Mexican president speaks on volunteering

The President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, spoke at the National Award to Volunteer Action and Solidarity, last Thursday, at his Official Residence in Los Pinos.

The president talked about the importance of volunteer work and his efforts to advance government policy in light of the impact that volunteers make to social development.

President Felipe Calderón praises the efforts of civil society Mexico City, December 2010. Reforma. After praising civil society’s contribution to democracy, President Felipe Calderón criticized the Government and Congress for making decisions based on the interests of the few rather than those of the many.

During the ceremony of the National Volunteer Action and Solidarity Award 2010 at the official presidential residence at Los Pinos, Calderón considered the necessity of restructuring priorities to attend the needs of others.

From the presidential perspective, he stated that what is fundamental is not that which satisfies self interests. “What is truly important is that, which we do for others, and at times this occurs without the same political or administrative support that other areas receive”, the President said.

“The truth is that sometimes we place too much attention on ostentatious and overly adorned matters, (with) very expensive decorations, that our own team presents.” In this tone, he presented how by it’s own inclination, civil society is more productive in terms of social benefit.

Accompanied by his wife, Calderón sustained that the strength of citizenship is the motor to reform and improve institutions. “The perseverant efforts of social organizations was also decisive in Mexico building a democracy because its impulse and tenacity contributed to tearing down walls that were not necessarily the most democratic in nature, and because one of civil society’s greatest feats was to pluralize the public agenda”, he stated.

The President presented the Award for the juvenile category to Julio César Rodríguez Reina; for the group category, to Hogares Providencia, founded by Father Chinchachoma, and for the individual category, to Cecilia Saviñon.