Tamam - Paraguay

Tamam in Paraguay

On the big food market Mercado de Abasto in Asunción a large number of children lives and works. The children come from a problematic background with domestic violence, deep poverty, malnutrition, abuse and lack of love. The men are conspicuos by their absence in the households. Some are in prison, others have left their wife and children for another, or simply made someone pregnant and never showed up again. In several of households in which there are men despite everything, there are often major problems with alcoholism, domestic violence and various kinds of physical and mental abuse. A large number of children have dropped out of school while those still there have major problems to get support and encouragement to study in their homes. Since the families are poor many parents prefer that their children stay at home and work together for the household.

Tamam supports a day center for children in which four teachers and several volunteers provide homework support, food and activities all days of the week in one of the market premises. There are materials for games, crafts, baking, painting and other stimulating activities. Meals are also given to all the children during the visits, and thus something often lacking in their homes, namely brushing. Fundación Vida Plena work after an educational model, ICDP - International Children Development Programs, which highlights children's personality and their unique character. The program is based on modern knowledge in development psychology that claims that children have a natural urge to develop and learn about their environment. The day center differs dramatically from the usual Paraguayan school that often are authoritarian and bureaucratic. The focus at the day center is the children's curiosity; they should have fun, take initiatives and simply be children.

Support the center in Paraguay by giving a donation and mark your payment with "Paraguay". You can also become a monthly donor for Paraguay.

is responsible for the work of Tamam in Latin America.

Read the lastest news from Vida Plena in Paraguay at our blog. You'll see the latest posts below. Some might be in Swedish, but go here for all blogposts made in English

The Paraguay Blog