The cutest kid around

Glasses from Bottles

Glass bottle + bicycle brake cable + a lot of elbow grease = glass

Necklaces

Friendship bracelets

Noodle Necklaces

More noodles

Leaders helping kids

Making shampoo!

1 bar glicerin soap, 1 liter of water and 1 egg = shampoo

Danita and giggling kids!

Talking about TEETH!

Danielle came to camp to teach us about healthy foods and teeth brushing!

And what happens when you get a cavity!

no good! (look at her face!)

Egg Drop

Friday was science day! We did a team activity where teams had to make some sort of contraption to protect their egg!

Barbara the big dropper!

What happens when there is no protection!

Team 1

Team 2

Team 3

Team 4

Team 5

Team 6

The big drop!

So how to girls become teenagers?

Faster and whether their mothers want them to or not?

Taking this into consideration - Barbara and I decided we might be able help ease the process a little bit. We decided to take advantage of the winter vacations by putting together a three-day workshop for girls ages 12-16. We discussed: Self-esteem, Leadership, Decision-making, Health and Protecting Ourselves. The pictures below are mostly from the last day when we discused the changes that happen with our bodies, knowing ourselves and protecting our bodies. At the end of the work-shop the girls all recieved Certificates for their participation and then agreed to help us run our ¨Little Kid¨Camp.

On our health day we had Danielle Murry as our honored guest speaker. She came to explain the uncomfortable topics of bodies, changes and protect with delicacy and most importantly...in GUARANI. This made our girls far more comfortable than Barbara and I ever could in Spanish. Some of these pictures are a little ridiculous - please remember we were trying to be a little goofy to take the edge off (ie. see my EEE cup size).

I experienced puberty - fast (and again)

Pre-workshop. Getting things ready. This would be one sad man!

Learning to identify all of the parts of the female body and why we have them

A little humor...and a new take on ¨pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey¨

Proud Profes - and our lindo Certificados!

This is just a small representation of the activities we did. (and the more humorous photos). Self-esteem is just kind of hard to photograph!

Ahecha Opens at the AF

Ahecha Paraguay made it 4th appearence on its National Tour at the Alianza Francaise (French Cultural Center). Here are a few photos of the evening.

(The actual photo exhibit might look familiar....it was previously in exhibition at the Paraguayan/American Cultural Center, Villa Mora Shopping Mall and the United States Embassy and soon to come...The Terminal of Asuncion)

Welcome to Ahecha Paraguay

The Exhibit and snacks!

Some photos

Words of Welcome and Thanks!

L to R: Jen Cheng (Ahecha Founder), Natalie Bloom (Current Ahecha Coordinator), Director of the Board of the Alianza Francaise, Giselle Pasamonte (Dedicated Ahecha Board Member), Fernand Defournier (Director of the Alianza Franciase), Me, David Schmitz (Dedicated Ahecha Board Member)

Giving words of Thanks!

http://www.alianzafrancesa.edu.py/cultural_detalle.php?key=129

Simple Things

I have had some incidental learning (well LOTS actually) happen since I have been in Paraguay. But one of the biggest things I hope to take home with me is my Simple Things Calendar. In mid April of 2008 I reached a low point in my service, I started to feel like things weren´t adding up and I wasnt accomplishing anything. I was busy but it didnt mean anything. I decided that if I could write down all of the little things that happen in my day I could visualize all the things I was doing. So thanks to the PC office I had lots of poster paper at my house that I was able to make into large calendars. At the end of each day - I started to write down all the good things that happened in my day. And at the end of the month it was possible to see how many great things had happened.

The picture above is me and (maybe hard to see) but lots and lots of Simple Things Calendars laid out on the floor. These calendars have made a huge difference in my morale and have inspired me to keep going on the rough days! I have had a few fellow volunteers tell me that they have started their own Simple Things calendars and they are making a difference in their services as well! How awesome!

Maybe you want to try it too?

Vacation in Paso Yobai

I took a mini-vacation for the 4th of July to visit my good G-buddy Andrea Smith. Andrea lives in a small town, about two hours on a dirt road in the middle of almost no where. Paso Yobai is surrounded by beautiful rolling hills and reminded me a lot of the town from the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast (minus Guston).

We cooked a ¨traditional¨ 4th of July feast: cheese burgers, potato salad, pasta salad, chips and dip and Coca-Cola! And carrot cake for dessert! We were able to share our great traditional food with Andrea´s neighbors! It was delicious!

Andrea and Leti (her neighbor) cooking up a storm!

The bus to Pasa Yobai

(I actually took a different one - but isnt this one beautiful??)

Another Chance to Participate!!

ARe you interested in participating in another fabulous project happening in Paraguay? The PC-Paraguay is putting on its 4th annual Library Management Workshop! Last year, Fany (my best friend and Horquetas only public librarian) went to this workshop to give a talk about how our library works and the ups and downs we have had! It is a great opportunity for communities who are starting libraries to see how it works, get ideas and get modivated! Fany will be speaking at this year`s workshop - unfortuantely I will not be able to accompany her!

If you are interested in donating....please visit: Peace Corps website (www.peacecorps.gov), click "Donate Now" on the left side button, and find the project by entering the information:

Project Number: 526-195

Library Workshop

Amy Dickinson (Coordinator)

New York

Paraguay

Your donation will be tax-deductible.

Thanks!

some news!

Things are good here, we are in the middle of winter vacation and running kids camps all over the place. Today we just finished a 3-day older girl camp where we talked about self-esteem, leadership, decision-making and health. It went great! and we are really tired but super pleased with how it turned out!

Tomorrow we started little kid camp where we do more art projects, games, songs and fun fun fun! I am running things with my site mate, Barbara (fellow peace corps volunteer – she is working in urban youth development!) She is a funny gal – really sweet and a fun time! She has been living in my city since the end of April. We are getting along quite well and really enjoy each other’s company!

I feel like I am in my last miracle mile and im sprinting to the finish line. My worst fear is that I am going to reach the 14^th of august and feel like I could have done XYZ or been better at XX?? I want to leave nothing left to give!

pictures to come soon!

More fun!

Racing with grapefruits

Sisters racing with grapefruits

Rabbits and houses....

Playing games with moms!

We got uniforms!

Aren't they a handsome bunch?

Goal for Aug 14th

Matis, age 8
We are working on his reading skills. They are a little rusty - but he is a hard worker!

Super Panchos! Second Foot-long hotdog sale!

Double checking on the budget!

So with a few members still needing uniforms and with huge desires to own their own soccer ball we planned and executed our second foot-long hotdog sale! It was a success all around!

Bargain shopping

Hanging out at the grocery store

Checking out and paying!

Post grocery shopping goof-balls!

Dog prep!

Enjoying our product!

Loving selling da dogs!

We reached our goal!!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! To everyone who donated to the Ahecha Paraguay field trip! We reached our goal faster than we thought we would! But isnt that good news?? The kids will be coming to Asuncion on th 24th of July! I will post pictures!

I believe there will be another Ahecha Paraguay Grant Project to participate in coming soon! I will keep you posted!

Thank you again!