(ANS - Cuenca) - In a solemn session held at the City Hall on 3 November, for the 193th anniversary of Independence, the city of Cuenca bestowed on the Salesian Foundation PACES the highest honour the Council can award to any institution for service to the local community.

The session, which was attended by the Vice-President of the Republic, the Hon. Jorge Glas, and several ministers and government officials, began with a speech from the mayor Paúl Granda who said that "the PACES Foundation performed a selfless work every day in accommodating over 800 child labourers."  The mayor then handed the honorary medal to the Director of Paces, Edgar Gordillo, who was accompanied by two small boys, Jazmin and Josè, two of the many beneficiaries of the Foundation.

Fr Javier Gomez Herran, Salesian Rector of the Polytechnic University, then delivered a speech of thanks on behalf of the Salesian community: "We thank the Giver of life for the gifts received and placed at the service of the community. It fills us with hope and satisfaction to feel the warmth and strength of the gratitude that accompanies these medals awarded to us by our city to honour men and women who are outstanding examples of citizenship and generosity. (...) Our gratitude also goes to those who have stood with us to support us in the work, to these good people who quietly work in solidarity with us and those who inspire and guide our lives."

Then Jazmin spoke and got a warm round of applause from everyone present. "I'm Jazmin,” he said. “I am fourteen years old and I have been working since I was nine. Thanks to a teacher who invited me to PACES, I now have the honour of being here to receive this award. We have many dreams to fulfil, we do not stop here! We know that you can help us. We are very grateful that some people are standing up for our rights, but we will not stop here, we will keep going forward as far as we can, until there is not a single child or young person exploited or abused on the streets. Do not leave us on our own!"

Then the Hon. Glas spoke in praise of the efforts of the PACES Foundation and encouraged young people not to give up.

Published 28/11/2013