A 6am rise to get from Itacurubi to Caaguazu, I am so tired but exited.
Roberto and his partner organisation have been working in the area of Caaguazu for 7 years. Especially working and upskilling the women of the community. There are little opportunities for girls when they leave school and many start a family right away. The non-formal sessions are run as a way to help educate the people as well as show the people how to combat their local issues around poverty and underage pregnancy.
The school in this town specialising in training young people with particular skills for work, these skills include shoe making, clothes making and hairdressing. However it does not teach them business and enterprise skills. For this Roberto and his team visit the school regularly to help pass on these ideas. 2020 Education thinking is definitely evident in the work that is happening out here.
The first topic is communication and marketing. I work with one group as they want to use English in their marketing approach. There have been difficulties with language barriers all week as the people here in Paraguay speak Guarani as well as Spanish. Making it twice as difficult during translation. But with help from George and David we help the group achieve their task.
The headteacher tells me that out of 20 students only 1 will go on to university. In the last 20 years only 5 of these students have actually completed their studies at university. The cost for families in these areas in high and the young people drop out to start work to help the family.
It should be everyone's right to an education. These students have to travel great distances and many don't stay in school past 13. In the UK I have been able to attend school everyday and choose where and when I study. I believe that is a right that should be available to everyone.
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