The university paid tribute to the legacy of Matthias Abram

Quito, viernes 15 marzo 2019
Matthias Abram
Matthias Abram

 

The university and the Abya Yala Publishing House organized a tribute to Matthias Abram, a German – Italian philosopher, linguist, professor and promoter of bilingual education, who lived and worked in Ecuador. 

Matthias Abram is remembered for mainly three reasons: a man with lots of knowledge of culture and the country, an educator and promoter of bilingual education and as a professor and scientist. For Milagros Aguirre, general editor of Abya Yala, "there are many ways to remember him, a scholar, collector, librarian, lover of maps and books, a kind and fun person, a friend", she said.

Jose Juncosa, vice president of our branch campus in Quito, welcomed attendees and said "Abya Yala admires Matthias Abram for his work as editor of a number of books that were not written by him. He had great skills to encourage, manage, promote international cooperation, indigenous organizations, government agents, education, etc.

Juan Bottasso sent his regards from Italy and said Matthias was a great friend. Ivan Cruz said he was a man who loved Ecuador and its culture. Professor Patricio Guerrero played song songs dedicated to Matthias, and Ruth Moya who worked with him for forty years and together published several books such as "pueblos indigenas and Educación Abya Yala", spoke about his background and main works. 

Students from the "Transito Amaguaña" school, founded by Abram, danced to Acu Yachay Huasiman;  Irma Gomez, director of the school spoke about Abram's legacy. Alberto Conejo, UPS professor and part of Abram's work group told some anecdotes, spoke about his relationship with people and how much he was in love with our geography. Finally, Alfonso Ortiz presented some of Abram's books.