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| CINA Prepares Children for Peace |
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The first International Children's Convention of the Americas (CINA) opened last Saturday, August 5, and will continue through August 12. JCI 80, Inc., a JCI local organization, is conducting the event �to spread a culture of peace� with full support from the office of the First Lady of the Dominican Republic.
CINA�s Opening Ceremony took place at the Universidad Aut�noma de Santo Domingo (UASD). Established in 28 October, 1538, UASD is the oldest university of the Americas.
Fist Lady Margarita Cede�o
By taking part in CINA�s opening ceremony, Dominican Republic�s First Lady Margarita Cede�o stressed the importance of promoting peace and solidarity in today�s World. �Understanding that values are sown during childhood, we have organized this event so children may learn to love the Earth and the environment,� she said.
�Being able to understand other cultures will help you develop tolerance and seek dialogue and mutual understanding,� she advised the children.
The First Lady explained that cultural exchanges and mutual respect will help avoid the wars, xenophobia, discrimination and violence that have caused so much damage. The children received a medal as a symbol of their becoming peace ambassadors. �So that each of your acts may be pro life and human dignity and against violence in all its forms,� declared Cede�o.
Participants
A total of 57 children are taking part in the event. They come from Antigua, Argentina, Bonaire, Cura�ao, Ecuador, Jamaica, Paraguay and Venezuela, as well as from different areas of the Dominican Republic.
In addition to First Lady Margarita Cede�o, several other government and university personalities were present at the opening ceremony, including the head of UASD, Roberto Reyna.
In addition to National President Jos� Aybar, several local, national and international JCI officers attended the opening ceremony, including Chief Executive Assistant to the President Nicol�s Caffaro; JCI Vice President assigned to JCI Dominican Republic, Abigail Hironimus-Paula; JCI Secretary General Edson A. Kodama with his wife Cristina y his daughter Naomi; Past JCI World President (1990) Jorge Suncar Morales; and the founder of JCI Dominican Republic, Luis S�nchez Noble.
Inspired by JCI Fukuoka
Arrangements for this event were led by Heidy Feliz, wife of Chief Executive Assistant to the President Nicolas Caffaro. Their oldest child attended the World Children Conference in Fukuoka, Japan, on the occasion of the 2004 JCI World Congress. Impressed by how much their son had grown from that experience, Feliz decided to organize a similar program in the Dominican Republic for the children in the Americas.
JCI Fukuoka, Japan, provided support for CINA by sending JCI Fukuoka Secretary Motohito Yoshida, who visited the Dominican Republic to supervise the event.
New Members Sworn In
JCI Secretary General Kodama reported that he had enjoyed not only the opening of CINA, but also an Induction Ceremony in Santo Domingo, where 25 new members were welcomed.
�The room was packed and we could feel the positive energy and the emotions of the young members,� said Kodama.
JCI Dominican Republic President Jose Aybar announced that additional new members will be inducted. �We are working hard in the Dominican Republic to achieve the goals set by JCI the JCI World President,� he said.
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