(ANS – Ciudad Juárez) – The Chihuahuense Entrepreneur Foundation (FECACH), a philantropic association in the State of Chihuahua, on 15 September named Fr Juan Carlos Quirarte Méndez, Rector of the Salesian house in Ciudad Juárez, social entre- preneur of the year and as a consequence awarded him the “FECHAC 2014 Prize”.

According to the site of the FECHAC, the prize was awarded to Fr Quirarte “because of his work in planning  numerous social programmes for children and young people at risk  and marginalised in Ciudad Juárez”. In the category “organisation of civil society” the FECHAC 2014 Prize was awarded to the “Casas de Cuidado Diario” business.

In its two categories, the FECHAC 2014 Prize, “is a recognition by entrepreneurs  in the State of Chihuahua of organisations and social entrepreneurs  who devote their time and talents to the welfare of those most in need.” The Prize which will be presented in the city of Chihuahua at the end of the month of October, in the  context of the XV Meeting “Development: We are talking about transcendence”, consists in economic support to the value of 50 thousand pesos (about 3.850 dollars) and a commemorative sculpture.

“Rather than an award to me personally,” Fr Quirarte observed – “this is a recognition of the Salesian presence in Ciudad Juárez, which at the moment I have the task of animating and guiding in the great variety of its preventative  programmes. As I have said on other occasions, living and working in this city as a Salesian, stimulates and challenges me to think and to dream of many things that can be undertaken with and for the children most in need. To receive this kind of recognition also inspires a sense of gratitude to the many people who anonymously have worked and continue to work on behalf of this precious part of society.”

Published 19/09/2014