Uniforms and Supplies for Youth Hostel
As a part of the infrastructural and systematic transformation at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel, the Special Envoy for Families and Children paid a visit to the Rockville compound today. She took gifts along with her, including a washing machine, an industrial stove, school uniforms and an assortment of books and games. Present for today’s visit was Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia and Minister of State Elvia Vega Samos. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A tearful Rosanna Briceno, moved by the compassion of a child at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel who drew an presented a personalized art piece during a visit by government officials today.
Rossana Briceno
Rossana Briceno, Special Envoy for Families and Children
“The children are healing. The drawing that the young student gave me depicts it. Their heart has been broken. Their scars, but there is a band-aid, but they will heal. The crown is, I think is just symbolic. She sees me as the queen that loves them.”
The artist behind the work, a young girl who says both Mrs. Briceno and Minister of Human Development and Families Dolores Balderamos Garcia are her role models.
Resident, Princess Royal Youth Hostel
“They inspire me a lot, they have been very kind to me. And, I always wanted to meet Ms. Briceno and Ms. Dolores. I mek a drawing meaning that she have been suffering a lot although she has been a queen. The crown means being a queen. The love that she has for humanity. She had to be raising up with all of us. The heart means healing and brokenness means all of us know we make mistakes in life. We are not perfect. We have made a lot of mistakes. But she has come here to show us that she loves us and the love she has for us.”
Today’s visit was held to deliver a number of items to the Youth Hostel, courtesy the office of the Special Envoy, through the Behind the Walls Project.
Anne Palacio
Anne Palacio, Program Director, Princess Royal Youth Hostel
“This is real Christmas. We are really in a merry mood. Thanks so much to Mrs. Briceno and Special Envoy for Families and Children. I remember we had a meeting a couple months ago and I said to her, these are some of the assessments I did at the hostel and these are some of things we really feel we need for the Hostel to be successful. She said, no problem, give me some time and I will see what I can do. And, this is the day she did it. I am so happy.”
Children at the hostel gathered around with excitement while they sorted through the assortment of stationery, board games, books, and sports equipment. The gifts also included white and khaki school uniforms, all provided by the office of the Special Envoy.
Dolores Balderamos Garcia
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Development and Families
“I am triply delighted. I am delighted for the children. I am delighted for the Ministry and I am absolutely delighted that the Special Envoy has come on board, if you can say that, in not only the physical infrastructure improvement we were talking about, but also the systemic changes. You will recall that much earlier in January, to say the least, was not the best. And, I pledged then that not only will we look at the physical infrastructure, but also the systemic transformation.”
Twenty two thousand dollars have been ear-marked through the office of the Special Envoy as funding for life skills training at the hostel.
Rossana Briceno
“This is what we call phase one of our project. Second phase we got specifically for training. We are going to be embarking closely with training in cooking, sewing, with support of the Human Development. They will be supplying the trainers and the office will be providing the monies to pay these come in to teach the children a skill.”
Both Mrs. Briceno and Minister Dolores spoke with some of the residents individually. It is moments like these that encourages residents at the Hostel, like the artist who handed over a personalized piece to Mrs. Briceno.
Resident
“I have made bad choices in life and they inspire me a lot. I will not say I am perfect. I have made a lot of mistakes. But, one day for my goal I really want to change the world, so that people could stop killing one another, be helpful kind, respect one another and show that I could really make it in this world.”
Reporting For News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
