During the June 13-30 protest centered in Quito, the university declared its space a “peace zone and humanitarian aid center” for demonstrators from groups considered vulnerable (children, women and the elderly), who received health care and food. and shelter.
Likewise, it was one of the cases that called for dialogue between the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONE), the organizer of the marches, and the national government.
In this sense, the leadership of the UCE has defined democratic dialogue as the only way to reach agreements for the benefit of indigenous peoples and nationalities and the entire Ecuadorean community.
Today, a few hours after classrooms reopened, teachers, students and workers at the institution gathered once again to finalize details on the clean-up work that began last Friday, after the moves ended and Indigenous protesters returned to their homes. their communities.
In a conversation with Prensa Latina, Clever Cardenas, a professor at the College of Philosophy, Letters, and Educational Sciences, noted that the UCE played an essential role in the days of the strike, particularly with regard to support with food, shelter, and other supplies.
He explained that his college set up a tent to deliver aid, after raising funds to purchase food, cleaning products and deliver tools, in which students actively participated.
For his part, Franklin Baneau, a student of basic education, considered that the university has lived up to its historical performance in terms of participating in popular demands and highlighted the tasks it performs as a reception site.
In this regard, he denounced it as a zone of peace and care for the people attacked by the police, there were days when the security forces did not respect this requirement and attacked the headquarters.
All rights were violated, especially the right to protest, as he stressed and highlighted the participation of students in the rallies.
He concluded by saying, “If we university students do not get involved in this problem of society, we do not give anything back to those who give us.”
Face to Face Basic Education Association President Catherine Lopez emphasized the role the students played in promoting the use of the Student Center as a humanitarian aid point, as well as highlighting the spirit in which all staff came together to perform clean-up tasks to resume teaching.
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