Welcome to the Latin American Society, where you will find other members who feel la vibra Latina! Read on to get to know us more 👇
WHAT OUR SOCIETY IS ALL ABOUT
Our goal as a society is to make the Latin American members of our community feel closer to home and showcase our culture and customs to non-Latin students. Our society is currently built by over thirty members and six dedicated executive members; this team is composed of our President, Rosa Pajares; our Secretary, Sofia Barrios; our Treasurer, Isabella Villamil; our Welfare Officer, Ariel Aguas; our Events Officer, Alex Sablich, and our Social Media Officer Fernando Odio. All executives come from diverse Latin American backgrounds, allowing cultural diversity and a broad representation and knowledge about the community they represent. To know more about each executive and their background, check out the society’s Instagram page @latinsociety_essex. So far, the society has hosted various events, including biweekly Latin Nights at the bar, a mixer in collaboration with the Students’ Union, and a Salsa and Bachata class. These events have hooked several people into our society and have taught them new traditions for our community.
We look forward to continuing to offer a variety of events that will entertain and educate all assistants. Our upcoming events include a Latin American quiz night and a screening of the movie Argentina,1985, followed by a Q&A panel. Both events will provide the perfect opportunity for attendees to expand their general knowledge of Latin America and some of the issues that Latin American countries have faced in the past. Further into the year, we will collaborate with other societies that will help portray different aspects of Latin American culture, such as politics and the challenges Latin nations face. Our events are created to help Latin American students get to know each other and build a support system outside their home countries; all executives are aware of how difficult it is for students to leave their homes and arrive in a completely new environment, so we want to provide them with a space for them to feel welcomed and comfortable. These events also have the purpose of raising awareness about Latin American culture, as we understand that little is known about it outside of Latin America, so we try to get other students engaged in learning about different traditions and cultural and historical aspects. Latin America is a region full of beautiful things, and as a society, we will work hard to portray its wonders to everyone at the university.
- Written by Sofia Barrios (Latin American Society Secretary)​
CHECK OUT OUR SOCIETY INSTAGRAM
GET TO KNOW OUR SOCIETY MORE
Meet The President
"Hey everyone! I’m Rosa Pajares Muñoz, a second-year Law with Business student and President of the Latin American Society here at the University of Essex. I’m from Cajamarca, Peru, and I’m super proud to be leading our society this year with an amazing team by my side!
I took on this role because I wanted to bring our amazing community closer and make campus feel a bit more like home. For me, it’s all about creating a space where we can celebrate our culture, share traditions (and maybe a few dance moves), and make lifelong friends. From exciting events to just hanging out and swapping stories, we’ve got a lot planned—and I can’t wait to share it all with you.
Let’s make this year unforgettable!"
Members’ Testimonies
"Taking a salsa class was definitely a big step outside of my comfort zone, but I honestly had a great time!!... It was really nice to connect with so many new people, everyone was so welcoming... Even though I was a complete beginner, I never felt awkward or like I didnt belong, and everyone was there to learn so we were all beginners together :)"
- Fabien (Latin American Society Member)
"Es una oportunidad para conectar con tu pais lejos de casa. Te permite sentirte cerca de lo muchas veces extrañamos. Ademas de poder conocer a gente de tu comunidad que entiende lo que es tu realidad"
Translation: "This society is an opportunity to connect with your country far from home. It allows you to feel close to what we miss a lot of the time. Additionally, you meet people from your community that understands your reality."
- Paola (Latin American Society Member)
"En la cultura mexicana compartir es sinónimo de querer. Estos días que tuve la oportunidad de compartir en la universidad la tradición del “Día de Muertos”. Que personas de toda América Latina nos hayamos organizado para poner una ofrenda en el campus principal, donde todos los estudiantes británicos e internacionales pudieron conocer más de nuestra cultura me llenó de orgullo y satisfacción. Lo más divertido fue terminar el día con la fiesta latina específicamente orientada al Día de Muertos. Me sentí como en casa."
Translation: In Mexican culture, sharing is synonymous to loving. These past days I had the opportunity to share the tradition of “Dia de Muertos” with the university. The fact that people from all over Latin America organized having an offering on the main campus, where all british and international students were able to get to know more about our culture, filled me with pride and satisfaction. The most fun part was ending the day with the Latin Party themed on Dia de Muertos. It felt like home.
- Cecilia (Latin American Society Member)
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Look what we've been up to 📸
