* Youth Seminar at Colegio Padre Hurtado *

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Colegios Padre Hurtado y Juanita de los Andes hosted an annual Youth Seminar for Service and Social Awareness. This is the 5th year and each year it grows. Many local schools are involved with speakers and mostly High School Seniors taking part. After presentations there is an open forum for questions and responses from the youth in the audience. I was impressed with the comments by these astute youth and their vision for the future of their country. There is much to be done in this country and this extremely fast growing cit of Santiago. In the past year, since McAuley visited in 2005, there are one million NEW residents of Santiago, bringing the total to around 6 million! Many of these new residents come in from the surrounding countryside for better jobs and hopes for the future. Many of these also live in slum-like squatter villages.

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A well-known Chilean news commentator and discussion facilitator assists in keeping the forum moving ahead. Other presentations included the Circo del Mundo which is modeled after the Cirque de Soleil of Canada. This organization trains often underprivledged youth in amazing acrobatic feats and creats show and travel opportunities for them for a solid career.

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Youth response to social concerns.

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Don Alejandro, of Colegio, gives a moving opening speech and welcome to the Youth Seminar at Colegio Padre Hurtado. Mrs. Dubreuil has a copy of his powerful speech. Once translated it may be posted on this blog.
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