Esther María La O Ochoa, principal of the school, thanked the solidarity donation and said it is moving to know there is solidarity from good hearts that share what they have with these children with special needs.

She emphasized the donation, consisting of 15 wheelchairs, 200 school chairs and 72 desk chairs, kitchen utensil sets, fans, a flat-screen TV, a water fountain and sports equipment, will help to make the 225 children’s stay at the school a bit more bearable.

Although, she pointed out, the students have almost everything they need to be happy, because not everything can be bought with money, and they have love, care and affection given by a group of educators who have been helping disabled children for over 30 years.

Despite the fact that the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba has caused great limitations in all sectors, it has not been able to dull our students´ smile, who, in spite of their disabilities, show signs of self-improvement and passion for learning.

Panamanian Ambassador in Havana Reynaldo Rivera, on the other hand, explained the donation was made possible thanks to the support of businessmen from the Colon Free Zone and different Cuban institutions including the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).

Rivera recalled the school is one of the many examples of Cuba’s friendship towards Panama, since it was founded in one of the saddest moments during the U.S. occupation of Panama in 1989.

He also highlighted Cuba’s solidarity in sending, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 200 doctors to save lives in Panama.

The diplomat thanked the school “because when you visit it is as if you were tracing the essence of humanity”.

“When life gives us the opportunity to be close to children with disabilities, it makes our hearts grow fonder because we see them improving and we are also very happy to be able to help them,” the Panamanian ambassador added.

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