Our first Pro-Life Generation (PLG) high school group at University Gardens High School in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, is now Students for Life of America’s (SFLA) September Group of the Month!   

This comes shortly after becoming an official chartered group just earlier this month, making the honor even more special.  While the group had meetings, trainings, and events over the summer, it was time to get the ball rolling this fall and get the group officially recognized at the public high school.  

This new student group at University Gardens High School is one of four current Students for Life groups in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Our other groups across Puerto Rico campuses include the University of Puerto Rico: Rio Piedras campus, the University of Puerto Rico: Mayaguez campus, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Ponce.   

All four of our current Puerto Rico Student groups invest copious amounts of time and energy into supporting each other and defending Life on their campuses. Students for Life Puerto Rico groups meet regularly and support one another with events, resources, and advocacy for Life across the island.  

With support from not just SFLA, but Pregnancy Help Centers (PHCs), but also from parishioners, volunteers, and even some faculty and staff from various schools, our groups in Puerto Rico have been able to thrive and achieve leaps and bounds. One of our outstanding leaders from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Jesmary Velazquez, helps us find new leaders to start groups, just like University Gardens High School, every day.    

The new student group at University Gardens High School has received tremendous support from faculty and staff at the school, including from the principal, in the midst of free speech obstacles.   

“We are proud to be the first high school Students for Life group in Puerto Rico,” said University Gardens High School SFLA President Marcos Melendez. “We are very excited to show that young voices can make a real impact with love, respect, and unity.” 

We stand together in solidarity that we will make abortion unthinkable and unavailable in our lifetime. SFLA is incredibly proud of the students and their courage and willingness to fight for Life, even if it means risking everything, making this group the well-deserving September Group of the Month. 

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