Summer Institute - VYLI 2nd Annual Summer Institute 2005
VYLI 2nd Anuual Summer Institute graduation began with our youngest leading the way. Bright-eyed 7-year-old Ambar Montanaldo carried the Cesar Chavez candle followed by 25 young people in their new VYLI T-shirts. Accompanied by piano by VYLI faculty Jason Webb, they walked past the Dream Collages they’d carefully created all week from magazines donated by the community. These collections proudly displayed their hopes and dreams of our emerging car mechanics and graphic designers, engineers and architects, actors and musicians, poets and writers, teachers and biologists.
It was a magical moment when they received their certificates in recognition of their efforts, commitment and hard work. You could see in their eyes we had lit a light in each one of them.
Some highlights of the week:
Project Coordinator Kutasha Silva honored our heritage at Punta Ferro with Daniel Silva and our environment with Mark Martin.
• Learned about computers and designed website, trained as chefs, designed jewelry and created a business and produced a play.
• Inspired by 17-year old Josue Cruz’s speech – about how his life has changed by VYLI, his three jobs, and how other young people can get jobs with the tourist industry in Vieques.
Visitors from the Mayor’s offices, business leaders, sponsors and curious on-lookers were impressed by Josue’s inspiring speech about how VYLI’s new building will give us the opportunity to help many more young people.
Our dress rehearsal with Tito Auger, lead singer and songwriter for Fiel a la Vega.
Our budding actors performed an amazing play choreographed by Moises Belazario about the ups and downs of staying true to your dreams. Everyone performed our theme song, Suenos.
Our chefs-in-training helped prepare a feast of delicious appetizers served. The proud mother of three graduates made a beautiful cake and filmed the whole event.
Our young jewelry makers sold the necklaces and bracelets they’d made during the week.
The Timberland Company’s generous show of support – 15 people (employees and families) left their home in Isabel at 3 am to travel to Vieques to be with us. 18-year-old Raymond shared why he and his family had come and how much they are looking forward to volunteering with us to create our new home.
