A series of activities organized by the U.S. Embassy Montevideo to commemorate the sixth annual International Education Week culminated with a presentation of all the key programs supported by the mission in the past year to an audience of about 35 important educators and government officials attending a November 22 event hosted in the embassy's Media Room by U.S. Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon. In the words of CDA Nealon, “this celebration allows us to express our recognition to all the foreign students and professors who study and teach in the United States, and also to congratulate the millions of people throughout the world who dedicate their efforts to building bridges of understanding through the organization and administration of exchange programs.” Public Affairs officer Linda Gonzalez talked about the numerous cultural and educational activities the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo has endorsed during the past year and the continued support to educational programs at all levels from primary school, through high schools, to the major public and private Universities. The director of the Fulbright Commission, Dr. Mercedes Jimenez de Arechaga outlined the exchange programs done under their auspices, and stressed the importance of funding this year's exchanges for 8 English teachers as part of the effort to develop the English Immersion Program currently operating in 46 Uruguayan public schools. (See related information) Sociologist Juan Jose Mere representing Iniciativa Latinoamericana, a non profit organization oriented to the development of a variety of projects and programs in the areas of health, education, communication, and leadership for children and young people, stated that the U.S. Embassy’s support was crucial in developing and implementing a pilot program designed to offer pre-teen and teenage boys and girls in the public schools of Uruguay the opportunity to become participants in safeguarding their health from the threat of tobacco products. (See related article) Diego Ormaechea talked about the expansion of the DESEM junior achievement program to 8 schools, and the enthusiastic embrace of the concept of entrepreneurship by young people, often from poor areas. He also stated that the support of the U.S. Embassy is key in their ability next year to bring the program to many more schools. (See related article) Ady Beitler of the University of Montevideo spoke about the U.S. Embassy’s sponsorship of a team of four law students to the Jessup Cup Competition, one of the oldest and most prestigious mock trial competitions in the United States. The Uruguayan team broke every record for first time entries by winning awards for second best oralist (Ady Beitler) among the 327 oralists competing, sixth best memorials among the 108 submitted, and three out of four preliminary rounds. (See related article) Rounding out the celebration, local young people from the PRIDE program performed one of the drug awareness presentations that they have brought to schools throughout Uruguay. The U.S. mission was instrumental in bringing this program to Uruguay. (See related article) PAO Linda Gonzalez presented dictionaries for each of the English Immersion schools, and an American flag that had previously flown over the U.S. Embassy Montevideo was presented to Ana Migliarini, director of a public school named after the United States, Escuela No.6 “Estados Unidos”.

>Click to enlarge photo  Diego Ormaechea (DESEM), Daniela Scartaccini (PRIDE), James Nealon (U.S. Chargé D'Affaires), Susana Ribeiro (PRIDE), Ramiro Ribeiro (PRIDE), Ximena Varon (DESEM), Lucia Gomez (PRIDE), Ady Beitler (JESSUP), Ana Maria Robledo (ANEP), Ana Migliarini (School No.6), Juan Jose Mere (Iniciativa Latinoamericana), Linda Gonzalez (U.S. Embassy), Thomas Hamm (U.S. Embassy). Ramiro Ribeiro, Susana Ribeiro, and Daniela Scartaccini, from the PRIDE-Uruguay organization, performing a drug awareness presentation they regularly show in primary and secondary schools throughout the country. U.S. Embassy's PAO Linda Gonzalez presenting dictionaries for each of the English Immersion public schools in Uruguay. Ana Migliarini, director of public school No.6 "Estados Unidos" receives an America flag that had previously flown over the U.S. Embassy Montevideo from Chargé D'Affaires James Nealon and PAO Linda Gonzalez.

Sociologist Juan Jose Mere speaking about the U.S. Embassy’s crucial support in developing and implementing a tobacco awareness program for pre-teen and teenage boys and girls in Uruguayan public schools.

Diego Ormaechea speaking about the expansion of the DESEM junior achievement program in Uruguay.

Ady Beitler of the University of Montevideo speaking about the U.S. Embassy's sponsorship of a team of four Uruguayan law students to the Jessup Cup Competition.

