I like to study…

Start of the "Scholarship" campaign of the Dequeni Foundation, in Paraguay that aims for 1,500 scholarships

Carta y dibujo de Osvaldo Osvaldo’s letter and drawing Osvaldos Brief und Zeichnung
Dame una oportunidad... Give me a chance... Gib mir eine Chance...
Expo Dequeni en Asunción, durante la Caminata de la Solidaridad Expo Dequeni in Asunción, during the Solidarity Walk Expo Dequeni in Asunición, aus Anlass des Solidaritätsmarsches
Angelica Angelica Angelica
Logo Logo Logo Fotos: Helem Peña/Dequeni © 2006

PARAGUAY, Raquel Beltran/mkf. "I like to study", writes Osvaldo Ariel in his short letter, that has a drawing at the bottom titled "autumn". Trees, flowers, birds – all of them shaken by a strong wind, leaves that fly through the air…"Give a child wings…". His German benefactor, who some months ago donated a scholarship for a child in Paraguay, could not contain the tears. "Thank you very much", writes this 8 year old fourth-grader, who lives with his father and his 10 year-old sister e in J. Augusto de Saldivar. "Thank you very much for the backpack, I like my uniform shoes, notebook, colored pencils…Thank you very much!" While all the Schoenstatt Family in Paraguay is preparing for the great celebration of the silver jubilee of the National Shrine, the Dequeni Foundation, which began a few years after the blessing of the Shrine through the initiative of some young Schoenstatters, began their "Scholarship" campaign once more with a "Jubilee" desire: that at the beginning of the school year, in March 2007, some 1500 children can say: "Thank you very much…I like to study!"

For the fourth consecutive year the scholarship campaign was launched for 1500 needy children. The main objective is to create favorable economic, and social conditions suitable so that the children can access an education in the school of their community, and at the same time, prevent school dropouts, and to involve all the society in this common responsibility, giving impetus to the value of solidarity and of service.

In Paraguay it is estimated that around 2,577,644 people live in poverty. At the same time, it is estimated that more than 130,000 children of school age cannot attend an educational institution because of the serious poverty of their families. 230,000 children between the ages of 5 to 18 do not receive an education, which is one the most efficient tools to break the cycle of poverty.

With a contribution of 280,000 guaranies/ $55.00/ 45 Euros a child like Osvaldo Ariel can receive a scholarship of solidarity, a backpack with all the necessary school supplies, a complete uniform, the tuition in the school of his community and mentoring until the end of the school year.

Just 280,000 guaranies / $55.00 /45 Euros can change Angélica’s life

Angélica Aquino Cañete is 7 years old, she lives with her three siblings, her father Don Lorenzo, who works in construction, and with her mother Doña Cristina, who sells lottery tickets, in the Ita’anguade Luque neighborhood. In the morning she attends the second grade in Eugenio A. Garay School of her community. Since last June she has been the beneficiary of the open center "Together for the community", run by Dequeni. (this sentence seems convoluted. What’s the relationship between the named open center and the Foundation?) Angelica received a scholarship. She began the school year with a full backpack and a complete uniform; her commitment and perseverance has made her one of the best students in her grade.

All of the many individuals, businesses, kindergartens, schools, and groups from the Movement who give scholarships to a child help to spread the message that it is possible to change a life...to change the world. "Give a child wings" is the motto for the scholarship campaign. Give a child wings, by giving education –with your love.

The Campaign ends on January 31, 2007. All the Scholarships that are donated after January 31, 2007 will be applied to the following school year, 2008.

There are different ways to contribute in Paraguay (there is more information at (www.dequeni.org.py) for foreign countries it is possible to make a donation via a credit card on the web page www.dequeni.org.py. There is also an account in Germany, that is ideal for the European countries (Spendenkonto Dequeni, Konto-Nummer 121 483 602, z.Hd. Ingrid Springer, Volksbank Haltern, BLZ 426 613 30). If there are doubts or problems, please communicate with Raquel Beltran (rbertra@DEQUENI.ORG.PY ) or with the Schoenstatt Press Office (pressoffice@schoenstatt.de) No child should miss the opportunity to study because of problems making a donation.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen/TX, Barbara Brennan, Lincoln/NE, USA