Throughout the year donations gather in our house, everything from soccer cleats to newborn clothing. Shipments take up to 3 months to arrive. Once shipments arrive our in-country representatives distribute donations where most needed. The most recent shipment included literacy fair materials and arrived just days before our arrival. “Tranquilo, they will arrive in time.”
The American team of four arrived in Caazapá on June 7, 2025, and the host-country team of 6 Paraguayan teachers arrived later the same day. It was great to be together again! Time to get to work! The first few days were spent organizing materials and training everyone on school literacy activities for students in Pre-Kindergarten to 9th grade. The theme was “Reading Made Fun”/”Leo Jugando”. Early the next morning we loaded the truck and off we went!
Week one, six schools in San Joaquin… Week two, six schools in Yuty… Students in each school were divided into multiple groups, based on grade level and reading level. Each group of students participated in three fun and educational activities focused on literacy and reading. Afterwards the students enjoyed games of soccer, “Pato, Pato, Ganzo”/”Duck, Duck, Goose”, and “Simon Says”/”Simon Dice” while the participating schoolteachers spent time participating in a workshop prepared especially for them. Our Paraguayan team members are all teachers. In the preceding months they were busy creating didactic materials utilizing recycled items, all focused on developing language and reading skills while having fun. Our team was excited to demonstrate the use of the materials and how to re-create them using materials from their own communities.
Each school was given a collection of 70 new books to further grown the school library, didactic materials, along with a school first aid kit, handwashing soap, toothbrushes, “Paginas Escolares” from ABC Color (children’s inserts from newspaper), pencils, crayons, erasers, and 2 treasured soccer balls.
While in San Joaquin the team visited Centro Educativo Santa Maria de la Providencia de Fe y Alegria. This school offers students comprehensive training opportunities with an agricultural focus. Fe y Alegria schools are “ situated on the brink of exclusion, it focuses its socio-educational project on leadership development and social advancement, influencing public policies to promote a just, equitable, and supportive society”. OutreachPARAGUAY donated funds to be used exclusively for students in San Joaquin unable to cover tuition costs.
Books were also donated to San Joaquin’s “Little Library”/”Biblioteca Callejera.
A bookshelf to support a growing library and a drinking fountain was donated to one of the school district offices in San Joaquin. A projector was donated to a regional school director.
Our last stop in San Joaquin was to the Comedor Techo Fraterno Santa Ana San Joaquin. This community kitchen provides a healthy meal for approximately one hundred individuals/families on a daily basis. Families can take the food home and sit around their own family table. OutreachPARAGUAY provided financial support to be used for the purchase of food and kitchen supplies.
Our group was privileged to spend time with a community of Mbya Guarani living outside of the town of Yuty. Together we laughed, danced, told some stories, even played some literacy games with the children. We left behind food supplies, clothing, educational materials for the local school, and, of course, some soccer balls. Some members of our group left with treasured examples of Intricate basket weaving and wood carved masks.
Comedor Comunitario Padre Julio Cesar Duarte Ortellado is a community kitchen located in Yuty, providing children with healthy meals. We were glad to provide financial support for the purchase of food and kitchen supplies. Gently used clothing was donated as well.
Over the years OutreachPARAGUAY has supported the operation of a Mobile Health Clinic/”Clinica Movil” which provides comprehensive services to remote, marginalized communities in the Sexta Region de Caazapá. This year the bus required a significant amount of external bodywork, replacement of the internal floor, and replacement of dental instruments. All the work was completed during our most recent visit and the medical and dental staff are ready to take the bus on the road again!
Throughout the year we have shipped donated wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, shower chairs, and other medical supplies. Items are distributed to hospitals, health posts, and individuals without access to items. Medications purchased through MAP International and donated medical supplies were donated to the Regional Hospital.
We are beyond grateful for the ongoing collaboration and support of our host-country colleagues and friends! These relationships are vital to the success of our program. Long after we leave Paraguay, they are still “walking the talk”, visiting the schools, supporting students, educators, healthcare workers, and supporting their communities.
We are beyond grateful for our friends, colleagues, and supporters in the United States. Because of them our work continues. Some of them have been to Paraguay and recognize the need. Most not been to Paraguay. Our supporters have listened to our stories with open minds and hearts and have placed trust in our stewardship of the organization.
Lastly, but of no lessor significance, we are beyond grateful to each and every individual who welcomed us! We are grateful for everyone who sat at the table and shared bread with us, shared stories of personal challenges and reasons for hope. We are grateful for all who “filled our cup” and by example, urged us to keep moving forward.
