(ANS – Guayaquil) – The Salesian Project for Street Children in Guayaquil is one of 4 projects to win the Juscelino Kubitschen Award, promoted by the Interamerican Bank for Development (BID, in Spanish). The announcement was made on 7 September. The Award recognises the significant contribution made in the areas of economy and finance and in the social, cultural and scientific fields.

337 organisations  from 26 countries in Latin America the Caribbean and Europe took part in the competition. The Centre for Implementing Public Policies for Equality and Growth from Argentina and the Salvadorian Foundation for Economic and Social Development won the prize in the  economy and finance category. The Mexican Institute for Research into the Family and Population and the Salesian “Street Children” Project in Ecuador, have won in the social, cultural and scientific area.

Each winning organisation receives a prize of 50,000 dollar as was explained in a Press Conference given by the President of the BID, Luis Alberto Moreno, and the Secretary General, Enrique Iglesias, also President and Secretary of the Prize Jury.

“This award was created two years ago to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Interamericanan Bank for Development  and has become the highest recognition granted to a multilateral organisation in our Region” Dr. Moreno said. “Juscelino Kubitschen incarnates one of the richest and most creative businesses in the history of Brazil and of the continent,” he added.

1500 children in the Salesian Project will benefit from the Juscelino Kubitschek Award. Fr Francisco Sanchez said that of these, 550 are among the most vulnerable children and adolescents but in spite of the limitations they are cheerful and lively. The Salesian Project provides educational, health, recreational and moral guidance services so that the children and adolescents can become “good Christian and upright citizens.”

The Award Ceremony will be held in March in Montevideo, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Administrative Committee of the BID.

Published 12/09/2011