Testimony of a University profesor after visiting Daoming Schools
Invest in education, invest in humanizing: is what is done with great sensitivity and with much success the St. Paul School of Macau. They are all doing it: their managers, teachers, students themselves ... all the school staff. Because education is the path to greater humanization, investing in education is investing in humanity.
Saint Paul School of Macau now invests in technology renovation, because you have to adapt to the changing conditions of the times. They want to take away textbooks for teachers and students, so they do not suffer from back problems carrying heavy backpacks. But above all, to make education more effective, more comprehensive, more complete. Because new technologies are an excellent opportunity to improve education. You have to invest money, effort, enthusiasm for education ... allowing higher levels of knowledge and humanization. This organization is involved with all the enthusiasm of administrators, teachers, students ... This is already a pilot project that impresses in the city of Macau and beyond its borders.
But St. Paul's School is also investing in the education of other children who do not have access to many technological facilities. They also have the right to education and, of course, to grow in humanity. They are children of the continent, in what today is called ""mainland China."" For them, the St. Paul School of Macau is building and sustaining four rural schools in the Province of Yunnan. There are now four and, with the collaboration of all, it is expected to continue to build more schools in the area.
This invaluable service to those children and those rural communities is carried out thanks to the economic contribution of administrators, teachers, students of the Saint Paul School in Macau. And thanks to other people and institutions that have been enthusiastic about the project. For those children and those communities need and deserve, are entitled to our support. And the project is moving forward on all through the coordination of management of the school of St. Paul and courageous and responsible management of some people who engage in body and soul to take care of this educational project.
I had the great fortune to visit and live for a few days in those schools and those communities. I hope many other people had the same luck! One visit is enough to convince me of the importance of investing in education to facilitate the humanization of people. Poverty is a disgrace that dehumanizes many people.The first victim of poverty tends to be education. Or because there are no economic resources to access it. Or because poor families need child labor to support the family economy. So, Saint Paul School of Macau does very well to provide sufficient resources so that poverty does not deprive those children of education. Now they have school, have textbooks, notebooks, school supplies ... A visit to these schools is enough to fill the mind and heart of feelings and things to reflect upon.
To those who have contributed and are contributing to this organization, the children, teachers, rural communities ... received them with smiles and songs, and entertain them with meals simple but full of warmth. They are the testimony of an enormous gratitude, for these four schools are changing the fate of those communities and those children. It's a unique experience to see their faces burned by the sun, but resplendent in new educational opportunities. Those who have had the initiative and who have helped get the recognition and gratitude of these people.
Now we just have to continue this excellent initiative. The success of this company depends largely on people. Of the directors of the school of St. Paul, who remain committed to promoting youth education beyond their own classrooms Macau. Of all the people who have been and are excited about this project. And, especially, the success and smooth operation depends on the people there are working for the good functioning of this educational project: the people who work daily to coordinate the activities of schools, the teachers that are the real engine of the education of children, and also those rural communities who must care for their schools as the best guarantee of a better future for their children.
Felicísimo Martinez