NATALIA FERREYRA, Sebastian's mum

Former "Agents for Change" member, currently on 1st year of Psychology, part of the "Alumni Network" programme:

"…I am the mother of Sebastián, a boy who participated once in the student's selection in Campana, got the scholarship and experienced a positive turn in his life. He learnt how to appreciate what he had, to appreciate himself and to know that everything can be achieved through effort. Years went by and after graduating and (according to him) living the best days of his life, he started the introductory course for University in order to become a professional. He is happy, excited and full of energy. I, as a mother, am very proud of him, and very proud of you too, for all the support and the company, for being there, for the solidarity of each tutor, for the trust, the opportunity, the future. Thank you, a thousand thanks to you all".

MAICO CÁCERES

22, former member of the "Agents for Change" programme, now a 4th year Political Science student at Torcuato di Tella University, part of the "Alumni Network" programme and also part of the Germinare staff as a coach for Pilar students.

"I would tell boys and girls who are just starting not to sit back waiting for opportunities to come, but to dare and cross their own limits, their own boundaries, and become persons with an eager spirit, with a will to accept new challenges…persons with a strong social awareness, but above all, persevering… and indifferent towards prejudice and adversity."

REBECA RIVADENEIRA

Rebeca is 15, part of the "Agents for Change" programme and a 4th form student at Bede's Grammar School:

"…I never felt bad for wanting more, but at the other school they did make me feel bad for it…When I learn I feel that I can think differently;it's like I'm not limited into thinking in a certain way…Instead I learn and sort of adapt to different situations. Now I want to become a lawyer and a judge. I used to want that before too, but I felt like I didn't have the tools needed for it. Now I feel I have them..."

Graduated 2010 program "Agents for Change" (Colegio Santo Tomás de Aquino, Campana); now part of the "Red Alumni" Fundación Germinare program as 2nd year student of political science at the UBA.

My name is Daniela Franco, I am 19 years old and I study Political Sciences at University of Buenos Aires. I joined Germinare in the year 2003 when I was 10 years old. With my mother -who always went with me- I passed the entrance examination, I went to every supporting talk, orientation workshops and leveling classes, and in March I finally got the scholarship to entered into Santo Tomás de Aquino school, located in Campana (Buenos Aires Province).

When I was finishing high school in the year 2010 a man asked me the following question: "how do you manage to live one reality in the morning and such a different one in the evening when you get home?" I remember to have smiled as I understood that this was not only the combination of all the questions people had asked me until then, but also the reason why I was in front of him, answering it, and the reason that brought me to you today.

What would have happen to me if I had no other reality to see in the morning? How would I even think to abandon everything and only keep what I was able to live in the afternoon? Despite it hurts to live in two worlds at the same time, we are only a handful those who can choose which to pick!

People say that beyond the economic situation of every family one can choose whichever aim and reach it, and that's true, but it's also true that when the principal objective of all who surround you is to last until the end of the month, your aim won't surely be to become an astronaut.

Germinare gave me more than just books, a uniform, and a scholarship… they gave me hugs, friends, and most of all they gave me dreams; they took me to a place where to be a doctor or a lawyer was not a crazy thing, and where they understood the importance of the question "what would you like to do when you grow up?".

When I was 12 and I entered the new school I found myself surrounded by children with families and realities very different to mine and I wondered what difference could be between them and me.

At the previous school I used to be strange because of reading during the breaks and once the teacher told my mom that it was not of good manners to prepare myself in advance and to know more than my fellows. Then where I was supposed to feel different? At the place where I shared a comparable economic situation with my school mates? Or at the place where I shared projects, ideas, and why not a similar future?

There was a real difference or a disadvantage in front of those who had become my new fellows and are my friends today? If yes I was lucky by not finding it (if you by chance find it please avoid telling me).

I owe to Germinare and also to my personal effort (I include my friends and family as they did also dream with me) all what make me proud about myself. It is impossible for me to imagine how would have been my life without Germinare but what it is possible, thanks to them, is to imagine what will happen to me. If they would ask me what I want to be when I grow up I would answer that I want to be like them, I want to dedicate my life to show other realities, to give dreams.

I could not finish my speech without sharing with you the words from whom already understood, a long time ago, what I am talking about: