In order to celebrate the 100 years of Lasallian presence in Panama, the President of UMAEL, José Ramón Batiste, visited that country from 8 to 12 August 2004. The celebrations of the centenary were chaired by Br. Álvaro Rodríguez, General Superior of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

It was an occasion for the President of UMAEL to hold a series of meetings and to get into contact with the members of the Former Students Association Board of Directors, which is presided by Mr. Reinaldo Morales.

He also held a meeting with Mr. Luis Donderis, who is a member of UMAEL Executive Committee, Director of UMAEL Solidarity Area, and President of the NGO “PROA PANAMA”.

The efforts of PROA PANAMA (composed of former students and Brothers) are aimed at carrying out the “San Miguel Febres Cordero Schools” project. There is already one school working for 640 needy pupils in COLON-LAGOS and, during the celebration of the centenary, the first stone was laid for the construction of another school in NUEVO TOCUMEN. The ambitious PROA PANAMA program aims to build 10 San Miguel Febres Cordero Schools.

In the Chancellory of the Republic during the ceremony in which Mr. Harmodio Arias Cerjack, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Lasallian Former Student, acting as Knight commander, grants the "Vasco Núñez de Balboa Award" to the Institute of the Brothers, represented by Br. Alvaro.

With Ms. Doris Rosas de Matas, Minister for Education, with whom an agreement of collaboration to support San Miguel Schools has been signed.