By Dalia Diaz
Rumbo News
LOWELL, MA — A group of 14 Colombian children, 8 boys and 6 girls visited Massachusetts recently, and on April 20, were invited by Lowell Mayor Patrick O. Murphy to visit his office.
During their visit to City Hall, Mayor Murphy gave them a tour where they met several city officials, including councilors Rita M. Mercier and former Mayor Edward Caulfield, who spoke to them about the city’s glorious history.
After their visit to City Hall, the group headed to the park Edward A. LeLacheur, home of the Lowell Spinners, the popular baseball team based in the city, where members of the administration gave them a tour of the facilities and the famous gift shop where they received souvenirs of the team.
The children also enjoyed a short film about the city during their visit to the Lowell National Historical Park, plus a ride around town in an old train that runs through Lowell.
El Restaurante Delicias Paisas, as always, joined the visit inviting the People of the Future group and welcomed them with a delicious lunch.
The day ended with a visit to Chuck E Cheese. Chuck E. Cheese’s features age appropriate games, rides, prizes, food and entertainment that children of all ages from toddlers to big kids love, in an appropriate environment.
Two years ago, with a first trip to the United States, a group of 10 children from low-income Colombian families, began the program Gente Del Futuro (People of the Future), a project led by Martha Nelly Palacio.
Palacio was chancellor of the Colombian consulate in Boston USA, and now lives in Rio Negro (Antioquia) in the Republic of Colombia, and seeks to open the doors to these children so they can dream and have hopes, despite their economic and family conditions.
For more information about People of the Future, please contact Beatriz Sierra: al2si2@aol.com
