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 Posté le: Lun Sep 30, 2013 2:59 pm Sujet du message: ACE reopens at site provided by Tzu Chi |
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{ACE reopens at site provided by Tzu Chi }
~ For lower rental cost ~CUL DE SAC--All Children's Education (ACE) Foundation primary school reopened its doors on Sunday, in a building provided by Tzu Chi Foundation at Daisy Road #2.The project was Tzu Chi's first major education mission in St. Maarten.The new location means that ACE, which had been undergoing some major challenges in the past and had been on the verge of closing its doors, would have lower rental payments and a stable location to continue its mission to educate youth in the community, Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung told guests at the reopening ceremony.Dignitaries in attendance included Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams; Education Minister Patricia Lourens-Philip; Health,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler on sale[/url], Labour and Social Affairs Minister Cornelius de Weever; and Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]discount moncler jackets[/url], Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake.Cheung told guests that when the Tzu Chi Foundation realised that ACE was in need of assistance, the foundation had embraced the institution with love and assisted it. The foundation's support to ACE began in 2006 with donations of rice and school supplies for students.This assistance continued when Tzu Chi collaborated with cultural foundations in the community and held a fundraiser to help ACE school cover its rent. The school had been going through some tough times. It was unable to keep up with its rental payments and its other financial obligations,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler on sale[/url], said Cheung.Teachers and students also faced another major problem: whenever it rained the building flooded and education was interrupted."Because we embraced them with love, we could not bear to see the suffering of this school. We decided to apply the principles of Tzu Chi Education, which are great compassion,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler down jackets[/url], great mercy, great joy and great giving," Cheung said. "ACE school was chosen as the first recipient of our Education Mission."Tzu Chi Foundation purchased the property in March to help the school with a stable and safer location with lower rental payments so that it can focus on its main task: education. Cheung said the property had been empty for many years and had been in a very bad state of disrepair."The challenge was to get it ready in time for the new school year in August. Like a river of love, the kindness of the people of St. Maarten flowed during this time."Thanks to the assistance of many of our committed volunteers, the business community, organisations, associations, students and parents who sacrificed their days, nights and weekends working on the property to help repair the building, the project was completed in time,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler down jackets[/url]," she said."This project was one of love, dedication,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler outlet[/url], compassion and, most of all, one of volunteerism. Most of the work to the building was done by volunteers. From the cleaning of the yard, the painting of the building, mixing of cement and sand, to the restoration of furniture and even technical work such as the electrical work, thanks to the professionals donated by Maho, this project was completed."Tzu Chi is truly grateful for the efforts of everyone who was involved. It shows that volunteerism is still very much alive and kicking in St. Maarten and that many people are willing to be part of something positive that can benefit the community."Thanking all those who had been involved in the initiative, ACE Director Claire Elshot used her time to highlight some of the school's success stories and underscored the importance of educating all children. She said this month marked 10 years since ACE had been at its former location on L.B. Scott Road.Wescot-Williams spoke about the importance of ensuring that all children receive fair education and the key role this plays in the development of St. Maarten as a country."With compulsory education having been introduced in stages in 2009, there were many undocumented persons who were residing in St. Maarten whose children, through no fault of their own, were not able to attend school," she said. "As a government and a people we collectively believe that children should never ever suffer because of the circumstances their parents face."We should be grateful as a community to offer children the education that they deserve and it is important that we all work together as government, private sector and civil society to make St. Maarten a better place for all of us, and a better place starts with an educated population."We need to ensure that in today's world our children understand what it means to be a member of a multicultural society, we need to have children understand that in today's world it is peace which will see us through in the coming decades and so today it is my pleasure to see the ACE Foundation and the Tzu Chi Foundation and their partners realise the completion of this school, where we may offer the education necessary to continue to develop our country."Congratulating ACE on the new location, Lourens-Philip said the manner in which the initiative had been carried out, with the effort of many volunteers and by partnering with the business community, was something after which more persons should model themselves."One person or one organisation can't do it alone," she said stressing the importance of educating youths, as this is a way of guaranteeing the future. "The youth are the ones who will continue to support and help and assist the older persons."Lourens-Philip challenged ACE Foundation to take a step further and to regulate issues at the institution so that it could benefit from government subsidy. She said that while she was not making any promises, this was step that could be made in the future as the school reopened in a new location.Sonesta Maho Group of Companies General Manager Armando Pizzuti, one of the major sponsors of the reconstruction of the school, spoke of the company's involvement in the initiative. He said Maho was happy to assist in the interest of education and was open to continue to assist in more education initiatives.Pastor Wycliffe Smith performed the blessing of the building. The ceremony also featured performances by pupils, who sang a song in Chinese and another in Dutch, and delivered a sign language performance entitled "Three Nos."Tzu Chi also donated relief packages to several underprivileged persons in the community and held a "Bamboo Bank Return Ceremony" in which persons with bamboo donation boxes emptied the boxes at the event. Many in the audience also contributed to support the foundation.In addition to Maho, Tzu Chi also thanked donors St. Maarten Timeshare Association, St. Maarten Harbour, American Navy League,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler sale[/url],[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler outlet[/url], American Coast Guard vessel "Eagle," Cake House Supermarket and Bakery, American University of the Caribbean, the Filipino and Haitian Communities, Key to Freedom, Prins Willem-Alexander School, Eric Vlaun, Euro Caribbean Linkup NV, The Windward Islands Bank,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]discount moncler jackets[/url], S and R Construction, Learning Unlimited, ACE, construction workers Culture,[url=http://www.moncler-sale.org]moncler sale[/url], Victor and Fabin, and all the numerous volunteers from Tzu Chi Foundation and from all over St. Maarten who had assisted.
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