From Staff Reports
Corsicana Daily Sun
Corsicana —
Echoes of celebration were heard throughout Fullerton Garitty Park as VOICE celebrated El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros. The event celebrating family and children took place April 30.
This day recognizes children, pays homage to their importance in society, and endorses their well being. Since 1925 Dia del ninos — the Day of the Child — has grown as an annual celebration in Mexico.
The celebration of El dia de los Ninos started in early spring at VOICE. Throughout the last few months, VOICE has donated the children’s book by Pat Mora — Book Fiesta — to area schools, libraries, day cares, and organizations while also encouraging more celebration.
El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros began in Texas in 1997. El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros is traditionally observed and celebrated on April 30. With the celebration also comes a daily commitment of:
• Honoring children and childhood
• Promoting literacy and the importance of linking all children to books, languages, and cultures
• Honoring home languages and cultures, and thus promoting bilingual and multilingual literacy in this multicultural nation, and a global understanding through reading
• Involving parents as valued members of the literacy team
• Promoting library collection development that reflects our plurality
Families who participate in the VOICE Program La Voz para la Familia (The voice of the family) brought the celebration to Corsicana two years ago. La Voz para la Familia has been a very successful program started by VOICE five years ago. La Voz para la Familia began as an effort to empower Hispanic families and children by broadening their English skills, improving their school performance, and instilling strong family support and healthy choices.
The VOICE celebration of El dia de los ninos/ El dia de los libros included games for the children, festive foods, bounce houses, and the reading of Book Fiesta by VOICE staff. A very special part of the day was the drawings for 4 new bicycles with helmets and one scooter also with a helmet.
“The families who are involved in La Voz para la Familia enjoy this yearly celebration and work very hard at bringing the event together,” said Maybeth Mendez, VOICE Prevention Specialist and La Voz para la Familia Facilitator.
Next year’s El dia de los ninos will be on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Families already have plans to include the annual Derrick Days festivities with their celebration.
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On the Net:
www.voiceinc.org
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