Presidential Classroom 2008

In summer 2008, a group of the Escuela Internacional Sampedrana assisted the wonderful Presidential Classroom Program intended to form the leaders of the future. This program takes place several times a year, but Mrs. Panting, the organizer, chose July because the weather is similar to Honduras. It took place in Georgetown Conference Center at Washington D.C., United States. E.I.S.’s students left San Pedro Sula on the morning of July 19 and arrived Washington D.C in the afternoon. They were all anxious and happy for meeting new people.
After picking up their baggage they were taken into the Georgetown Conference Center, where Presidential Classroom staff was waiting for them. There they would pick up their room key and find out with who they will share rooms.
The Program started on Sunday, with the welcome speech by the director of Presidential Classroom. It was followed by presentations done by students from all around the world, in which they introduced their country. Afterwards, approximately the four-hundred students attending were divided into delegations and working groups. These working groups worked the entire week formulating a project on peacekeeping, wars, hunger, ecology, energy and education. The projects were presented on Friday, with the corresponding objectives, plans, and conclusions.
Many historical sites were visited by the students. Some of them included the Union Station, The Capitol, the White House, Lincoln’s memorial, Jefferson’s memorial, the Korean War memorial, the Holocaust Museum, the Air and Space Museum, World Bank, United States Department of State and the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives among others.
Seminars included speeches of relevant people in history. The most memorable speech was the one given by a Holocaust survivor. This lady told the students everything she lived during that time and how she managed to survive. Other speeches were given by congressmen, President of the World Bank, the Vice president of the United Nations Organization.
This experience was unforgettable for each and every student who assisted the Presidential Classroom Program, due to the fact that they grew as a person, learn, and made new friends from other parts of the world.
-Alejandra Barrios