Dr. Leonor Fierro de Demarco speaking about PRIDE's programs designed to encourage youth to take the lead in drug and violence prevention.

REMARKS BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER LINDA GONZALEZ, U.S. EMBASSY MONTEVIDEO,
AS DELIVERED IN SPANISH, DURING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK EVENT, NOVEMBER 22, 2005:

(begin transcript)

Gracias a todos ustedes por acompañarnos hoy con la finalidad de celebrar nuestros esfuerzos juntos en la educación.

Me parece muy importante detenernos a reflexionar sobre el camino recorrido. En nuestro caso particular, muchas veces inmersos en el “hacer”, en nuestro esfuerzo por apoyar diversas iniciativas, no cuantificamos nuestra labor, sino hasta el momento de la evaluación anual. Por eso es que quiero mencionar hoy que en este último año, esta Embajada ha realizado más de 122 programas de intercambios entre uruguayos y norteamericanos, lo cual nos da un promedio de, por lo menos, dos programas durante cada una de las semana del año!!

Aunque no es el momento ahora de detallar cada uno de los programas que hemos llevado a cabo en este último año, quisiera hacer un breve resumen, comenzando por mencionar que las actividades realizadas incluyeron temas por demás diversos, como lo fueron la educación, la historia, la literatura, la política, la economía, las relaciones internacionales y el medio ambiente. También realizamos programas en música, artes plásticas, teatro; en el campo de la economía, tuvimos programas en muchas áreas - entrepreneurship, responsabilidad social corporativa, el ALCA y la integración económica regional, intercambios comerciales, sector público y desarrollo, globalización, derechos de la propiedad intelectual, políticas públicas….. y la lista continúa.

Músicos del más alto nivel de los Estados Unidos, especialistas políticos, destacados académicos, funcionarios del gobierno, maestros, empresarios, universitarios y miles de niños participaron en nuestros programas.

Estos intercambios nos han permitido tomar contacto con un gran número de instituciones locales tanto públicas como privadas, con las que hemos desarrollado un relacionamiento muy fluido. En el campo educativo específicamente, hemos puesto en marcha programas en escuelas, liceos y universidades. Hemos trabajado con la Universidad Católica, la Universidad ORT, la Universidad de Montevideo y la Universidad de la Empresa. Menciono en forma particular a la Universidad de la República, ya que es precisamente en la universidad pública del Uruguay donde el intercambio ha sido más notorio. En la Universidad de la República, hemos realizado intercambios con las Facultades de Humanidades, de Derecho, de Ciencias Sociales, de Economía, de Química y de Música.

También hemos realizado programas con nuestros amigos de DESEM-Jóvenes Emprendedores, de Iniciativa Latinoamericana, de PRIDE y hemos continuado trabajando con las autoridades de la Orquesta Filarmónica de Montevideo con quienes hemos realizado espectáculos verdaderamente maravillosos.

Con muchas de las instituciones mencionadas ya estamos trabajando para desarrollar programas durante el 2006 y con algunas estamos avanzados en acuerdos que den a nuestra tarea, el beneficio de la continuidad en el tiempo.

Estamos satisfechos con lo realizado, pero sabemos muy bien que queda muchísimo por hacer. También sabemos que sin el apoyo de todos ustedes, nuestra labor no hubiera sido posible. Con la intención de expresarles nuestro agradecimiento, fue que los convocamos aquí hoy. Y además de agradecerles muy especialmente el apoyo recibido, queremos también expresar nuestro deseo de que podamos seguir trabajando juntos en esta hermosa tarea de contribuir a una mejor comprensión y relacionamiento entre nuestra gente. Muchas gracias.

(end transcript)

Following are a few of the activities associated to International Education Week the U.S. Embassy Montevideo has participated in this year:

•  Storybook Reading Kicks Off Education Week Celebration in Montevideo

•  "Martin Luther King" Elementary School Celebrates Naming Anniversary

•  Storybook Reading Continues To Get High Marks in Local Schools

•  Local School Kids Say "No" To Cigarettes

 

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