Eight students from Punta Arenas public schools travelled last Saturday to Falkland Islands on a program to improve their English language, according to an agreement with local municipality, British Consulate and Lan Airlines.

Punta Arenas Mayor Vladimiro Mimica stated his idea was to give better opportunities to pupils from municipal schools, since they don't have the possibility to study abroad as private schools students have.

The students selected, all with excellent marks in English, are Catherina Cáceres, Croacia school; Camila Muñoz, Juan Williams school; Ángel Millalonco, 18 de Septiembre school; Nicole Cabello, Pedro Pablo Lemaitre school; Carlos Molina, Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa school; Sara Navarro, Argentina school; Cristián, Manuel Bulnes school, and Diego Chávez, Padre Alberto Hurtado school. With them went teacher Elena Barría, from Juan Williams school.

British Consul John Rees went to the airport to see the students off, saying he was proud to be part of the project of Mayor Mimica, with whom they worked almost a year to make it true.

This is the first travel of Magallanes children to Falkland Islands, but the beginning of an exchange program.

The Mayor of Punta Arenas, Vladimiro Mimica, had said goodbye to the group two days earlier at the City Hall, telling the children they had been selected because of their marks and urged them not to give away their dreams, since each of them had the opportunity to succeed on life.

Mayor Mimica also sent special gifts to Governor of Falkland Islands Alan Huckle and head teacher of the school which will receive the Chilean pupils, Alistair Baldwin.