Book launch in honor of the political career of Olga Poblete

A heartfelt tribute to Olga Poblete, one of the founders of PIDEE, was held as a part of the launch for a book detailing her personal and political life.

A heartfelt tribute to Olga Poblete, one of the founders of the PIDEE Foundation, was held as part of the launch of the book “Olga Poblete: Educator, Historian, Feminist, Peace Activist,” a volume that is part of the “Maestros y Maestras de Chile” collection published by the University of Chile.

The event took place on Tuesday, July 7, at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, and featured a panel discussion with Vivian Murúa, executive secretary of PIDEE, and Teresa Valdés, a sociologist and researcher at the Observatory on Gender and Equity, who participated in a panel moderated by Alondra Carrillo, a specialist in Publications and the Promotion of Books and Reading at Vexcom and editor of the text.

The event brought together representatives from academia, the cultural sector, and social organizations to reflect on Olga Poblete’s legacy, particularly her contributions to education, human rights, women’s struggles, and the building of a culture of peace.

Vivian Murúa spoke about Poblete’s commitment to human rights and recalled her role in the founding of the Association of Democratic Women and as a founder of PIDEE. In this vein, she highlighted the methodological expertise of the organization’s founding women: “These creative women, including Olga Poblete, were able to develop specific, interdisciplinary knowledge regarding the crisis faced by children during the dictatorship. This is attested to by many boys and girls who were cared for during that time and are now adults; they consider the Foundation to have played a fundamental role in their lives, helping them understand what was happening to them and feel welcomed.”

Teresa Valdés, for her part, highlighted the feminist lessons to be drawn from Olga Poblete’s biography, reviewing her friendship with figures such as Elena Caffarena, her leadership in the Chilean Women’s Emancipation Movement (MEMCH), and her vision of feminism. Valdés linked Poblete’s reflections to the historical need for unity of action and the integration of women’s demands into popular struggles.

The event also provided an opportunity to discuss the continued relevance of her ideas. The day concluded with a tribute to the organizations that Olga Poblete helped sustain during the dictatorship: the PIDEE Foundation, the Teachers’ Union, Women for Life, and the Ñuñoa Association of Democratic Women.