The arrival of the Scholas Citizenship program in the United States has been a long-awaited dream, more specifically, in the city of Miami, where on Monday, June 24, 2019, the opening ceremony was held in the presence of top local authorities at the Ponce de Leon Secondary School in Coral Gables.
Present were students of Coral Gables Senior High, Cutler Bay Senior High, Miami Beach Senior High, Miami Southridge, North Miami Senior High -7491 and Miami Edison, who are taking part in this first edition of Scholas citizenship in Miami, which has the support of the Public Schools of Miami-Dade Country (M-DCPS, its acronym in English) the United States’ fourth-largest school system.
The day was opened by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Carlos Gimenez, who was grateful for the arrival of this global educational initiative in the United States through his County. Gimenez gave Scholas’ President, Jose Maria del Corral, the recognition of the Mayor’s Office and the Board of Commissioners of Miami-Dade County.
Enthusiasm in the School Board
Maria Teresa Rojas, a member of the School Board, also expressed her enthusiasm for the arrival of Scholas in the United States. “When I first heard of the Scholas idea I couldn’t wait for the opportunity that it would become a reality for the first time in the United States of America. We are living in tumultuous times in the world; many people say that young people aren’t prepared to address the serious problems we are facing daily and, yet, I’ve just heard these incredible Scholas stories. This deserves to have the whole world know about it.”
For Alvin of North Miami School, these subjects that are being addressed in Scholas must be more known; it’s a way of helping and of giving hope to many kids outside there, who aren’t being heard.
Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of the Public Schools of Miami Country, also expressed emotive words to the young people. “This is an effort that is worthwhile, which brings together people from all over the world and symbolizes what is common to all, seeking solutions to the problems humanity is facing, and which is under the leadership of him who is one of my heroes — Pope Francis.”
Tragic Decisions
For her part, Notory, a student at Southridge School, shared the story of a friend who committed suicide. “If education was dedicated to generating these meetings and these areas, many would not have come to these tragic decisions. We must promote them in the schools in the whole country.”
Jorge, a student of Coral Gables School said: “The problem of mental health, which we are choosing, together with that of arms, interests me because I have seen a pattern among my friends, which has to do with stress, anxiety, and depression, which is very real, especially in my school when facing classes and courses. I believe that to start talking about this is already part of the solution. For all this, I think the Pope is a genius.”
About Scholas Occurrentes
Scholas Occurrentes is an International Organization of Pontifical Right present in 190 countries of five Continents that, through its network, encompasses half a million schools and educational networks. Its mission is to achieve the integration of all students worldwide through technological, sports and artistic proposals that promote education from the culture of encounter.
