Kinder Inauguration in La Penita Rotary Club of La Penita
March 9, 2012

After more than two years of planning, fundraising and several months of construction, Kinder Josepha Ortiz was inaugurated in La Peñita. The new classroom will serve the communities of Las Ladrilleras, Las Rosas, El Campesino, El Girasol and others in the northwest corner of La Peñita.

This brings to three the number of kindergartens built by the education committee of Los Amigos de Jaltemba. The fourth is slated for inauguration in a few weeks. For a complete history of the project click here.

The ceremonies started with the usual honour guard for the presentation of the flag accompanied by the communities very own banda de guerra.

One of our young students led off the speeches bidding welcome to the participants and thanking all contributors to the project singling out Los Amigos, Rotary and the Ejido for special thanks.

The students then presented a song and a few more short speeches were led off by our municipal delegado, Lidia Villanueva, who commented how proud she was to be part of a community that accomplishes so much.

The band participated throughout the event. In his comments, Ken Snyder, co-president of Los Amigos, stressed the cooperation of so many community entities necessary to a successful project.

John Mulrooney from the Ladysmith Rotary club on Vancouver Island, Canada, said he expected to be back often and in ten years time see these young students graduating and further strengthening our community.

Pancho Zuñiga, president of Ejido La Peñita, stressed the contribution of the parents to bring the project to completion.

Pati, president of the parents committee, gave a few comments and then invited the honoured guests to cut the ribbon.

A cheer went up as balloons were released by the students.

The kids got balloons and commenced to joust with them as President of the municipality arrived with more local officials to give a few words.

It is common practice in this environment for the parents to solicit help from the president and in this case he promised playground equipment to the school.

The parents then served a lovely sit down meal of chile rellenos and mole chicken with rice and frijoles puercos with gelatina for desert. I always ask the parents to not overdo the meal but they always do anyway. It was delicious!!

During the course of the construction phase the community has been blessed with two new members who will be future alumni. Young Antonio is now almost 3 months old and has been a constant attendee at the various volunteer days. Carlos de Jesus was born just three days ago to last year’s president of the parents’ committee.

It was a fun couple of hours and a fitting termination to a fine project. Thank you to all who made this possible!!!

  Learn about Rotary Club of Jaltemba Bay - La Penita

  Learn about Jaltemba Foundation

  Learn about Amigos de Lo de Marcos