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VVOB delegation exchanges views in an audience with President Rafael Correa
18/05/2016

In May 2016, Herman Van Rompuy visited Ecuador as the ambassador to VVOB. On May 16th, President Rafael Correa invited him to the presidential palace to attend the changing of the guard ceremony. Herman Van Rompuy was accompanied by his wife, Geertrui Windels. Stefaan Van Mulders (chairperson of the board of VVOB), Bart Dewaele (General Director of VVOB), Vincent Ringenberg (Political Advisor for the European foreign services delegation in Ecuador) and Evelien Masschelein (Programme Manager for VVOB in Ecuador) completed the delegation. After the ceremony, the delegation had the opportunity to exchange views in an audience. Afterwards, they also spoke with Mr Augusto Espinosa, Minister of Education of Ecuador.

RBFA provides autographed shirt of the Red Devils

What would you give to a statesman as a token of appreciation for your good cooperation in increasing the quality of education? Not easy... We start with words expressing this appreciation... But we also wanted a little memento of these words. Since many Ecuadorians are passionate about the football game, as many Belgians are, VVOB consulted the management of the Royal Belgian Football Association, who gave us an autographed shirt of the Red Devils. This shirt was waved goodbye at VVOB’s head office with some very necessary gadgets for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2016 tournament and was handed over by the VVOB delegation to President Correa. Given his explicit link with our country - he studied in Belgium and his wife is Belgian - he was very pleased with this symbolic gift.

‘Enlace ciudadano’

Later that week, President Correa included this visit in his weekly "enlace ciudadano" (+-31:16 till 35:17).