Ambassador
Ambassador Event
AMBASSADOR WAYNE VISITS SOCIAL PROJECTS AND MAKES DONATIONS IN VIRREYES
September 24, 2007
Ambassador Wayne visited social projects sponsored by Our Lord of Itati Parrish in Virreyes, San Fernando, on September 24. The Ambassador visited the San Ramon center, a scholastic center and comedor for local children; the Ceferino Namuncura workshop, which works with 120 adolescents and 35 adults in an effort to provide them with the tools they need to undertake a career in carpentry, electricity, blacksmithing, welding, computation or painting; and the Mother Theresa School.
Mother Teresa school was built and financed in 2003 by the Fate-Aluar group and today provides free education to approximately 450 children, aged 6-12. A secondary education program is being developed and when completed the school will have the capacity to hold close to 600 children from poor surrounding neighborhoods.
Javier Madanes, FATE-ALUAR President, Gerardo Osvalo Amieiro, San Fernando Mayor and Alejandro Diaz, executive director the AMCHAM, joined the Ambassador in a tour of the School. He was also accompanied by the 5 Youth Ambassadors whom the Embassy sent to the US in January of this year on an exchange program.
During his visit to the comedor, workshop and school, the Ambassador donated a one-year’s subscription to the Internet, PCs, English Teaching books, and other educational material. At the school, the Youth Ambassadors talked to the children about the value of education and their exchange experience. As Ambassador Wayne said in his remarks, “Investing in our youth is one of the most important things we can do.” He also expressed his admiration for the network of education and support for youth that exists in Virreyes as a result of cooperation between the parish, private donors, parents and local authorities: “I am very positively impressed by the enthusiasm of the students and the level of services being provided here. This is an excellent example of collaboration between the community, civil society, the private sector and local authorities to support Argentina’s youth and prepare them for the future.”
Through 11 different centers, Our Lady of Itati programs are currently working with 1,400 families living under extreme conditions in order to give them the support they need to develop and re-insert themselves back into society.