Plan Paraguay Annual Program Report 2007

146.5mm FLAP

148.5mm BACK

Challenge and change in Paraguay

Real progress

Poor people in Paraguay are slowly getting better basic services, but there are still high levels of inequality, causing serious social problems and family breakdown.

With the support of Plan, children and adults in Paraguay are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made.

Last year our work included:

Plan focuses on improving education, healthcare and sanitation, but our work is also about changing attitudes and behaviour. Encouraging people to work together through community groups and networks has resulted in remarkable changes in behaviour and better social relationships, particularly amongst young people.

Another focus is child protection: many children are victims of violence and emotional and sexual abuse. Plan is supporting the government’s National System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, as well as setting up local networks for the prevention of violence and abuse, and providing care for victims.

The project we look at in detail in this Country Progress Report is just one example of the successes your support is making possible.

148.5mm FRONT

• Setting up a free phone line for children and young people suffering from violent abuse, housed in the Government’s Ministry for Children

p Smokeless stoves are bene fiting families’ and the environ health ment

• Training 1,220 health professionals and volunteer health workers in 697 communities, upgrading their skills to provide healthcare for mothers and children

• Constructing 798 latrines in 17 communities, and providing training in hygiene and waste disposal, protecting children from diseases like diarrhoea

Pa ra g ua y

• Reducing lung diseases caused by smoke inhalation by replacing unhealthy, unhygienic cooking stoves with 675 new firewood stoves.

p Football is one way children can increase thei r self-confidence and solidarity, and in the long-term this helps them speak up for their rights

Paraguay country facts Capital: Asunción

Primary school pupils who reach Year 5: 80%

UN Human Development Index ranking: 91st (of 177 countries)

Children aged 5 to 14 involved in child labour: 12%

Life expectancy: 71 years

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UNICEF)

Population: 6.2 million

Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035

PRY

Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)

Colours(Prod)

Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof: Art (A/D)

0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Paraguay 13.11.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 Client proof: 2 3 Copy (C/W)

Content (Acc.)

Country Progress Report 2007

146.5mm FLAP

148.5mm BACK

Challenge and change in Paraguay

Real progress

Poor people in Paraguay are slowly getting better basic services, but there are still high levels of inequality, causing serious social problems and family breakdown.

With the support of Plan, children and adults in Paraguay are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made.

Last year our work included:

Plan focuses on improving education, healthcare and sanitation, but our work is also about changing attitudes and behaviour. Encouraging people to work together through community groups and networks has resulted in remarkable changes in behaviour and better social relationships, particularly amongst young people.

Another focus is child protection: many children are victims of violence and emotional and sexual abuse. Plan is supporting the government’s National System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, as well as setting up local networks for the prevention of violence and abuse, and providing care for victims.

The project we look at in detail in this Country Progress Report is just one example of the successes your support is making possible.

148.5mm FRONT

• Setting up a free phone line for children and young people suffering from violent abuse, housed in the Government’s Ministry for Children

p Smokeless stoves are bene fiting families’ and the environ health ment

• Training 1,220 health professionals and volunteer health workers in 697 communities, upgrading their skills to provide healthcare for mothers and children

• Constructing 798 latrines in 17 communities, and providing training in hygiene and waste disposal, protecting children from diseases like diarrhoea

Pa ra g ua y

• Reducing lung diseases caused by smoke inhalation by replacing unhealthy, unhygienic cooking stoves with 675 new firewood stoves.

p Football is one way children can increase thei r self-confidence and solidarity, and in the long-term this helps them speak up for their rights

Paraguay country facts Capital: Asunción

Primary school pupils who reach Year 5: 80%

UN Human Development Index ranking: 91st (of 177 countries)

Children aged 5 to 14 involved in child labour: 12%

Life expectancy: 71 years

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UNICEF)

Population: 6.2 million

Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035

PRY

Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)

Colours(Prod)

Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof: Art (A/D)

0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Paraguay 13.11.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 Client proof: 2 3 Copy (C/W)

Content (Acc.)

Country Progress Report 2007

148.5mm INSIDE

Good food – healthy children Many children in rural Paraguay don’t have enough to eat, and some of those who do still miss out on the right nutrients.

A third of the rural population lives in extreme poverty, and many families can’t produce or buy enough decent quality food to feed themselves.

The results can be devastating.

