Árbol del Sur School + Nature Reserve
About Us
Sol Carrizo and Juan Pablo Pelacini
Árbol del Sur NGO and Nature Reserve Quebrada del Palmar’s co-founders
In 2018, we felt that our project needed to be established in a place where we could be able to immerse ourselves in the school of Nature’s wisdom to develop our tasks. At that time, we dreamed of a place where we could share respect and care for the mountain valley and the flora and fauna with young people and help them learn to value natural resources as a means of livelihood.
We knew that the place to develop our dream was in San Luis province, but we didn’t know exactly where it was. We went on several trips to determine where our project could be established until we finally arrived at San Francisco del Monte de Oro village by chance.
I dare to say that we felt like “a call from the mountain valley,” and when we arrived at the place where we are today, we felt that it was it.
And, of course, Árbol del Sur is alive THANKS TO an interdisciplinary team of individuals that come from different walks of life united by a huge vocation for education based on Nature’s wisdom.
Árbol del Sur was born in 2014 as an answer to modernity amid an environmental crisis. We encourage social values providing a new meaning and value to ancient wisdom and practices that lead to a balanced and harmonious relationship with Nature.
Árbol del Sur NGO
We promote the development of human potential through learning processes and social interactions to build a connection between ancient and modern knowledge based on Nature’s wisdom.
We aim to provide new meaning and value to indigenous and ancient wisdom by preserving values oriented towards a systemic approach concerning the human/nature unit to raise increased socio-environmental awareness.
We aim to build a School of Ancient Wisdom to raise a generation of young Guardians of Nature who can develop sustainable projects through the recovery of forgotten handmade artisan techniques to generate a sustainable circular economy to strengthen their local economy.
JAGUAR MURAL SOCIAL ACTION (only available in Spanish)
Buenos Aires, San Martín Jail
Andean ceremony during which a female jaguar with her baby was painted in a mural called “La Fuerza de la Tierra” (“The Force of Earth”). This ceremony took place at the San Martín jail during the 2018 winter solstice.
Interview with Rumi Sardinas Ullpu (only available in Spanish)
CONSEJO DE PAZ DE LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA (Council for Peace, only available in Spanish)
As members of the Council for Peace, we delivered a speech intended to get closer to the equilibrium of the Forces that push us to recognize our true Matrix, that is, our essence as Earth’s sons and daughters.
SOCIAL ACTION IN SAN MARTÍN JAIL (only available in Spanish)
We provide inmates with self-knowledge processes that help them to deal better with the time they have to spend in prison, which also results in better physical, mental and spiritual health. The goal is to help them deal with difficult situations inside jail with faith and optimism. Through Tai Chi lessons, they work their will and they acquire knowledge concerning their own skills to sustain themselves by being conscious that they are responsible for their own comprehensive development process.
EL LLAMADO DEL CÓNDOR (The Condor’s Call) (only available in Spanish)
Documentary
Earth is calling us… In this moment of profound planetary transformation, we want to share a #hope message. We make available this audiovisual material because we wish to meet and hug each other. We are confident that we are being guided towards a new beginning that will find us united in Spirit.
Watch the documentary on YouTube
RELACIÓN CON EL CABALLO (Bonding with Horses, only available in Spanish)
Ankari’s Herd of Horses, Traslasierra Valley
WARACHIKUY (only available in Spanish)
Andean Race in Buenos Aires
Interview with Tayta Carmelo Ullpu (only available in Spanish)
Photos
spiritual retreats
congresses and conferences
workshops and lessons
social action program
Social Actions
Árbol del Sur was born in 2014 to provide young people with a framework to affirm their individual selves inside the community by means of experiential workshops and gatherings.
2016 - 2019 | Social Action Program in San Martín Jail, Unit Number 48 (Penal San Martín, unidad nro. 48)
Our work spread through marginalized areas and we successfully developed Árbol del Sur’s Social Action Program for three consecutive years, which provided inmates with
self-knowledge tools and Tai Chi lessons (ancient practice consisting of physical, mental and spiritual training) that helped them to improve their lives. Also, we conducted artistic works such as three murals painted in the prison yard of wing number 11. The paintings showed the cultural value that native animals, such as the condor, puma and snake, hold for indigenous communities.
2017 - 2019 | Social Action Program in elementary schools
We hosted a workshop called “Los pueblos indígenas y su relación con la Naturaleza” (Indigenous Communities and their Relationship with Nature) for students of private and public elementary schools of the province of Buenos Aires. It aimed to help boys and girls to feel part of Nature and to recognize how their actions can transform the environment.
