Gratefulness Dinner 2008: GNRC El Salvador

San Salvador, December 5th. With the splendid welcome of brothers and sisters of the Bahá' i community of El Salvador, receiving in their new headquarters in San Salvador, children, young people and adults of GNRC El Salvador, gathered for sharing the annual dinner of gratefulness 2008. With the participation of 35 people, including adult people of the leadership committee and from communities affiliates to GNRC, the majority were young people who have made the activities possible. Dinner were opportunity to share hopes, new projects and an intense experience of union in diversity for children of El Salvador.

Gabriela Velis, a Faith Bahá'í member, offered greetings of welcome and an prayer. Rev. Santiago Flores, leader of Calvinist Reformed Church of El Salvador, addressed a very inspirational speech to young people encouraging to commitment, being thankful by so many intense moments of building of humanity that were possible during 2008 and expressing hopes for 2009.

With a very dynamic and emotional presentation of photographies and activities, Lorena López, from San Francisco Asissi - Pasionists and Gabriela Velis, brings youth to memories of the intense moments that were lived together in a interreligious context: summer camping, visits to religious communities, the Roxana’s trip to Japan, workshops developed and the 2009’s challenges and perspectives for the local leadership committee to engage young people in leadership.

Larry Jose Madrigal, of the Center Bartolomé de las Casas - Dominicans, presented the decision - consulted and validated by membership - to confirm Manuel Tobar (Centro Las Casas) and Matías Flores (IRCES) as delegates to the international workshop of leadership for GNRC young people GNRC in Geneva, Switzerland (Jan 29 - Feb 03, 2009). The workshop pursue the qualification for the leadership of young people and adult young people of GNRC of all the regions. The activity finished with the hugs, good desires, samples of solidarity and gratefulness and –of course, delicious inclusive vegetarian dinner that was the delight whereupon the night culminated.

(Text and translation: Larry Madrigal; Photos: Claudia Reyes).