{"id":101045,"date":"2024-03-06T14:08:26","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T20:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regnumchristi.org\/es\/?p=101045"},"modified":"2024-03-06T14:08:26","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T20:08:26","slug":"schools-helping-hand-60-years-of-transformative-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regnumchristi.org\/en\/colegios-mano-amiga-60-anos-de-educacion-transformadora\/","title":{"rendered":"Mano Amiga Schools: 60 years of transformative education"},"content":{"rendered":"
A network of schools offering development opportunities for thousands of people<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Mano Amiga schools are an educational reality that seeks to transform people's lives by creating opportunities for development through comprehensive education. With more than 60 years of experience, this network of schools has positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of students and their families, offering quality education and academic excellence.<\/p>\n

An inspiring origin<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Mano Amiga was born in 1963 as a mature fruit of the first school of the Legionaries of Christ, the Cumbres Institute. The parents wanted to offer the same education of their children to other children who did not have those possibilities. Using the same classrooms in the afternoon shift, they attended to children from the town of San Isidro. Shortly thereafter, the school moved to its own location in a suburb, San Antonio Zomeyucan.<\/p>\n

\"Mano<\/a><\/p>\n

To be Catholic educational centers, where children and young people with fewer opportunities, receive the tools of integral formation they need to develop and become successful people, the mission spirit of the Mano Amiga: \u00abThrough education as the main engine, we seek to break the cycle of poverty and achieve a positive transformation of society, with the support of a significant number of benefactors, companies and scholarship sponsors,\u00bb they point out in your website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Following in the same footsteps, in 1974 the Irish Institute of Monterrey created the second Mano Amiga. The educational model was so successful that it was gradually replicated throughout Mexico, even reaching other countries. Currently the Mano Amiga network has more than 20 schools in Mexico. There are also schools\u00a0Mano Amiga in Argentina<\/a>, Brazil<\/a>,\u00a0Chile<\/a>, Colombia (Zipaquira\u00a0<\/a>&\u00a0Bello<\/a>),\u00a0El Salvador<\/a>,\u00a0Philippines<\/a>,\u00a0Guatemala\u00a0<\/a>&\u00a0Venezuela<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A special celebration<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

At the end of 2023, the Mano Amiga School Network celebrated 60 years of life. The anniversary was accompanied by various commemorative events in all schools belonging to the network. It is about 6 decades of positive impact on the lives of people who can then also positively impact society.<\/p>\n

The first Mano Amiga school, located in Zomeyucan, Naucalpan, State of Mexico, held a great celebration on November 8. This event was a tribute to the commitment to educational transformation and the positive impact it has on society.<\/p>\n

A thanksgiving for 60 years<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Jos\u00e9 Antonio Fern\u00e1ndez Hurtado, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla, and concelebrated by seven Legionary Fathers of Christ who have accompanied the school at various stages of its history. Archbishop Jos\u00e9 Antonio expressed his congratulations to the children and young people, the parents, the educational community, the Mano Amiga people from other cities, and the Legionaries of Christ.<\/p>\n

\"Mano<\/a><\/p>\n

The Monsignor said that \u00ab60 years are a whole history, fruit of the Holy Spirit to help those in need\u00bb. He acknowledged those who have passed away but who gave their lives for education, for the formation of good people in society: \u201cHow many people have collaborated to make this feast of formation of Christian values. In these divided and polarized times we must give thanks for the past, but also live the present with great passion and hope for the future with great hope, and Christ is our hope,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A moving testimony<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of a testimony by Karla Itzel Aguilar Flores, a Mano Amiga alumna. \u00abI was one of those little girls who came with illusion to this school, receiving a formation of great intellectual, human, spiritual and social quality, but more than algebra, civics or history, I learned deeper lessons, how friendship and love translate into service, patience and charity; here I learned that more than technology we need goodness, because I believe that the power of the human being is not in politics or economics, it is in being able to create happiness. Thank you, teachers, directors, consecrated men and women of Regnum Christi, catechists, priests and all those who have contributed to the growth of this beautiful work, for all the effort and so much love, thank you for your work, thank you for continuing to transform lives\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

A heartfelt thank you<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Words of gratitude were added by Omar Diaz, director of Mano Amiga Zomeyucan, and Enrique Casta\u00f1eda, national director of Mano Amiga, who highlighted the commitment of the people who support education and integral formation. Also present were Clara Pedraza Mendoza, school supervisor, and Rosario Guerra, Mano Amiga's pastoral manager, and consecrated of the Regnum Christi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The event concluded with an emotional song entitled \u201cAngeles Volando\u201d (Flying Angels), performed by students from the school, followed by the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the 60th anniversary. The attendees sang the Mano Amiga Anthem before hearing words of thanks and closing remarks from Mano Amiga's National Director, Enrique Casta\u00f1eda.<\/p>\n