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Português Panama – the “Giving” Clubs: trip to Cebaco
The Teens for Unity are carrying out a host of activities to support their projects. Among them a Spring Fair being held in Panama for several years now. They are the “Giving” Clubs, where practicing the culture of giving is a requirement for membership, which starts with giving away an object that one treasures dearly.
In 2005, Panama’s Ministry of Education learned about the initiative, and decided to include it in the scholastic program as one of the activities that can be undertaken during the hours dedicated to mandatory social service projects. The Teens for Unity of Panama write: “It is no longer necessary for us to obtain the principals’ permission to address a school assembly. We only have to refer to the Education Minister’s circular! What’s even more beautiful is that also the professors participate.”
Something new this year: A delegation of teenagers, accompanied by their parents and teachers, went to the island of Cebaco – 8 hours by boat – in order to bring the food items they had collected during the year to the needy families. They received a joyful welcome from the inhabitants, who offered them the best they had. “We have built a very beautiful relationship with them during these 8 years. All of us have experienced that we go there to give but we receive much more; we came back with so much joy in our hearts.” One of the teenagers named Jorge remarked: “Many times, we wish for things we don’t really need. After having met the people of Cebaco, I do not want to stop; there is so much to do! I’m glad I don’t have to wait to grow up to be able to give!”
Germany – € 1.443 earnings
In Mannheim, Germany, the students of the 8th grade were required to create a project for their Economy and Law classes. An idea: why not look for a part-time job to earn money for the Schoolmates project?
Everybody agreed, but the first difficulty promptly came up: how to find a job. One of the teen-age boys who was finally employed after applying for 30 jobs, commented: “Now I know how difficult it is to find a work.”
Whether as bakers, electricians, grocery cashiers, public transport employees, gardeners, office clerks, waiters, in the end each one in the whole class found a job. The result? A total of € 1.443 earned by everyone and joyfully donated to help send other teenagers to school.
