Our branch campus in Guayaquil signed two agreements with the municipality of Pedro Carbo; the aim of the agreements is to carry out community engagement projects, training courses and research projects.

Psychology students carried out a participatory diagnosis with the participation of 52 families, psychosocial intervention and training courses aimed at improving people's lives. 

The signing of the agreement was attended by Xavier Gomez, mayor of Pedro Carbo; Mayra Villacreses, town councilor; Mariela Yambay, secretary of human rights council; and Byron Quevedo, representative of the municipality. On behalf of Universidad Politecnica Salesiana, the event was attended by Orlando Bustamante, in charge of community engagement for the psychology undergraduate program; Paola Samaniego and Margarita Peralta.

During the meeting, Bustamante said: "We suggest the use of an innovative model, where instead of raising previous issues, it is the community that empowers itself and chooses the situations it needs to work with the future psychologists."

Emphasis was placed on the importance of consolidating work with community leaders, so that they can generate projects autonomously which will favor the community.

The mayor thanked the Salesian community for their ideas. "On behalf of our institution, we appreciate the psychological support that they will provide, these activities are transcendental, especially during the context in which we live due to the pandemic," said Gómez.

After signing the agreement, they visited the sector and met René García, leader of the San Ramón sector, who showed total predisposition and collaboration for the projects.