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Felipe in Paraguay
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Felipe

ProJoven (For Youth)
Asunción, Paraguay

Some days, sixteen-year-old Felipe Zarza thinks he would like to be a farmer. On other days, he leans more toward becoming a mechanic, or perhaps an electrical repairman. His goals change from day to day, but Felipe knows that by studying hard and staying off the streets, he is building the foundation to pursue any of his dreams. Two years ago, Felipe was a member of a gang and spent little time at home. But for the past two years, he has been a student in ProJoven's Literacy and Life Skills for Youth in Danger course. Participants study health, nutrition, and personal hygiene, and learn ways to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The program helps young people learn to communicate, to build self-esteem, and to make healthy decisions for their futures. It also teaches professional skills to give them greater opportunities for employment, thus lowering their likelihood of future delinquency.

ProJoven works in the poor communities of Asunción to combat the effects of prevalent alcohol and drug abuse, single-parent homes, domestic and community violence, and high levels of unemployment. ProJoven recognizes that children like Felipe often have younger siblings who follow their examples, whether positive or negative. Felipe's new attitude has already had an impact on his younger brother, fourteen-year-old Jorge, who has resisted peer pressure to join a gang. Now. Jorge sees Felipe working hard and acquiring new skills through his classes and through his work at ProJoven's community garden project. As a general assistant in this project, Felipe earns a small income and is learning valuable agricultural skills and lessons about responsibility and teamwork. The work also keeps him close to home and off the dangerous streets of Asunción.

ProJoven prepares students to enter the formal education system or to take professional courses at a technical school, and it provides scholarships for students who complete the program and matriculate into formal schools. Most importantly, ProJoven helps young people think beyond their daily existence. Felipe says, "Thanks to ProJoven's Literacy and Life Skills course, I have learned to read and write. I have also learned to communicate better with others and to choose my friends more carefully. I never thought about the future before, but now I know it is important to plan certain things and be more prepared to do them."

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