Region 4 PYC Rep Elie Labaky presents a cheque to students from the University of Ottawa. The funds went to support their participation in an international service learning volunteer project with Compañeros Nicaragua.
Compañeros and the community thanking OPSEU and Region 4 of the PYC for their support.
The graffiti artist who designed murals in the community took a great liking to the PYC flag and wanted to incorporate the design it into one of their murals.
Murals are a cultural form of expression among many Nicaraguans because a number of people do not know how to read or write.
The Compañeros at the city square in Managua, Nicaragua.
Elie Labaky, Provincial Young Workers' Committee (PYC) Region 4 Representative recently made a charitable donation, on behalf of OPSEU and the committee, to Compañeros Nicaragua.
The funds went to support 11 University of Ottawa students, selected to participate in an international service learning volunteer project in Managua, Nicaragua. Compañeros, a Nicaraguan-Canadian community partner (http://companeros.ca), is a non-profit, community based organization. It works in collaboration with Canadian groups to help build homes and sustainable living in underprivileged regions in the capital city (Managua).
Responding to locally identified housing needs, this team of students worked alongside Nicaraguan colleagues to create affordable housing units for residents of Anexo Dios Proveerá. This area (in the capital city) is a congested and socio-economically challenged neighbourhood. It contains many communities with prevalent health, education, unemployment and social issues.
This generous gesture enabled Canadian and Nicaraguan workers to build homes. It also helped to develop learning programs designed for women and children. Furthermore, the OPSEU/PYC presence was greatly supported because it empowered many young workers within the region. They took a liking to the committee's flag and considered painting an OPSEU-themed mural as a sign of their gratitude.
The donation represented more than money for people.
It showcased OPSEU as a union dedicated to uniting all peoples of the world. More importantly, it demonstrated OPSEU as a socially conscious organization. It is aware of the problems people are faced with and cares enough to move forward to affect change for those who cannot help themselves.
United we stand to help our fellow sisters and brothers everywhere.