For children under two, malnutrition damages physical development, and for older children, anaemia and hunger limit school performance, because hungry children cannot concentrate in class. And without an education, such children are far more likely to go on to become impoverished adults.

But getting more good quality food isn’t easy. Most rural families depend on farming to earn a living as well as provide their own food, but they often can’t get credit facilities, and so are unable ever to make the necessary investments to improve their farms.

Making change happen In the village of Calle San José, 135 miles from the capital, Asunción, a group of ten women decided things had to change. They set up a school and

p Children benefit from an impro ved diet, rich in vegetables

household garden project to provide better food for their children, and showed that one small investment can have impressive results.

The project began when Maria Carolina re-established the village women’s group, which had previously led community activities but had been inactive for years due to political problems.

Maria and the other women drew up plans for vegetable gardens and asked Plan for training in production. Help

148.5mm INSIDE

also came from close to home: Maria’s son, an agricultural scientist, provided additional technical knowledge.

The household garden project has been a great success: women have improved their gardening skills and produced better food. Andrea, a member of the women’s group, says: “We all approve of the project. We’re already eating vegetables grown in our gardens. We need to supplement these with other produce so our children will be stronger. We’re already saving money for chickens so we have eggs.”

All the women have many other responsibilities, and it wasn’t always easy to find time for the gardens, but they felt that it was worth it. Maria says: “Women are pleased with the work we do and willing to leave their homes to take part.”

The project was also successful in both Calle San José’s schools. One head teacher said, “The garden is important for children to learn how to grow vegetables, how to prepare food for selling, and how to earn their own money.”

Getting the next generation involved Children themselves were enthusiastic

and got involved in everything. “We like working in the school garden; we clean it, water it and prepare the plot. There we learn and then make gardens in our houses,” say a group of Year-6 girls.

Hugo, one of their male classmates, says: “We’re taught gardening at home and work here as well; we learn what to grow and when produce is ready.”

“The garden is important for children to learn how to grow vegetables, how to prepare food for selling, and how to earn their own money.”

As well as learning practical skills, children also learned to co-operate – and had a lot of fun. A highlight was cooking vegetables they had grown themselves: spinach omelettes and cabbage salads were popular.

The project’s benefits haven’t just been nutritional. It also provides a valuable space for families to meet and share experiences. Many of those involved said that they had previously felt isolated, but thanks to the project they had got together with their neighbours and were working together more closely than before.

Men are impressed by the project too: “It’s good that the women get organized, work together and move

146.5mm INSIDE

forward,” says Juan, Andrea’s husband.

Sharing the benefits The group plans to extend the project to all families in Calle San José, so the whole community can benefit. New families have attended training events and some are starting their own gardens. The group has built p The women can sell their produce, raising their incomes and benefiting their children two school kitchens with firewood stoves to make vegetables from school gardens into breakfasts and snacks for the pupils.

What’s more, by working together, the The garden project is part of Plan’s work to make sure that children and their families have enough good quality food throughout the year. Plan also helps farmers to improve production and marketing: a poultry-raising project provided training in livestock care and business skills, and helped women set up a stall at their local market.

“If I don’t know something someone else will, so we all benefit.”

women of Calle San José haven’t just improved their families’ nutrition, they’ve also improved their relationships.

“We meet more frequently and communicate more. When we meet, we learn more because if I don’t know something someone else will, so we all benefit. We’ve shared seeds with our neighbours, who are starting their own gardens and thus we all develop ourselves together.”

Some names have been changed for privacy and child protection reasons.

148.5mm INSIDE

Good food – healthy children Many children in rural Paraguay don’t have enough to eat, and some of those who do still miss out on the right nutrients.

A third of the rural population lives in extreme poverty, and many families can’t produce or buy enough decent quality food to feed themselves.

The results can be devastating.

For children under two, malnutrition damages physical development, and for older children, anaemia and hunger limit school performance, because hungry children cannot concentrate in class. And without an education, such children are far more likely to go on to become impoverished adults.

But getting more good quality food isn’t easy. Most rural families depend on farming to earn a living as well as provide their own food, but they often can’t get credit facilities, and so are unable ever to make the necessary investments to improve their farms.

Making change happen In the village of Calle San José, 135 miles from the capital, Asunción, a group of ten women decided things had to change. They set up a school and

p Children benefit from an impro ved diet, rich in vegetables

household garden project to provide better food for their children, and showed that one small investment can have impressive results.

