Thank You:  One thousand five hundred times

Dequení:  Thanks to the solidarity of many, more than 1,500 children will go to school this year

Tarea cumplida: más de 1500 niños reciben una beca Mission fulfilled: over 1,500 children receive a scholarship Aufgabe erfüllt: über 1500 Kinder bekommen eine „Schultüte“
Solidaridad vivida Lived solidarity Das ist gelebte Solidarität Fotos: Deueni © 2007

PARAGUAY, Dequení/mkf.  After a very successful campaign of solidarity, the Foundation will begin to present the scholarships donated by people, organizations and businesses in February within the framework of the 2007 campaign "Give a child wings, give wings to education with your love".  This campaign makes it possible for children who belong to families with limited resources to receive an education.

"Thanks to the solidarity of many people and businesses, more than 1,500 children will be able to go to school this year.  The more they are prepared the better, in this way we break the cycle of poverty and we give them better opportunities to live a worthwhile life," said Raquel Bertran of the Dequení Foundation.

On February 27-28 and on March 6-8, the scholarships will be presented to the children from Asunción, Fernando de la Mora, Caacupé, J.A. Saldivar, Cassguazú, and Arroyos and Esteros. 

The campaign began last October on both a national and international level. It concluded January 31st.  The program was made public by the media in Paraguay, by the international news agency, Acipresena, in a magazine, and on the web page of the Schoenstatt Movement in Paraguay www.schoenstatt.org.py and by Schoenstatt.de.

The scholarships cover the costs of a backpack with school supplies, a complete uniform, the tuition for school and mentoring by the Foundation throughout the school year, with the objective that each child will be successful.

Mass of thanksgiving

"A thousand thanks" is usually said to express profound gratitude.  "One thousand five hundred thanks", Raquel Bertran said when she received a donation from six elderly women from Switzerland. The six decided to donate 500 Euros to finance 11 scholarships after reading a brief notice in the "Schoenstatt Aktuell" magazine. 

A German couple made an enormous effort so that two scholarships would arrive in Paraguay on time for "their" children, Liz Paolo and Carlos Aries, who they sponsored last year.  "It is our Christmas gift", they said.  "The letters they wrote to us last year are in our Home Shrine".  Solidarity brought to life.

The many efforts, the many thanks that were received, all the work done in the Dequení projects were included in the Mass of thanksgiving held before Christmas. The Mass drew more than 2,000 people, who are benefactors of the Foundation that are from Caacupé, Arroyos and Esteros, Limpio, Luque, J.A. Saldivar, Fernando de la Mora and Asunción. 

The Mass was offered by Father Alberto Rodríquez, who remarked this is special time of the year. He said there was an atmosphere of celebration in the main house of the Foundation. Children, youth and families, who were the beneficiaries, jointly expressed their gratitude to God for the excellent year that the institute had, benefiting 2, 800 children, 1,506 families and 900 youth through the different projects.

A day full of shared smiles and joys

It was day full of shared smiles and joys, showing work that is done with love has fruits.  Besides the Mass, those in attendance had lunch and tea together, and later they enjoyed  a choir singing Christmas carols.  Later, representatives from the different projects presented an artistic spectacle during the journey, which gave the celebration a different touch since the children were the protagonists who represented the birth of Jesus with a live manger.

The first scholarships on the way…

The success of the project the is the result of the contributions of more than 5,400 benefactors, volunteers, Cooperative Agencies, the media, businesses, and all the people, who once again placed their trust in Dequení. They showed they want to continue with the task of giving their brothers of limited resources the opportunity to break the vicious cycle of poverty.

And while we prepare to present the scholarships, the first scholarships donated by some young families from Germany are on the way to Paraguay…

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX / Judy Harlowe, Milwaukee, USA