Raúl Benítez Talavera, one of the student leaders protagonists of the historic social movement “UNA don’t shut up” from the Faculty of Engineering (FIUNA), is running for the Chamber of Deputies for Central by the Alianza Encuentro Nacional (AEN). The activist is an electromechanical engineer by profession and affirms that he wants to build the Paraguay that we dream of with the citizens.
What do you remember of those historic days of “UNA do not shut up”?
We are about to turn seven, it was a nice student spring. Many young people manage to say enough to the acts of corruption. Bring that outrage into action. Report those who we believe were responsible. All this ended just over a month ago with the sentence of Froilan Peralta to three years in prison.
What are your proposals for the Lower House?
One of the things that for me was one of the most important lessons was that if we are not in decision-making spaces, we will not be able to change certain things. We at UNA don’t shut up changed many things and many things were achieved, such as the conviction of Froilán Peralta and a few other things, but when we wanted to reform the statute, we did not find the political will of many actors who were in the decision-making spaces That is why one of the lessons is that we must be in the place where decisions are made, to have an impact on a future project.
Do the university and Congress have some kind of relationship?
These are not different scenarios, they are similar scenarios, perhaps it is not the same physical place, within the university, but if it is something that we realized, it is that the actors, no matter how many they change their names, are all related to each other. It must be remembered that Froilán was the “ferrari” of Kalé Galaverna, who was in Congress. So there is a thread, a circle where the different institutions are managed and I think that the National Congress is a place where one can influence that university in some way.
What do you want to contribute to education from Congress?
We can work on the budget issue, be controllers, how the money is used, how it is used. see if more funds are needed. and work with other proposals that can collaborate. This embezzlement fell to the student. We want to transfer all these projects to Congress from the Alianza Encuentro Nacional where we have a very nice and varied team.
Can you think of a university accessible to all?
Unfortunately today, the university is still a privilege of few. One can have the fees waived but the student needs an environment to develop. Not only happens in universities but in schools themselves. We are in a country where 6 out of 10 children drop out of the education system. There is a lot of talk about desertion, it is the expulsion that the educational system does to the boys. Why do many kids drop out of school? Many due to a low socioeconomic situation that does not allow them to function.
Is the lack of financial resources the main problem?
Many students have to go out to work or many do not have certain basic needs covered, from food. We must talk about the fact that not only are more classrooms necessary, but that there must be an environment that allows it to develop, for example, daily food, transport that takes you to and from your home. decent housing, a lot of things that allow these kids to develop.
How do you see the participation of young people in the next elections?
We go straight to April 30, we managed to form a team together with Kattya González and Soledad Núñez. A team with professionals from different areas, who can talk about all aspects, especially, who can invite young people. If we don’t get involved, absolutely nothing will happen, because we are going to continue having problems in opportunities, in education, at work, because we are going to leave the field open for the same people as always. I invite all young people to join this project.
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DATA SHEET
Full name: Raul Benitez Talavera
Place of birth: Assumption
Date of Birth: September 21, 1993 (29 years old)
Place of primary, secondary and university studies: Colegio Cristo Rey, Electromechanical Engineer of the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción
Family: Single without children
Positions held in the public function: President of the Engineering Student Center, President of the UNA Student Federation
Hobbies: Playing guitar, singing and teaching.
