PARAGUAY, mda. Luz María is five years old today, and she growing up with her grandparents and with the help of the Dequeni Foundation. She depends on a scholarship to go to school and have the option of getting an education in order to have a profession in the future that will allow her to support herself and most of all to be happy, by developing her talents for the service of others, to grow, and to live with dignity… Making this possible costs 80 US dollars or 70 Euros: the equivalent of a good meal with two or three friends, buying a pair of brand name pants, or stereo headphones. Luz María is the one who inspires me to write this article and continue to provide “publicity” for Dequeni.
Luz María has attended the”Sagrado Corazon de Jesús” [Sacred Heart of Jesus] Community Center daily since she was two years old. Her mother would leave her early in order to go to work as a maid for families. The father abandoned them, and with three children to support, their mother made the hard decision to travel to Argentina to work. Unfortunately far from home and from her family, Luz María’s mother became seriously ill and died.
Luz María, as well as her two siblings, remained in the care of their grandparents, aunts and uncles. With the accompaniment of Dequeni, they are growing up protected and happy in their community. The grandparents, Francisca and Rodolfo, do not have steady employment; occasionally they have temporary jobs, which give them some income. Therefore the Parents’ Committee helps this family with food on weekends. Moreover, Luz María and her siblings have good nutrition with a glass of milk and the lunch that they receive at the Community Center.
Scholarships
To guarantee that the three children remain in school, Dequeni provides them with scholarships every year (school supplies, track suit and shoes). The children also participate in dance and theater workshops and sports that the Foundation provides at their school. These contribute to strengthening their personality, their ability to relate with other children, and it helps their self-esteem.
At school, Luz María’s teacher stresses that she “is confident, she applies herself and is responsible; she applies what she learns to the maximum.” Her grandmother commented that Luz María is always smiling despite the situation that she and her siblings face. She affirms that her grandchildren would not be as well if it were not for the love and affection that they receive through Dequeni.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
“Let us look at the year 2015 with more hope and joy since it is a special year for the Foundation,” writes Clarisa Galeano, the executive of Dequeni’s business social responsibility and development unit of funds. “It has been 30 years of service and this would not have been possible without people who trust the work and mission of Dequeni. We want to continue to reach goals, and it is for this reason we are inviting everyone to renew their support for scholarships for the children of Dequeni.
The support for scholarships is a service that guarantees the education of a little boy or girl who lives in very limited conditions because of poverty.
It consists in providing a backpack at the beginning of the school cycle, prepared with much affection and in a special way for each boy or girl. It includes notebooks and school supplies that are most requested by their school.
Moreover, a tracksuit and sport shoes are included for recreational activities.
Then after the winter vacation, they receive a supplement of school supplies.
This is a stimulus for the children, and it is a joy to know that they have this support. In Dequeni we also understand that the scholarships guarantee the beginning of the school year without the risk of child labor or the lack of formal work of the adults represents in these communities.
This scholarship is complemented by other services provided by Dequeni, which are offered within the communitarian development project.
Dequení, we do it for the children
Although the great majority of the scholarships come from Paraguay, the support that has been received for more than ten years from the readers of Schoenstatt.org is significant; for example, a German lady, who as a young lady dreamed of having twelve children, now has five, and every year she supports seven Dequeni children with scholarships. “So this is how I realized my greatly desired twelve children,” she commented. There are readers, who organize celebrations or events at schools, and they donate the proceeds for scholarships, and there are readers who quietly and loyally donate a scholarship every year. This is solidarity, which is concrete and real.
Dequení is an institution that raises awareness in a broad stream of solidarity toward the most needy Paraguayan people, families, and communities by offering them concrete opportunities to integrate themselves in society. The task of solidarity is based on the values of love, solidarity, service and honesty. It began on May 4, 1985, when a group of the Paraguayan Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement’s youths took the initiative to help the children who worked in a well known area such as Calle Última in the city of Fernando de la Mora, which neighbors Asuncion. They organized catechism workshops and snacks on Saturday afternoons in the Capilla Medalla Milagrosa [Miraculous Medal Chapel]. After the first invitation, thirty-three children who sold candy and newspapers came. The joyful spirit of the youths’ solidarity touched by the love of Mary began a work of service in a simple way toward the most humble. And taking the words of Jesus “dejad que los niños vengan a mí” [let the children come to me] they named this generous act of solidarity.
Dequeni web site
Para donar
- Transfer: BIC: UBBRPYPX (BANCO ITAU PARAGUAY S.A., Asuncion, Paraguay), Account: 700001107 (Fundación Dequeni)
- Transfer from Europe (SEPA): IBAN: DE52426613300121483602
BIC: GENODEM1HLT (name: Ingrid Springer; registered name: Dequeni)
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Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
