Weaving Well-being: Education, Ecology, and Self-care in Community

On October 29, the first “Weaving Well-being” workshop was held at the “Weliwen” ecological space, located on the Lo Cañas Campus. On this day, students from the Faculty of Health welcomed their peers from the Main Campus, who belong to the School of Early Childhood Education. In total, more than 90 students from the Silva Henríquez Catholic University at Santiago, Chile, participated.

Inspired by the vision of integral ecology promoted by our university, the gathering was an invitation to care for life in all its forms: our own, that of others, and that of our Common Home.

A space that flourishes from the community

“Weliwen” is much more than just gardens: it is a living space where knowledge, spirituality, and commitment to the environment intertwine. Courses such as Therapeutic Gardening, Phytotherapy, and Phyto-product Development are taught here, motivating students to learn from caring and to care while they learn.

The workshop was a shared learning experience across different disciplines. Future educators and health professionals came together, sharing knowledge and experiences, and understanding that caring for others begins with self-care. Educating and healing are also ecological acts when done in harmony with nature.

During the day, students:

Prepared aromatic oils with plants harvested from medicinal gardens designed by their own classmates.

Made therapeutic pads to promote physical and emotional well-being.

Designed eternal terrariums, small ecosystems that represent the balance and connection between all forms of life.

Each activity was carried out from the perspective of integral ecology, fostering respect for nature and care for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

The meeting also opened a space for reflection on the importance of working together across different disciplines and building more humane, supportive, and sustainable educational communities.

Following the spirit of Don Bosco, we reaffirm our conviction in an education that is woven with affection, hope, and commitment, both towards the most vulnerable people and towards the Earth we share.

“Weaving Well-being was more than a workshop, it was an act of love for life, a bridge between education, health, and nature, and a real step towards a university that teaches from the heart and for the full life of all,” said Valeska Leiva, the teacher in charge of the meeting, who belongs to the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Hands that care, hearts that learn.