News That Gives Us More Hope

Although I wrote this article when our national universities were not yet going through the very severe crisis they are living through now, I include it to recall what our universities are, and to remember that there are still many people in them giving their very best to keep them open with high educational quality, despite the thousands of problems they have to face.

I love to spread good news about Venezuela, above all because negative things sometimes keep us from enjoying the wonders of this country. In fact, on the day I learned the news I am about to share (which you may already know), a young Venezuelan in Spain had sent me an article comparing the marvelous technology available to students at a Spanish university (where he is doing a master’s degree) with the current physical deterioration of the Universidad Simón Bolívar (where he had graduated, and which he remembered with great affection).

Since material things can be solved quickly (I learned that at the Universidad Central, when our professors told us not to worry about how few electronic devices we had, because you learn to use them in just a few days), I think we have to look a little beyond that.

This article shows how, despite the material problems we are experiencing in our schools and universities, the formation our children and young people have received in recent decades (in their homes, communities, parishes and schools) has made them part of a generation of young people who are standing out worldwide (and not only in music, which has truly been a phenomenon).

Some days ago a diplomat told me he had been with a group of young people in Petare, and he exclaimed: “You have no idea what you have here. Those young people are a treasure.” And I answered: “Of course we know. Our young people are like diamonds in the rough, and that is why so many of us have so much hope in this country, and nothing and no one is going to take it from us.”

Now for the news I want to share today: this year, 2012, the Universidad Simón Bolívar was chosen as Best International Delegation at the 58th Harvard National Model United Nations, held in Boston from February 16 to 19. This year 266 universities from 65 countries took part, with 2,400 competitors and 900 organizers. Not easy to take first place, is it? The Universidad Simón Bolívar was among the top ten universities, together with Yale, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the Belgian Society for Model United Nations, West Point, the University of Munich, the College of William and Mary, the University of Karachi, the Lahore University of Management Sciences, and the Venezuelan Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Bravo!

But this is not the first time two Venezuelan universities have appeared on this honor roll. Last year, 2011, the top five places in the ranking of the twenty best universities in the World Division (International) MUN went to the Belgian Society (Belgium) in first place, the Universidad Metropolitana in second, the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in third, United Netherlands (the Netherlands) in fourth and the Universidad Simón Bolívar in fifth. In sixth place was the Universidad Central de Venezuela. What do you think of that marvel?

What can we say to this? That we don’t have electronic whiteboards or desks where we can plug in our laptops? We will have them. That the walls of our classrooms are falling down? It’s true. But the walls of excellence, values, solidarity, struggle, teamwork, dedication, joy and hope in our schools and universities are stronger than ever.

Because nobody is going to stop these children and young people. Because they are children and young people who, ever since they became aware of the world, have known what it means to suffer, fight and pray in order to live in a better country. They are kids who have been through everything to get where they are, “all-terrain” young people who will keep up their fight to build an exemplary Homeland and to show the world that Venezuela, in spite of everything, is a great nation, because it has wonderful people who have learned the lesson and who know that soon, very soon, it will set out on a new road in its history. Thank you, kids, for this news of hope you give us. Always count on our full support and our prayers!