Dr. Liliana Mayo, founder and
general director of the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú (CASP), and Rosa Oyama,
Director of Research and Projects of the center, were honored with the medal of
“Honor of Merit for Social Work” by the Congress of the Republic and the
Peruvian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (ASPEME in Spanish) in honor of
their distinguished professional work, with more than 30 years dedicated to
education and inclusion of people with different abilities and their families.
The distinction was awarded
at the Seventh Conference of “Women Weaving Prosperity in Peru” (Mujeres Tejiendo Prosperidad en el Perú),
on March 7 in the Raúl Porras Barrenechea Chamber of the Legislative Palace in
celebration of International Women’s Day.
Dr. Marco Falconí Picardo,
first vice president of Congress, was in charge of bestowing the award to Dr.
Orestes Mayo, who represented Dr. Liliana Mayo, and Dr. Rosa Oyama. Also
present were Julia Reymer Rodríguez, President of ASPEME, and representatives
from the Legislative Power and private sector.
The medal of “Honor of Merit
for Social Work” recognizes women of great personal and professional
development who apply values such as commitment, persistence, leadership, a
fighting spirit, personal development and an exemplary life for society.
The Centro Ann Sullivan del
Perú currently helps more than 450 students, a hundred of which are employed
and another hundred who attend regular schools. The center is recognized
worldwide for its contribution as a model center for training, demonstration
and research for people with different abilities (autism, mental retardation,
Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy) and their families. Furthermore, it is important
to note that the Government of Panama has adopted the Peruvian model to fund
the Ann Sullivan Center of Panama (CASPAN) and that more than 15 Latin American
countries benefit from the Internet Training System that CASP has had since
2008 in order to make a difference in the lives of people with different
abilities and their families.