On July 28, 2004, FUNGLODE/GFDD presented Dr. Richard A. Nuccio, Director of Center for Civic Education, organization based in Los Angeles. Dr. Nuccio described the role and need for the existence of an organization like the CCE. He also brought the audience to date concerning their activities in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with the PUCMM. The panel included Dr. Nuccio, Ms. Ligia Melo, Coordinator of the FUNGLODE's Education Studies Group, and Mr. Radhamés Mejía, Vice-Rector of PUCMM.

The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational corporation dedicated to fostering the development of informed, responsible participation in civic life by citizens committed to values and principles fundamental to a constitutional democracy. The Center specializes in civic/citizenship education, law-related education, and international educational exchange programs for developing democracies.

The collaboration between the CCE and PUCMM goes back to 1997, when the Program to Support Democratic Initiatives, Programa para el Apoyo a Iniciativas Democráticas (PID), started its activities under the management of Executive Director, Dr. Mu-Kien Adriana Sang which, through local organizations like Foundation Leonardo da Vinci and funding of USAID and the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, trained several tens of thousands of students around the Dominican territory.

The event attracted a large audience with representatives of the civil society, social workers, teachers and concerned citizens who followed the presentation with great interest and participated in a candid and constructive question and answer session.

FUNGLODE will support the work of the Center for Civic Education in the Dominican Republic as well as develop specific programs, in association with PUCMM and other Dominican institutions dedicated to civic education.

www.civiced.org