Buenos Aires, Argentina - Argentina’s individuals and organizations that do the most for others were recognized at a special awards presentation.
In support of the United Nations’ International Volunteer Day, UPF-Argentina presented the fourth annual Volunteering and Common Good Awards on Dec. 5, 2014, at the Merchant Navy University in Buenos Aires, the nation’s capital.
Volunteering individuals and organizations were recognized in the following categories: Education, Arts and Culture, Inclusion of People with Disabilities, Self-help and Spirituality, Integral Health, Communication, Environment and Ecology, Childhood, Elders, Sports and Recreation, Assistance to Victims of Violence, and Social Inclusion.
This year special mention was given to Juan Carr, a pioneer of solidarity networks in Argentina. Mr. Carr affirmed that there are more people who work for a noble cause than there are corrupt people.
The acknowledged institutions and volunteers represented the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Tucumán and Buenos Aires City. And there were people of different ages, such as Emilia de Luca, an “87-year-old young woman” who founded and still leads School No. 22 in the city of Gualeguaychú in Entre Ríos province. Ms. de Luca was the winner of the Spirituality category.
Each of the awardees had a chance to express their feelings and to briefly describe their activities.
Ms. Silvia Gabriela Vázquez, secretary of the University Extension of Merchant Navy University, gave the welcoming speech, while the UN message for this day was read by Mr. Horacio Daboul, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Services in Buenos Aires’ Parque de los Patricios neighborhood. The poet Leonor Ase de D’Aloisio read a poem entitled “What Is Volunteering?” and Ms. Elena Paniagua, president of the association Ciudad Hermana San Clemente Argentina-San Clemente California, gave a symbolic present to UPF-Argentina for its work: two hands holding the world. The voices of the Provisory Choir, masterfully directed by conductor Sergio Feferovich, closed the event which completely filled the lecture hall of Merchant Navy University.
Presents were given by Carlos Varga, director of FFWPU-Argentina; Ms. Silvia Gabriela Vázquez, director of the diploma course “Social Responsibility and Resilience” of the Merchant Navy University; the diplomat in social security Alejandro D’Alessandro, president of the Center of Strategic Planning for Social Security; Mr. Hugo Cattoni, director of the San José elders home of Ciudadela; Mr. Nicolás Volpe, representing Ms. Constanza Sena, from the West Rotary E-Club; Ms. Orfa Pérez, representing UPF-Argentina’s Peace Council; leaders of the Pacis Nuntii Movement; Eduardo Borri and Jackeline Giusti, promoters of the Universal Peace Flag; Ms. Marta Chávez, president of the Integrated World Foundation; and Ms. Azucena Molla, president of the “My Grateful Heart” foundation.
The famous and inspirational quotes that precede the Guidelines of the Solidarity Contest each year are very accurate: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop”—Mother Teresa. And: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”—Mahatma Gandhi. And—such a true statement, as confirmed by the generosity and happiness expressed by each volunteer: “We will find happiness only when we live our lives for the sake of others”—Dr. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of UPF, from his autobiography, which was one of the many presents given to the awardees.
The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development was established by UN Resolution 40/212 on Dec. 17, 1985. It encouraged people to “take action in order to raise more awareness of the important contribution of volunteers, thus stimulating more people from all social conditions to offer their services as volunteers.”
“De nuevo el sol ilumina un día distinto
con mil respuestas de los mil sitios
en el que el voluntario mansamente
se esfuerza, se dona, se da, se entrega…”
Poet Leonor Ase de D’Aloisio
Translation: Yamila Gómez
Fourth annual “Volunteering and Common Good” Awards
UPF-Argentina
In commemoration of UN International Volunteer Day 2014
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”—Mahatma Gandhi
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”—Mother Teresa
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Category: SPECIAL DISTINCTION
Mr. Juan Carr
Solidarity Network
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
RECOGNITION TO ENTITIES
(Order according to the Guidelines)
Category: EDUCATION
Good Will Legion (LBV)
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Mr. Edson Teixeira, resident representative of the Good Will Legion (LBV)
Category: ARTS AND CULTURE
Association “Ciudad Hermana San Clemente Argentina-San Clemente California”
San Clemente del Tuyú, Province of Buenos Aires
Ms. Elena Paniagua, president of the association “Ciudad Hermana San Clemente Argentina-San Clemente California”
Category: INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
“Día Esperanza” Center
Pergamino, Province of Buenos Aires
Ms. Mónica Alejandra Benavidez, president of the “Día Esperanza” Center
Category: SPIRITUALITY
Emilia de Luca, founder of School No. 22, District 17
Gualeguaychú, Province of Entre Ríos
Category: INTEGRAL HEALTH
Argentine Association of Stammering
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Ms. Beatriz Biain de Touzet, honorary president of the Argentine Association of Stammering
Category: COMMUNICATION
Fernando Antonio Corvalán, Norma Beatriz Vitantonio
Rosario, Province of Santa Fe
Category: CHILDHOOD AND ELDERS
Latin American non-profit organization of Tigre (LADETI)
Tigre, Province of Buenos Aires
Ms. Gina Huarcaya, president of the Latin American non-profit organization of Tigre (LADETI)
Category: ELDERS
Jaime Fischer, president of the association “Coexistence Paths for Dialogue and Social Peace”
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Category: SPORTS AND RECREATION
“Corazón de Vida” (“Living Heart”)
José León Suárez, Province of Buenos Aires
Mr. Gonzalo Córdoba, president of “Corazón de Vida”
Category: ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Foundation “Caminos de Esperanza” (“Paths of Hope”)
Corrientes City, Province of Corrientes
Ms. Dolores Saadi, president of the foundation “Caminos de Esperanza”
Category: SOCIAL INCLUSION
LEA literary workshop
Monte Vera, Province of Santa Fe
Ms. Karina Villalba, director of LEA literary workshop
RECOGNITON TO VOLUNTEERS
Category: VOLUNTEERS
(in alphabetic order)
Marisa Candela Ambrosetti
Health
Brandsen, Province of Buenos Aires
María Isabel Bugnon
Arts and culture
Santa Fe City, Province of Santa Fe
Carlos Ángel Burgos
Solidarity works childhood
Picnic “The happy hour”
González Catán, Province of Buenos Aires
Marta Estela Castagnino
Arts and culture
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Nahomi Daniela Gonzáles Quiroz
Education and spirituality
Olivos, Province of Buenos Aires
Mariela Alejandra Martín Domenichelli
Culture of peace
San Miguel de Tucumán, Province of Tucumán
Oscar Martínez Sanz
Vocation of service
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Juan Pablo Rabbordi
Education and communication
Olivos, Province of Buenos Aires
Luis María Ríos
Environment
San Cosme, Province of Corrientes
César Luciano Sanabria
Solidarity works childhood
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Hilda Augusta Schiavoni
Cultural contribution
Inriville, Province of Córdoba
Pablo Siguenza
Social integration
Ituzaingó, Province of Buenos Aires
Sandra María Jesús Villalba
Social integration
Paraná, Province of Entre Ríos