By Laura Rubio, student of the Community Journalism Workshop of Peninsula 360 Press, with the support of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
This Wednesday morning, Casa CÃrculo Cultural held the inauguration of the "Plaza Comunitaria" program at 3090 Middlefield Rd. in Redwood City.
The inauguration was attended by Luis Gutiérrez, Director of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME); Remedios Gómez Arnau, Consul General of Mexico in San Francisco; Julio Huerta, Consul for Community and Cultural Affairs; as well as Giselle Hale, Mayor of Redwood City.
The program, sponsored by Mexico's National Institute of Adult Education (INEA), seeks to support Spanish-speaking immigrant youth over the age of 15 and adults to begin or complete their primary or secondary education in the Spanish language.
"There will be the opportunity to connect with Mexico and finish their primary or secondary education, if they never did it in Mexico here they can start it at their own pace," said Remedios Gómez Arnau, who also pointed out the opportunity for students to enter the online system of higher secondary education offered by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the one offered by the Ministry of Public Education of the Government of Mexico (SEP).
For his part, Luis González pointed out that through 40 universities in Mexico "access to online university programs -at a distance- is being promoted, so that people can continue studying and so that resources and time are not a limiting factor".
In addition to literacy, the program offers the opportunity to access technology resources and job training and preparation for the General Education Development Test (GED).
In addition, those who complete primary or secondary education can obtain a certificate of studies endorsed by the SEP, which is valid in both Mexico and the United States.
"This is an opportunity for all the people who emigrated and were not able to finish school in Mexico, so that they can complete their studies remotely, have their certificate and help them to continue progressing in life," said Luis Gutiérrez.
González also pointed out that, in case of requiring further information, those interested can go to the educational orientation window at the consulate in San Francisco from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon or send an email to consfrancisco@sre.gob.mx.
Anna Lee Mraz, project coordinator of Casa CÃrculo Cultural, pointed out that "it is very important to have these types of opportunities such as the Plaza Comunitaria, to advance in educational issues, since many times migrants travel and do not finish their studies there, and education is always a way to strengthen the community, broaden horizons and opportunities for all migrants".
In that sense, the mayor of Redwood City detailed that "education is a door to more opportunities".
There are currently 258 INEA Community Plazas in the United States, which you can consult at inea.gob.mx/servicios_en_linea/Plaza_mas_cercana
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