The leaders of the GNRC member religions committed to holding a regular minute of prayer for the rights of children and to reading GNRC’s Latin American prayer, throughout the month, starting November 19. This made it possible for many communities to learn about the GNRC and the DPAC celebration, and to participate in the prayer as well.

The Peace March came at a critical time given the increase in violence due to the country’s economic crisis. Violence affects many children in schools and communities; the government has been unable to live up to the campaign promise regarding comprehensive citizen security. The civil society movements such as the march we carried out are activities that bring hope, stir people’s awareness and help generate actions to promote peace in the home, the schools and the community. The GNRC Participation in the Mañanitas Community, along with the Peace March, caused a significant impact given the great number of people, approximately 1,200, in attendance. GNRC participated in this event because of its conviction that it must be visible in actions against the ongoing violence in the country (Public and private schools, parish religious organizations, government institutions at Las Mañanitas, government officials, and GNRC).


As for the action at the Panama celebration of the Day of Prayer and Action, we shared signs of love and solidarity with children who have been abandoned, mistreated and abused by family members. This is why we approached the administration of SOS Children’s-Town of Panama to spend time with the 120 children that live there. The GNRC’s children presented a skit about the rights of children, and shared interfaith prayers. A GNRC bookmark was handed out, and participants were explained the way GNRC works. There was a sense of sharing as games, songs, and baskets of food and refreshments were given away. During the evaluation of the activity, the children clearly expressed what they had learned through the skit. The administrators and caregivers said this activity had been very different from other activities that had been done for the children, and that this had been the first time the children had been deeply involved and there had been learning. The skit was the activity that caused the greatest impression.

The DPAC culminated at Transfiguration of the Lord Parish in San Miguelito, in a very festive celebration with support from Fr. Oscar Martin, with over 500 children attending, where the GNRC’s children and youth presented the skit on Rights of Children; each scene of the skit presented the problem followed by the solution (education, family integration, child labor, sexual exploitation of children, and violence). Later, several children from the Community read the Latin American Prayer for Children. They were given a copy of the song used during the celebration of the Day of Prayer and Action, which the children sang joyfully. The event ended with a series of traditional Christmas songs by the delegations from different communities attending.

A total of 1,200 children participated in this series of events that took place all month long.