The project began when Maria Carolina re-established the village women’s group, which had previously led community activities but had been inactive for years due to political problems.

Maria and the other women drew up plans for vegetable gardens and asked Plan for training in production. Help

148.5mm INSIDE

also came from close to home: Maria’s son, an agricultural scientist, provided additional technical knowledge.

The household garden project has been a great success: women have improved their gardening skills and produced better food. Andrea, a member of the women’s group, says: “We all approve of the project. We’re already eating vegetables grown in our gardens. We need to supplement these with other produce so our children will be stronger. We’re already saving money for chickens so we have eggs.”

All the women have many other responsibilities, and it wasn’t always easy to find time for the gardens, but they felt that it was worth it. Maria says: “Women are pleased with the work we do and willing to leave their homes to take part.”

The project was also successful in both Calle San José’s schools. One head teacher said, “The garden is important for children to learn how to grow vegetables, how to prepare food for selling, and how to earn their own money.”

Getting the next generation involved Children themselves were enthusiastic

and got involved in everything. “We like working in the school garden; we clean it, water it and prepare the plot. There we learn and then make gardens in our houses,” say a group of Year-6 girls.

Hugo, one of their male classmates, says: “We’re taught gardening at home and work here as well; we learn what to grow and when produce is ready.”

“The garden is important for children to learn how to grow vegetables, how to prepare food for selling, and how to earn their own money.”

As well as learning practical skills, children also learned to co-operate – and had a lot of fun. A highlight was cooking vegetables they had grown themselves: spinach omelettes and cabbage salads were popular.

The project’s benefits haven’t just been nutritional. It also provides a valuable space for families to meet and share experiences. Many of those involved said that they had previously felt isolated, but thanks to the project they had got together with their neighbours and were working together more closely than before.

Men are impressed by the project too: “It’s good that the women get organized, work together and move

146.5mm INSIDE

forward,” says Juan, Andrea’s husband.

Sharing the benefits The group plans to extend the project to all families in Calle San José, so the whole community can benefit. New families have attended training events and some are starting their own gardens. The group has built p The women can sell their produce, raising their incomes and benefiting their children two school kitchens with firewood stoves to make vegetables from school gardens into breakfasts and snacks for the pupils.

What’s more, by working together, the The garden project is part of Plan’s work to make sure that children and their families have enough good quality food throughout the year. Plan also helps farmers to improve production and marketing: a poultry-raising project provided training in livestock care and business skills, and helped women set up a stall at their local market.

“If I don’t know something someone else will, so we all benefit.”

women of Calle San José haven’t just improved their families’ nutrition, they’ve also improved their relationships.

“We meet more frequently and communicate more. When we meet, we learn more because if I don’t know something someone else will, so we all benefit. We’ve shared seeds with our neighbours, who are starting their own gardens and thus we all develop ourselves together.”

Some names have been changed for privacy and child protection reasons.

148.5mm INSIDE

Good food – healthy children Many children in rural Paraguay don’t have enough to eat, and some of those who do still miss out on the right nutrients.

A third of the rural population lives in extreme poverty, and many families can’t produce or buy enough decent quality food to feed themselves.

The results can be devastating.

For children under two, malnutrition damages physical development, and for older children, anaemia and hunger limit school performance, because hungry children cannot concentrate in class. And without an education, such children are far more likely to go on to become impoverished adults.

But getting more good quality food isn’t easy. Most rural families depend on farming to earn a living as well as provide their own food, but they often can’t get credit facilities, and so are unable ever to make the necessary investments to improve their farms.

Making change happen In the village of Calle San José, 135 miles from the capital, Asunción, a group of ten women decided things had to change. They set up a school and

p Children benefit from an impro ved diet, rich in vegetables

household garden project to provide better food for their children, and showed that one small investment can have impressive results.

The project began when Maria Carolina re-established the village women’s group, which had previously led community activities but had been inactive for years due to political problems.

Maria and the other women drew up plans for vegetable gardens and asked Plan for training in production. Help

148.5mm INSIDE

also came from close to home: Maria’s son, an agricultural scientist, provided additional technical knowledge.

The household garden project has been a great success: women have improved their gardening skills and produced better food. Andrea, a member of the women’s group, says: “We all approve of the project. We’re already eating vegetables grown in our gardens. We need to supplement these with other produce so our children will be stronger. We’re already saving money for chickens so we have eggs.”

