Educate Together is very excited to welcome Macarena Montero Lobos in a brand new role as our Global Citizenship Education Officer.
Funded by Irish Aid, our new Global Citizenship Education Officer is dedicated to strengthening and developing Global Citizenship Education (GCE) across our network of equality-based schools. This pivotal three-year project focuses on supporting the implementation of Ethical Education as a core element of the Educate Together ethos. The officer will work collaboratively to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and values to become active, engaged citizens in a global context.
Macarena believes that education is the most powerful tool to drive the social and cultural changes our world needs. She specialised in non-formal education, combining her background in social work with transformative models, inspired by Latin American communities such as Buen Vivir and the Pluriverse, to foster personal agency and collective well-being. Macarena believes that the purpose of education is to expand people’s capabilities while contributing to equality-based and peaceful societies. Education should empower individuals and communities to critically reflect on their realities and take meaningful action.
Originally from Chile, Macarena worked mainly in the NGO sector before moving to Ireland. In 2024, she obtained an MA in International Development from the University of Galway and was awarded an EU grant to support her research, which critically explored the purpose of education and produced original resources to raise awareness and foster critical thinking. In 2025, she joined the Panel for IDEA’s Code of Good Practice in Development Education, supporting organisations to strengthen their practices.
She is now part of Educate Together, managing the Activism Project for primary schools in partnership with Irish Aid. This role represents an important step in advancing her commitment to global justice, alongside an inspiring and dedicated team.