Maria Glauser

Maria is experienced in indigenous education within the context of Paraguay and holds a degree in Educational Sciences. Maria has been a research analyst for Plan International, UNDP and Decidamos, where she was involved in strengthening youth leadership in Paraguay. She has published on the learning and knowledge-sharing practices of indigenous groups in Paraguayan Chaco. Maria speaks English, German, Italian and Spanish. Maria has been co-director of The Hub since August 2005.

My little story. I was born in Asuncion, Paraguay. My mum is Paraguayan, my dad Swiss. I have 4 brothers (where my football skills come from). We grew up in the country side in Paraguay, where I lived the first 25 years of my life.In Paraguay I learnt a lot of what I know about life, love, social reality, systems and its ironies. I taught language for 5 years in formal settings and also in an indigenous community. I traveled with my family across the country, the continent and within our house - we used to be very nomadic. I lived in Switzerland for 1,5 years. In 2001 I met PoC (www.pioneersofchange.net) during a Learning Journey on Paulo Freire's ideas on Critical Education in Brazil. It changed my life and my ideas of learning, teaching, doing 'social' work...I cried all the way home on the bus, simply for feeling the change going on inside me. In 2002 I spent 3 months in Shikshantar, in Udaipur (India) where I learnt that there are alternatives to schooling, formal learning, the educational ladder, etc. While being there I also took part of another PoC Learning Journey on Gandhi's ideas on 'Swaraj or self-sufficiency'. I went back home and wrote my thesis on the educational and knowledge-sharing practices of the Ayoreo and the impact of schooling in their lifestyle. Soon after that I moved to London where I met The Hub, space where I am putting my skills into practice. At The Hub I am working on the codification of The Hub's practice and approach and developing a business support framework for The Hub London, where I host three days a week.

I could offer languages, my experiences in indigenous knowledge and informal learning approaches, my practice hosting The Hub...I've always got time to talk and be in silence, go places, cycle near and far, climb mountains, long Saturday and Sunday post-lunch conversations, and to play rummy, scrabble or a football game.