Can we do something against poverty and injustice? Yes, we can

Dequeni: two thousand seven happy children received scholarships

Gracias a todos... Thank you... Danke! Fotos: Helem Peña/Dequeni © 2008

PARAGUAY, Helen Peña. On the morning of Wednesday, March 12^th, the main center of the Dequeni Foundation was filled with many joyful children who arrived with their families to receive their scholarships. The campaign, The greatness of helping makes you big, began in October of last year and it called on all the citizens of Paraguay to collaborate and to above all promote the importance of offering needy children the guarantee of getting an education, which is a basic and universal right.

For the fifth consecutive year, the campaign undertaken by Dequeni surpassed the proposed goal. Thanks to the support of the citizens a total of two thousand seven scholarships were given to children from Caacupé, Caáguazú, Arroyos and Esteros, Ypané, Fernando de la Mora, Luque, J. Augusto Saldivar, and Asunción.

The touching ceremony took place with the presence of Engineer Fernando Talavera Gustale, president of the Foundation, some sponsors of the Campaign, representatives of organizations and businesses that supported this initiative, such as Sudameris Bank, Interbanco, Núcleo S.A., Paraguay, CADAM, Mizumo Motors and Ladies of UIP as well as young students who participated in the Inter-school of Solidarity. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Secretariat of Children and Adolescents, as well as some principals and teachers of educational institutions also attended.

Inter-school of Solidarity: conscientious and committed youth

This year the Inter-school of Solidarity was organized for the purpose of involving students from private schools in the campaign of solidarity to promote social responsibility and consciousness of the reality among them. The students from: Asa, Bautista, Cristo Rey, Del Sol, Goethe, San José, Santa Ana, San Agustin, Santa, Clara, Santa Elena, Campo Alto, and Dante Alighieri enthusiastically participated and they obtained a total of 216 scholarships. The students from San José School were commended for raising the most scholarships.

The boys from JQM (Youth That Move) were in charge of the work carried out in the schools with the help of FEDAPAR, the Parents’ Association, principals, and teachers from each school.

Another outstanding experience was the mobilization of the UIP Ladies (Paraguayan Industrial Union) that organized a raffle to support this campaign; they donated the equivalent of one hundred scholarships, by involving leaders and the core businesses of the association.

Yes, we can change the world

Sponsors from outside the country once again supported this campaign contributing 346 scholarships. The Peery Foundation and the Mary Helps Organization of the Schoenstatt Movement in Germany were outstanding in their support.

In total there were about 766 sponsors who made it possible for 2,007 children to receive scholarships from the Dequeni Foundation; among them were: people in solidarity, businesses, and civil organizations.

Can something be done against poverty and injustice? By looking at the faces of these two thousand seven Paraguayan children, the response is not a dream; rather, it is a dream come true: Yes, we can change the world.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj

• For more information see www.dequeni.org.py