(ANS – São Paulo) – Fr Rosa lvino Moran Viñayo, founder and currently Director and Treasurer of the Don Bosco di Itaquera social project, is running for the Sustainable Citizen Award, in the category of social inclusion. The award is the initiative of the ‘Catraca Livre’ site, in collaboration with the ‘Nossa São Paulo’ network. It is aimed at recognising and appreciating people who contribute to the transformation of São Paulo into a more just, democratic, healthy and stable city.

The competition was launched this year on the eve of the local elections and was seen as an opportunity to discuss proposals and think about the future of the city. There are eight categories: Urban Intervention; Culture; Social Inclusion; Technology and Communication; Education; Health, Well-being and Sport; Environment; and active Democracy.

Anyone can have a vote, until 19th August, through a special web page. Following the public voting stage, a panel of journalists and researchers will declare the winner in each category, choosing from the three candidates achieving the highest number of votes in that category.

The contest also envisages two overall winners, one elected by public vote and the other chosen by the panel. The winners will be announced on 2nd October and the award ceremony will take place on 6th October.

Fr Moran was born in Spain, Benlleva, in 1941, but has lived in Brazil since he was a baby. He became a Salesian in 1963 and was ordained priest in São Paulo on 1st January 1973. In 1981 he was sent to work in the parish of Our Lady of Aparecida in Itaquera, and there he founded the Don Bosco social project, which offers educational and sporting services for the cultural and social benefit of the young.

At present the work in Itaquera is attracting 5000 people each day, through 6 services, 6 programmes and 3 projects, taking place in 16 places in Itaquera and Guaianazes.

Published 1/8/2012