By Mónica Ruiz
The Foundation organized a rich festive ceremony for the handing over of the 921 backpacks containing educational materials. From early in the morning, hundreds of children and young people were arriving at the campus, accompanied by their families and teachers.
Waiting for them there were Fr Francisco Sánchez, Director of the Foundation; Wladymir Galarraga, General Coordinator; Fr José Juncosa, Vice-Chancellor of the Salesian Polytechnic University in Quito; other officials of the Foundation, members of the Salesian Pastoral Ministry team and officials from the Ministry for Social and Economic Inclusion.
Fr Sánchez said that "the provision of school kits is a result of the commitment of those who made it possible, so that children and young people can grow, learn, play, and so build an environment, a family and a decent society, as they are taught values and given a chance in life.”
Before the backpacks were presented there was a summary of school support activities carried out in the past year. 986 students in Quito had benefitted: 835 of them successfully completed the school year, 93 left for various reasons, and 49 will have to repeat the year.
The beneficiaries of the initiative are young people enrolled in the following institutes: workshops of the San Patricio School; the San Patricio commercial Unit (UESPA); the GOL programme in the Dominic Savio, Mi Patio and Don Bosco schools; the "Guambra Acción" programme (in La Marin, Amazonas, Pisulí and Iñaquito), the Mi Caleta School and the public schools of Amaguaña.
Source: Salesian Polytechnic University
