Child sponsorship update from Belén, Paraguay

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Belén, Paraguay from Winter 2008.

Dear Sponsors,

We feel glad to write you again now very near to Christmas time; a very happy time in our country as it might be all around the world! Since summer holidays have started there is much noise, joy and fun around the village. Not time to waste since before they know it, school starts again. Although most of the children like school, they sure love summer as well. Every afternoon, when the sun sets in the horizon, the mothers and aunts sit in the front hall drinking terere and watching their children play. They do not have school the next day and one can see this in their faces because they seem to be playing as if time does not goes by.

December is a hectic month. There are many traditions related to Christmas time and the families have already started them this year with the cooking of special meals, the decorations, preparing the Christmas scenery and the Christmas tree, as well as making Christmas cards for their friends or to hang them in the trees.

This happy time also allows us to reflect in our dear country, Paraguay, which has faced many changes in 2008. We now count with a new government; a new administration that broke with 60 years of the Colorado party administration. The latter was a time of growth for an opulent minority and poverty for a vast majority. Because of the many disappointments gathered throughout the Colorado governments, very hopeful the Paraguayan families embarked in a new period of what they thought there was optimism and change. Nevertheless, so far, some are starting to lose hope before the many conflicts that are emerging in the country, involving peasants who do not own a land to work and invade private properties, corrupt politicians and state workers, insecurity and crimes among other issues. People want an immediate answer from the government, which does not seem to have a clear one yet. The general, situation affects every city as everything is linked so the villages and every SOS program are concerned with the improvement of our country, that the wealth is equally divided and that each Paraguayan can have the opportunity to progress and build a better reality.

Within this situation, the village has also found its way to create new opportunities for children to continue growing within a healthy and embracing environment. A project called Inter campus of the Italian football team Internazionale Milan will sponsor the Social Integration Football School in allegiance with SOS Children’s Villages Paraguay. The beneficiaries will be 100 boys and girls from 6 to 12 years old in an underprivileged area, Zeballos Cué. The children will have the opportunity to be part of the Football School as an encouraging factor to continue their education and finish it someday. They only have one condition for the children to be part of the project; they have to remain in school for the whole year. It is certainly a nice venture and hopefully the children can take advantage out of it.

Children growin up at Belén, Paraguay

Additionally, SOS Children’s Villages Paraguay has witnessed a significant advance in the work of the Family Strengthening Programmes. There are currently 12 community homes and centres working in Asuncion in underprivileged areas where parents have formed family committees to run the homes. The organisation tries to be a guiding factor in the whole project allowing the committees to have autonomy and desire to progress. They need to show interest to overcome the difficulties in their area and work in synergy towards building a safer and healthier community. They are given the tools so they can work for the outcome and its benefits themselves.

In addition, it is scheduled to open 3 more homes before the end of the year. The parents’ committees are already working for these new homes and the constructions continue to soon be able to welcome the children. The programme is designed for children from 0-5 years old whose parents work in the morning or afternoon. They stay in the homes and centres with the community mothers, which is how they are called. These mothers cook and give some basic nursery level activities to the children.

Moreover, to widen the coverage the organisation is now gathering information and carrying out the community diagnosis in another big city in Paraguay, Ciudad del Este, which shows important needs in the family and children area. Perhaps next year the project will be implemented there as well.

In general, this approach, which is in a way different to the village service, is a very important one as it also considers those children who have built bonds with their parents but these are unable to take care of them for various reasons. The programmes facilitate parents to work and provide for their children’s needs and strengthen the family which in our society seems to have lost all its meaning of protection, shelter and love.

The SOS Children’s Village in Belén counts with 12 families, 103 children and adolescents. It is rather a new village since it was opened in the year 2002, so there are few youths. Just 3 are now part of the Assisted Living program where they start living more independently but continue receiving support (Youth Department) from the organisation and above all guidance and support from their SOS mother. There is one young woman now who is independent and has started her adult life.

The highlights of the year started in May with the celebration of Mother’s day. It is always an important and especial occasion for both the SOS mother and her children. They had a dinner party at the community patio. The children and adolescents organised a small festival, dancing and singing presentations that moved their mothers. Although they experience rewarding feelings everyday with little actions their children do, seeing them there trying their best to make them proud is equally rewarding.

Furthermore, in June 23rd, the Villages’ Day was celebrated, and not only at the Village in Belén but also at the other 5 villages in Paraguay. Several local authorities were invited to celebrate the village that has given many positive contributions to the community in Belén. All the other SOS programmes like the Agriculture Education Centre and the Mother-Child Hospital also participated in the celebration. There were sports’ competitions, music and dancing festivals, and a nice community meal. The whole event had much participation and it was nice to commemorate the hard work of the SOS villages in Paraguay.

Events at Belén, Paraguay

A month later, the second and third week of July to be exact, the children had their winter holidays. Some families organised small trips to nearby cities and others stay home to catch up on their school homework and assignments, especially the children who need extra help from school. This did not mean that they did not have fun though. They did have much time to play around, go out with their families and dedicate to their favorite activities.

In August, Children’s day arrived in the last weeks of winter. As always, it was a very important event for every child and for every worker who had been a child once as well. Everybody at the village shows their tenderness and enthusiasm towards this day, saying that is all in name of the children but hiding some personal excitement as well. It is very up-lifting and it fills with hope to see the children enjoy this day as if there is no tomorrow, all it matters is just then and there. There were many games, sports, candies and above all, happiness in the air! They had a blast!

With spring, came the Youth’s Day and like youth, the season brought renewing strength for everybody and rebirth to the vegetation at the Village in Belén, where there is much green around.

In September, the youth department organised a week of workshops for adolescents and youths from 13 to 19 years old. They cover topics and issues concerning them, it was a space where they felt free to express their opinions and exchange thoughts. It was very constructing and additive to the creation of communicative channels. Then, they also had a small party in September 21st at the village with dancing and a delicious dinner. They all had a lot of fun!

Besides this celebration, the youth department continues organising healthy gatherings, competitions and events where they invite neighbor communities and local sports’ teams to participate. By now, they have worked a schedule and some guidelines for the activities. This initiative has started to show very positive effects on the adolescents and youths as they feel part of something and find a place to develop and spend some fun time as well with their peers.

Finally in November, after the final exams, the children had their graduation ceremonies and the final artistic presentations of the year at school. They practiced a lot to give a good show and every mother felt very proud seeing her children perform. They received their diplomas and grades. Some obtained excellent results and some others had some improvement required. In both cases the mothers encouraged each child to keep working hard at school next year.

We can say that one more year has passed, along with achievements, rewarding experiences, difficulties, newly found courage to keep on and joy above all: joy found in seeing children grow and developing within a sheltered environment considering the hazards and poverty many other homeless children are exposed to.

With your letters, contributions and kind thoughts you have made the day of many children out of the streets and into a warm home. Thank you very much!

We hope that you can have a peaceful and rejoicing Christmas in company of your family and beloved ones, as our children in the village will as well. In a time of giving, we wish that you can receive the same kind love you are granting our children!

Sincerely yours
Jose Luis Perez Recalde