Ambassador
Ambassador Event
AMBASSADOR WAYNE VISITS FATIMA INSTITUTION
May 13, 2009
Ambassador Wayne presented a donation of computers and a printer to the President of Fatima Institution, Alicia Rosaz de Picasso Cazón, on May 13. The school is devoted to the education of deaf-blind children from kindergarten to their insertion as adults into the labor market.
"Deaf-blind children have found their second home at Fatima Institution. Much work and perseverance is needed to insert these kids into society and professionals at Fatima have been working for years to improve the life quality of students and relatives", said Ambassador Wayne during his visit to Fatima Institution.
Ambassador Wayne was accompanied by Hilton Perkins Regional Coordinator for Latin America Stephen Perreault and Perkins International Program Director Sergei Sorokin. The Hilton Perkins Foundation permanently updates professionals on new educational trends exclusively designed to help deaf-blind people enhance their communication skills. Also present at the event were San Isidro Mayor Gustavo Posse and authorities from the Cityhall Integration Department as well as Special Education Inspector Teresa Laurenzo.
The Embassy committed with Perkins Program authorities to continue to help them in Argentina.
Fatima Institution
Founded by Carlos Picasso Cazón and Alicia Rosaz de Picasso Cazón in 1988, Fatima Institution was the first private organization in Argentina devoted to the specialized integral assistance of the deaf-blind person. Fatima Institution provides educational and therapeutic assistance to children, youth and adults with deaf-blind impairments and/or multiple sensory challenges. To date, more than 500 deaf/blind children and adults have attended the school and more than 80 professionals have received high-quality training. The school has kindergarten and primary levels, workshop activities (academic, field-trips and swimming), vocational guidance and internships for adults.
About the Hilton Perkins Program
Hilton Perkins is a program of the "Perkins School for the Blind" with headquarters in Boston, United States, which has been carrying out cooperative action since 1990 to serve multiple impaired children, including deaf-blind kids, in Latin America. The program is an initiative of the Conrad Hilton Foundation. To date, the Hilton Foundation has donated 60 million dollars to the Perkins School. The partnership between the Foundation and the Perkins School for the Blind started as a result of the high esteem and respect that Conrad N. Hilton -- founder of Hilton Hotels -- had for Helen Keller, a student from the Perkins School for the Blind. Helen inspired millions of people around the world with her life, books and speeches. The Perkins School has been present in Argentina for 20 years through its regional office in the province of Cordoba. The Perkins School has helped more than 1,100 students in Argentina and is working closely with Argentine local education authorities to help public schools provide education to children with multiple disabilities.
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