The Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) hosted the ninth edition of France Week, an event aimed at strengthening academic and cultural ties between Guatemala and France. The event was organized by UVG’s Internationalization Coordination and spanned three days.
During the opening ceremony, Adriana Dubón, a chemical engineering student, and Teresa Velásquez, a graduate in strategic communication, delivered remarks in French. They spoke about how learning the language has enriched their respective careers. Bianca Larach, a biology student, also shared a message focusing on joint efforts by Guatemala and France for ocean conservation.
Yann Lorvo, Head of Cooperation and Cultural Action at the French Embassy, expressed gratitude for activities that promote academic, research, and cultural relations between the two countries. "I am grateful for activities that promote academic, research, and cultural relations between both countries," Lorvo said.
The week included various events such as virtual lectures on coastal preservation in Central America through multidisciplinary collaboration. A session titled “From Paris: How to Pursue Your Master’s Degree in France?” provided guidance to students interested in postgraduate studies in France. The French Embassy also organized a Christmas Bazaar and the traditional French Market at Plaza Paiz Riera where members of the UVG community could purchase French products or items inspired by France.
Other activities featured a piano recital with works by French composers Georges Bizet and Maurice Ravel as well as a creative painting workshop called “Expressions of Water.” The event concluded with a conference on the work of IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement) and French scientific cooperation in Central America targeted at researchers from science, social sciences, and humanities fields.
The IX Semana de Francia served as an opportunity for cultural enrichment while reinforcing collaborative efforts between both nations.
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