(ANS - Santo Domingo) – On 15 September 2014, Salesian Past Pupil, Andrés Navarro, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic.  All through his life he has always paid tribute to the Salesian education he received.

In 1977, the Navarro family emigrated from Bonao to Santo Domingo, in search of new horizons and opportunities. Inocencio and Fefita, parents of  Andrés and four other children, had three clear priorities: food, health and education.

The Don Bosco Institute of the city became a second home for José Andrés and his brother (who is now a Jesuit). "Our entry to the institute marked the whole direction of our lives, not only because of the sound education we received, but also for the human and Christian valueswe were offered.  We were able to assimilate these values from the Salesians and teachersin an atmosphere of familiarity, closeness and trust. (...) The Institute shaped my life and the variety of training activities gradually forged my character and sense of autonomy."

The education received and the values acquired were a great help to me during my time in college and later during my architectural studies at the Independent University of Santo Domingo (1982-1990).

In 1991 Andrés married an architect, María Luisa Ramírez, and they had two children, Andrew and Amelia.

Andrés says that "due to the Christian and social environment in which I was formed, I decided in 1997 to enter politics in the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). Aware that politics was discredited by corruption and despotism, I decided to take a big risk, relying on the belief that the criteria and the values of the education I had ​​received, and the social doctrine of the Church, were a strong base to initiate new ways of doing politics. Moved by these beliefs I started in public service. In 1998 I joined the National Council of Urban Affairs, (....) and in 2014 I became Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications. In all of this, I was guided by the values ​​forged in the bosom of my family and under the care of the Salesians. "

"On 15 September last,“ he says, “the President of the Dominican Republic, Hon. Danilo Medina, appointed me Foreign Minister of the country, at a time when it was going through a period of weakness and problems regarding its image. All expectations are concentrated in a process of reform and modernization of the agency responsible for the foreign policy of the Dominican Republic. I am confident that the training I received as a child and the values ​​learned during my education will enable me to play the role that God has allowed me to take on at this stage of my life."

Published 29/09/2014