Welcome to Lavínia, Barcelona

You’ve been welcomed all day long: by teachers, children, authorities... It is now the turn of families. It will be difficult to say something original but I will try. Books and roses. Words and love. And love for words. That’s la Diada de Sant Jordi, Saint George’s Day in Catalonia. But that’s also all days in Lavínia. We love reading and talking every day, every week, every year. Then you’ve seen la Sardana, our dance, where we all have the same role. And els Castellers, our human towers, where each one works its best to do a good job together. The harmony of cultures. So what’s all this about? Let me use some other catalan people words. I am a catalan. Today a province of Spain. But what has been Catalonia? Catalonia has been the greatest nation in the world. I will tell you why. Catalonia has had the first parliament much before England. Catalonia had the beginning of the United Nations. All the authorities of Catalonia at the XI century met in a city of France, then Catalonia, to speak about peace. At the XI century. Peace in the world and against, against, against wars. The inhumanity of wars. This was Catalonia. Pau Casals, one of the best cello players and also a great composer, said these words in 1971 at the United Nations. And maybe it’s just that, peace. Peace and respect for each other. Respect for our traditions, for our languages, for our differences. And finding ways to meet, to work together. I think that’s what Comenius is about. There’s a lot of work to do but let me finish with the words of one of our greatest poets, Miquel Martí i Pol, who gave us some clues: We just have What we have and nothing else: this particular moment of history That concerns us and a tiny Territory to live it. Let’s Stand again and make everyone’s voice Be heard, solemn and clear. Let’s shout who we are so that everyone hears it. And then afterwards, let everyone dress As they please, and to work! Because everything needs to be done and everything is possible. Enjoy your days here and welcome to Lavínia, our little school in a very big city working for peace and respect. Working for the harmony of cultures.