All the women have many other responsibilities, and it wasn’t always easy to find time for the gardens, but they felt that it was worth it. Maria says: “Women are pleased with the work we do and willing to leave their homes to take part.”

The project was also successful in both Calle San José’s schools. One head teacher said, “The garden is important for children to learn how to grow vegetables, how to prepare food for selling, and how to earn their own money.”

Getting the next generation involved Children themselves were enthusiastic

and got involved in everything. “We like working in the school garden; we clean it, water it and prepare the plot. There we learn and then make gardens in our houses,” say a group of Year-6 girls.

Hugo, one of their male classmates, says: “We’re taught gardening at home and work here as well; we learn what to grow and when produce is ready.”

“The garden is important for children to learn how to grow vegetables, how to prepare food for selling, and how to earn their own money.”

As well as learning practical skills, children also learned to co-operate – and had a lot of fun. A highlight was cooking vegetables they had grown themselves: spinach omelettes and cabbage salads were popular.

The project’s benefits haven’t just been nutritional. It also provides a valuable space for families to meet and share experiences. Many of those involved said that they had previously felt isolated, but thanks to the project they had got together with their neighbours and were working together more closely than before.

Men are impressed by the project too: “It’s good that the women get organized, work together and move

146.5mm INSIDE

forward,” says Juan, Andrea’s husband.

Sharing the benefits The group plans to extend the project to all families in Calle San José, so the whole community can benefit. New families have attended training events and some are starting their own gardens. The group has built p The women can sell their produce, raising their incomes and benefiting their children two school kitchens with firewood stoves to make vegetables from school gardens into breakfasts and snacks for the pupils.

What’s more, by working together, the The garden project is part of Plan’s work to make sure that children and their families have enough good quality food throughout the year. Plan also helps farmers to improve production and marketing: a poultry-raising project provided training in livestock care and business skills, and helped women set up a stall at their local market.

“If I don’t know something someone else will, so we all benefit.”

women of Calle San José haven’t just improved their families’ nutrition, they’ve also improved their relationships.

“We meet more frequently and communicate more. When we meet, we learn more because if I don’t know something someone else will, so we all benefit. We’ve shared seeds with our neighbours, who are starting their own gardens and thus we all develop ourselves together.”

Some names have been changed for privacy and child protection reasons.

146.5mm FLAP

148.5mm BACK

Challenge and change in Paraguay

Real progress

Poor people in Paraguay are slowly getting better basic services, but there are still high levels of inequality, causing serious social problems and family breakdown.

With the support of Plan, children and adults in Paraguay are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made.

Last year our work included:

Plan focuses on improving education, healthcare and sanitation, but our work is also about changing attitudes and behaviour. Encouraging people to work together through community groups and networks has resulted in remarkable changes in behaviour and better social relationships, particularly amongst young people.

Another focus is child protection: many children are victims of violence and emotional and sexual abuse. Plan is supporting the government’s National System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, as well as setting up local networks for the prevention of violence and abuse, and providing care for victims.

The project we look at in detail in this Country Progress Report is just one example of the successes your support is making possible.

148.5mm FRONT

• Setting up a free phone line for children and young people suffering from violent abuse, housed in the Government’s Ministry for Children

p Smokeless stoves are bene fiting families’ and the environ health ment

• Training 1,220 health professionals and volunteer health workers in 697 communities, upgrading their skills to provide healthcare for mothers and children

• Constructing 798 latrines in 17 communities, and providing training in hygiene and waste disposal, protecting children from diseases like diarrhoea

Pa ra g ua y

• Reducing lung diseases caused by smoke inhalation by replacing unhealthy, unhygienic cooking stoves with 675 new firewood stoves.

p Football is one way children can increase thei r self-confidence and solidarity, and in the long-term this helps them speak up for their rights

Paraguay country facts Capital: Asunción

Primary school pupils who reach Year 5: 80%

UN Human Development Index ranking: 91st (of 177 countries)

Children aged 5 to 14 involved in child labour: 12%

Life expectancy: 71 years

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UNICEF)

Population: 6.2 million

Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035

PRY

Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)

Colours(Prod)

Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof: Art (A/D)

0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Paraguay 13.11.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 Client proof: 2 3 Copy (C/W)

Content (Acc.)

Country Progress Report 2007