PARAGUAY, dequeni/mkf. The launch of the Dequeni Foundation “Your help is greater than you could imagine” School Bursary Campaign for 2010, was held during a press conference on Friday 2 October just before the start of the opera, “The Barber of Seville” in the lobby of the Leopoldo Marechal Theatre at the Argentinean embassy.
Miguel Angel Coronel shared his testimony as one of the Dequeni beneficiaries during his early teenage years. Today, he is a tenor and a music teacher, the founder of the Mercosur Opera, a pioneer artistic initiative in a country that adapts opera to different kinds of audiences. Dequeni creates awareness and channels widespread solidarity to the most needy people, families and communities in Paraguay, giving them real opportunities to be integrated into society by playing a role in their own development and improving their quality of life and society.
School Bursaries
The “School Bursaries” campaign is a Dequeni Foundation initiative that unites community efforts to integrate boys and girls who are in the greatest risk of abandonment into the formal education system and to remain in it. It reaches more than 4,000 children from families with very few resources.
The bursary provides key support for the children to go to school as it helps them overcome their families’ economic limitations and motivates them to develop all of their abilities in school.
The first Dequeni School Bursaries Campaign took place in 2003 and since then, its aims have gradually grown because various people and organizations hold this event annually as a gesture of solidarity towards the children.
This latest campaign will continue until February 2010 and aims to collect 2.461 Dequeni sponsors. It aims to equal the number reached last year but is no less challenging, given the economic crisis affecting all sectors this year.
The School Bursary consists of giving the children a backpack with all the books and stationery they will need for the year. The Foundation asks parents to register their children in order to receive the bursaries. The bursary also includes their uniform and shoes as well as educational support throughout the year at the foundation’s open and community centres. Halfway through the year, the bursary also provides a top-up kit.
Happy Day on 20 November 2009 is another event that will contribute to the campaign.
At the conclusion to the School Bursaries Campaign, a ceremony is held and the sponsors are invited to attend to participate in handing out the kits. The first phase for handing out kits will be held on 3 March 2010 at the Foundation head offices in Fernando de la Mora.
The 2.461 bursaries collected last year were distributed to boys and girls in Asunción, Fernando de la Mora, J. Augusto Zaldívar, Luque, Ypané, Arroyos y Esteros, Caacupé and Caaguazú.
This campaign strengthens the Dequeni Foundation’s efforts to support education as a means to a safer and better country.
How you can help
For only 45 euro ($60USD), a child will receive a solidarity bursary with everything he/she needs – uniform, registration at a local school and the support needed to complete the school year.
Dequeni began as a Schoenstatt Youth initiative. On 4 May 1985, a group of young people belonging to the Apostolic Schoenstatt Movement in Paraguay took up the initiative to help working children in an area known as Calle Ultima (meaning End of the Road) in Fernando de la Mora. They organized catechism days and snacks on Saturday afternoons at the Miraculous Medal Chapel. On the first day, 33 young sweet and newspaper vendors arrived. In the youthful and community spirit, characteristic of young people, and moved by their love for Mary, a service to the poorest of the poor started in a simple way.
The target for the sixth School Bursaries campaign – “For Free Education” – for the 2009 academic year was 2,400 bursaries. The target was reached thanks to the contributions of many people who are committed to childhood, the generous contributions of Paraguayan citizens living abroad and our overseas brothers and sisters, many of them belonging to the Schoenstatt Movement, resulting in this wonderful campaign of solidarity that gives boys and girls the opportunity to study this year.
>>> For more information (spanish and english): Dequení Foundation – e-mail: dequeni@dequeni.org.py
>>> Bank Account (Germany): Dequeni, Konto-Nummer 121 483 602, z.Hd. Ingrid Springer, Volksbank Haltern, BLZ 426 613 30; IBAN: DE52426613300121483602 – BIC: GENODEM1HLT. Spenden sind in Deutschland steuerabzugsfähig. Bitte auf der Überweisung dazu vollständige Adresse angeben.
>>> Donations via online credit card payment: http://www.dequeni.org.py/donar.php
