On Friday the 31st of August, the Patronato Benéfico Oriental (PBO) joyfully celebrated the 4th high school graduation ceremony of the Hogar del Niño education and daycare center in La Romana.
Although attended by Xiomara Menéndez, founder of the Patronato Benéfico Oriental (PBO), passionate members of staff at the school, as well as various Casa de Campo community members and supporters of the cause- the ceremony was, for the first time actually led by 2 of the graduating students; Isaac Sosa and Maria Luisa Rivera.
During the graduation ceremony which celebrated the graduation of 31 students, included the delivery of diplomas and awards to students, a video presentation by the undergraduate student Abigail Santana, motivational words from Mrs. Margaret Goldberg, English Volunteer Coordinator at the school, the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the teachers, as well as the final speech by and parting words by graduating students; Oscar Pinales and Diaris Mercedes Carrión.
Throughout the ceremony there were several moments that stood out, with perhaps the most moving being the testimony of Ketty Alexandra Perez, a past student of the Hogar del Niño, who thanks to the Scholarship Program was able to continue his studies and who with very touching words explained the difficulties and obstacles he had faced in his life, which with the help of the Patronato Benéfico Oriental (PBO) he was able to overcome. This young man who earned a BA in Bio-analysis at East Central University, is currently working at the Good Samaritan Hospital, where he is in charge of the Department of Bio-analysis.
Others who have benefited from the Hogar del Niño’s Scholarship Program are Mercedes and Geuri Natacha Garcia Silverio, architecture students at the Central University of the East, who during the graduation ceremony led the delivery of this year’s scholarships to benefiting students: Oscar Solis, Isaac Sosa, Leidy Santana, Mercedes and Ravel Diaris Paniagua, who received their certificates at the hands of Xiomara Menéndez, founder of the Patronato Benéfico Oriental (PBO), Ana Maria Paniagua, Alexandra A. Avanzini, Ketty Peréz and Phyllis Bernery, who in March 2011 hosted “An evening with James Bradley”, an activity which raised over US$6,000 for the Scholarship Program.
“Our institution firmly believes that all children deserve the opportunity to learn and receive a proper education, enabling them to transcend the difficulties of their social environment, creating the conditions for healthy and professional members of civil society.”
— The Hogar del Niño
The graduating class of the Hogar del Niño 2012
The Hogar del Niño
The Hogar del Niño is a children’s daycare and educational center for over 1500 children, located in La Romana town, just outside of Casa de Campo. Children from as young as just a few weeks old up to 18 years old are cared for and educated daily, from as early as 5:30am and staying as late as 7pm.
The organization also provides special schooling to over 75 hearing impaired and blind children, as well as a vocational school where over 235 students receive classes in different areas like: sewing; industrial preparation, installation and electrical maintenance; plumbing and management of computer office programs.
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