From the Vatican, the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, announced that the Scholas foundation, which is present in more than 190 countries With a global network that brings together more than 446,000 schools and educational networks, it will arrive in Cali to train boys and girls in environmental issues, coexistence and conflict resolution in preparation for COP16, which will take place the last week of October.
Scholas, promoted by Pope Francis, is a private canonical foundation that depends on the Congregation of the Clergy since August 2015.
“I greet you after two days of work here in Vatican City, in Rome, responding to the call of Pope Francis, who invited 50 leaders from all over the world, and invited me as mayor of Cali, which is a pride for our city. Because our city is the capital of COP16 and the Pope wanted us to discuss two issues that are very important to him, such as caring for the environment and reconciliation,” the president said in his video.
“In addition, we reached out to the director of the Pope’s foundation, the Scholas Foundation, to help us train children and young people for the COP,” Eder explained.
The leader of the Cali people announced in his video that tomorrow, Friday, May 24, he will be in Cali again, “with the task accomplished, leaving Cali’s name high.”
Last week the Cali Council authorized the Mayor to leave the city to attend as a participant in the First International Meeting of Meaning promoted by the International Educational Movement Scholas Ocurrentes and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean CAF.
During the days of his absence, Andrés Felipe Estapper Segrega, who serves as Secretary of the Government of Cali, was acting as Mayor.
Also present at the International Meeting of Meaning was the Colombian singer Carlos Valencia, better known as “Tostao”, who was part of the group ChocQuibTown and today continues his music as a soloist.
In the middle of the meeting, one of the organizers invited him to share his talent with the attendees and of course, with Pope Francis. “There are many talents among us, but there is someone with a very particular one. Do you dare, Tostao, to improvise and share with the Pope a testimony from your music? said.
“I am very happy to be here, I am Colombian, from Choco, from the Colombian Pacific. “I have had the opportunity to rap in many places in the world, but it is my first time in the Vatican and you are going to witness that.”expressed the artist.
When he finished, he was applauded by those in attendance and Pope Francis also took the opportunity to comment repeatedly: “You are a good rapper.”
The Mayor around the world
There, he presented the Cali 500+ Plan, joint ventures and investment projects were explored to confront climate change and the possibility of managing financing resources for COP16, energy generation and the improvement of the aqueduct service and wastewater treatment in the city.
