Friday, August 22, 2008

Finally; the little engine leaves the station

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=526-185


I feel as though much of what needs to be said, has, or is included in the project description at peacecorps.gov. SO I will be brief. The only elaboration I will make is that we have had the initial community meeting. The idea for the center has been slightly modified. Now more than anything else, the center can be thought of as primarily a capacitation center with the community/cultural aspect being an corralary benefit to having the building. The new government has already brought a new sense of hope and possibility to the paraguay consciousness. Lugo will serve as president without pay. He is determined to reject the tradition of considering political allegiances before hiring public servants, and he is committed to sending those servants into the paraguayan countryside to help. My site was visited by the then incoming minister of agriculture. This brings hope that we can take advantage of this newfound sense of service to bring people to the community to teach paraguayans how to improve their techniques for harvesting mandioca (their staple food) or what have you. Additinally we hope to form relations with the ministry of education and culture as well as health. I will leave it at this. Please help out if you can. Thank you so very much in advance on behalf of myself, but primarily for the people I have come to consider friends and family in Tavapy II.

Thank you again,

Andrew