Ecuador – Salesian Polytechnic University awarded for its humanitarian efforts during national strike

04 November 2019

(ANS - Quito) - On Wednesday 30 October, the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS) received an award from the Permanent Commission for Education, Culture and Science and Technology (CECCYT, in Spanish) of the National Assembly on account of its humanitarian actions and dialogue undertaken during the national strike. Fr Javier Herrán, Rector of the University, and a group of students from the Student Federation of the University's headquarters in Quito received the recognition from the hands of the President of the Commission, the parliamentarian Jimmy Candell Soto.

In the speech given for the occasion, the Rector recalled that in the circumstances of those days, when he watched the busy students and volunteers, he saw in them the future entrepreneurs and public officials and, above all, a new generation of professionals who showed at all times closeness and solidarity with their indigenous brothers. With his voice interrupted by emotion, he concluded: "I believe I have not dreamed, and that this world is possible."

Carla Altamirano spoke on behalf of the students, stating that the humanitarian work undertaken is based on Don Bosco's phrase: "Education is a thing of the heart." She stressed that the entire university community - students, teachers and administrative staff - came together to help and that many more people were involved in this work to build a better country.

In addition to the Salesian Polytechnic University, this award was given to the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, the National Polytechnic School, the Central University of Ecuador, the Andean University "Simón Bolívar" and the Ecuadorian House of Culture, which also served as reception centers and humanitarian aid centers.

Before delivering the award, Hon. Candell said that the Commission he represented could not fail to underline the great sense of responsibility and attention given by the universities in those contexts, and he emphasized that the activities carried out in those institutions were justified within the framework of solidarity, of humanism. and respect for the right to protest.

"In times when hatred, division and social divisions reign, the Ecuadorian university must make its voice calm, humanist, responsible and supportive ... We assign this recognition so that thought prevails over brutality, and dialogue over violence," said the President of CECCYT.

The Salesian Polytechnic University has played a fundamental role in the social and political crisis that the country has recently experienced: faithful to the charisma of its patron, it has been a house of welcome and spiritual accompaniment for the indigenous brothers, putting their well-being first.

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