Caracas, Venezuela - On September 18, the Universal Peace Federation of Venezuela, in alliance with the Lions Club of Petare and the Committee on Legislation of the Caracas City Hall, commemorated the International Day of Peace with the completion of a voluntary social service project.
We began painting work, restoration of walls, cleaning and organization of the library of St. Edmund Kids' Corner Foundation, located in Las Minas de Baruta, Federal District. The Foundation shelters 250 unattended children in the community and neighborhood giving them three meals a day and overnight accommodations for 70 of these children who are abandoned or whose families are in extreme poverty. The Foundation's services suffer because of the small capacity of the site compared to the large number of children it serves. It receives no formal support from any institution, and conditions in the four-story building are really humble and precarious. It also functions as a day care site for many children from poor families.
The Universal Peace Federation invited 12 Youth Ambassadors for Peace organized by the youth leader Daniel González, a computer engineering student, who volunteered to do painting and repairs, The Lions Club provided fruit and drinks, organized the library, and helped clean up the institution. The Committee on Legislation provided part of the paint as well as food for the children of the institution.
Daniel González said: "All young people worked without expecting anything in return, exemplifying the virtue of altruism. Young people living in the St. Edmund Kids Corner Foundation were also helping to repair the facilities with much enthusiasm and dedication ... The facilities were somewhat damaged and neglected, but because many young people had the motivation to help others without expecting anything in return they could do a great job in a short time. Everything was done from the heart. We all painted, cleaned, danced, laughed, and most importantly, learned to relate and connect heart-to-heart with people we were just getting to know ... After the service project, young people living in the St. Edmund Kids Corner Foundation, along with Ms. Soledad, the Director, were very grateful and happy to see the big difference before and after the volunteer work. It is very important to understand that true leaders are those who do volunteer work with a responsible heart, serving others without expecting anything in return. A simple "thank you" gives great satisfaction and joy. We were very happy for this opportunity to serve the needy. "
The following weekend, a second day of service is scheduled in another institution in El Valle, Caracas, a small school in much need of help.