bilingual Education Network (REIBA) held its 2025 General Assembly on Wednesday, November 26, a virtual meeting that brought together coordinators, educators, volunteers, and strategic allies to evaluate this year’s progress and plan for the challenges and goals for 2026.
Under the slogan “The importance of local volunteering in the REIBA mission,” the assembly focused on the men and women who, from their own territories, support educational and community processes in contexts marked by cultural diversity and structural inequality.
A space to encourage the mission
The day began with a welcome and prayer by Sister Marbelis Monroy, general coordinator of REIBA, who invited everyone to renew their hope and continue supporting educational services amid challenging realities.
Next, participants received a video message from Monsignor David Martínez de Aguirre, president of REIBA, who highlighted the value of the network as “a living fabric that brings life to the heart of the Amazon.” He gave special thanks to the volunteers, whom he described as “the heart and catalyst” that makes it possible to connect the challenges of communities with intercultural educational responses.
Contribution from CEAMA
Marcelo Lemos, Executive Secretary of CEAMA, emphasized the spiritual, territorial, and community dimensions of intercultural bilingual education.
He recalled that REIBA is now a strategic action within CEAMA’s Amazonian synodal horizon and expressed his appreciation to the educators and volunteers who sustain the mission on a daily basis in indigenous, peasant, Afro-descendant, and riverine territories.
He also highlighted the collegial and synodal nature of the CEAMA presidency, which accompanies and strengthens the work of REIBA as one of the most concrete expressions of the Church’s commitment to the Amazon.
In this context, Alicia Covaleda, CEAMA consultant, presented the listening process carried out during the year towards CEAMA’s Synodal Apostolic Horizons.
Voices from the territory: experiences that transform
The Assembly included a space for the exchange of experiences from REIBA’s formation processes in different Amazonian countries. Among them:
- Ecological calendar, shared by Professor Ruddy Fuentes (REIBA Sarrapia – Colombia).
- Spanish language module, with the testimony of Maritza (REIBA Dicaro – Ecuador).
- Linguistic revitalization, presented by Professor Juana Pocoena (REIBA San Antonio de Lomerío – Bolivia).
- Local volunteer experience, narrated by Guillermo Licuy, 2026 volunteer applicant (Ecuador).
These stories demonstrate the richness of contextualized educational processes that strengthen the cultural identity and autonomy of Amazonian peoples.
Local volunteering: a strategic commitment for 2026
Sister Lisette Escárate, coordinator of the volunteer area, delved into the value of strengthening local volunteering as one of the priorities for 2026. She emphasized that volunteers from the same territory have a deep understanding of community dynamics and a closeness that allows them to accompany with respect, interculturality, and listening.
For her part, Ana Gabriela Jimenez presented key guidelines for educational support during the coming year, as well as relevant information for the end of 2025 from the communications area.
Closing with gratitude and hope
The Assembly concluded with words of encouragement from Sister Marbelis Monroy and a final blessing sent by Monsignor David Martínez de Aguirre.
With this meeting, REIBA closes a year of intense, coordinated, and deeply territorial work, reaffirming its mission to promote intercultural bilingual education that is born from the territory, dialogues with cultures, and defends the dignity of the Amazonian peoples.