AMIGOS has been working in Paraguay since 1972. Volunteers collaborate with local organizations to carry out health and environmental projects. Paraguayan students from the Escuela Agricola are recruited by Junior Achievement to participate alongside AMIGOS Volunteers for a period of two weeks. Volunteers work with local youth and community members to carry out the following activities:
I. Community Service: Collaborate with community members in the implementation of small-scale community initiatives (e.g. building a community library, repainting a school, or organizing a cultural festival).
II. Extracurricular activities: Facilitate a variety of games and lessons for children and organize community fairs focused on community health topics.
III. Environmental Projects: Organize and plant family gardens and trees to support reforestation.
IV. Latrine Construction and Education: Some Volunteers will work with SENASA technitions in the construction of latrines and basic community health education.
About our Partners
SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Saneamiento Ambientalor National Service of Environmental Sanitation) is a governmental branch of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Paraguay. SENASA primarily sponsors potable water projects in the rural areas of the country but also dedicates its efforts to community sanitation and waste management projects.
AMIGOS partners with SENASA on community sanitation efforts through facilitating latrine construction, health and sanitation education and the development of local youth leaders. SENASA provides funcionarios, or technical experts, from the region to support and monitor the projects throughout the summer.
Plan has been operating in Paraguay since 1994, helping poor children and their communities to access their rights to education, health, protection, food security and sustainable livelihoods. Over the last 12 years, Plan Paraguay has continued to grow. It currently serves over 23,000 children within 400+ communities in four Paraguayan departments: San Lorenzo, Caaguazú, San Pedro and Guairá.
Fundación Paraguaya's mission is to promote the development of micro and small enterprises, as well as low-income individuals, through the creation, growth and strengthening of sustainable microfinance services. Fundación Paraguaya financially supports Junior Achievement Paraguay, enabling it to partner with AMIGOS.
Junior Achievement International began in the U.S. in 1919 and has since grown to be the world’s oldest, largest and fastest-growing non-profit economic education organization. Junior Achievement Paraguay began in 1996 and has since served over 45,000 children and adolescents, winning numerous international awards for their efforts.
Well-matched in our commitment to youth empowerment, Junior Achievement Paraguay and AMIGOS forged a pilot partnership for the first time in 2003 when five youth from the organization collaborated with AMIGOS Volunteers on community programs for 3 days. Due to the overwhelming success, this partnership has grown to include more youth for an extended period of 10 days.
