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A program of Mennonite Central Committee Call toll-free: 877-684-1181 (Canada); 888-563-4676 (U.S.) globalfamily.mcc.org Thank you for your support Fabiana’s new home Fabiana Cuellar (30) has been a participant mother at PROED for ten years. She has four children: Moisés (12), Yxychiara (10), Avril (7) and Fabián (5 months). The first three are students at PROED school. Fabiana has been living with Rolando Pineda, the father of her children, for 16 years. They live in a part of the Mburicaó Park, in the neighborhood Bella Vista of Asunción. It is an area characterized by poverty, insecurity and little access to basic services. Many families can be seen living in precarious and overcrowded situations and they are accustomed to throwing their waste into the stream. When it rains the stream overflows, causing loss for those nearby. Fabiana’s family used to live in a precarious room at the edge of ditch that was 7 metres deep. The house suffered greatly from storms in Paraguay in 2014, and the family received municipal authorization to move deeper into the park to avoid more accidents. They approached us to help with the construction. A project was developed with the family. The work was made possible thanks to the Fund for Mothers and Rolando’s labour (he is a contruction worker). The family spent the New Year holidays in their new home. Despite difficult moments, the dream of her family to have a new home was made possible. News According to data from the Secretary of National Emergency in Asunción — where the daycare is located — was one of the most devastated cities in Paraguay after storms and flooding in 2014. The storms were experienced by almost 246,000 Paraguayans and more than 49,000 families were left affected. Update In 2013, Emanuel Daycare started with 88 children and now we have 99. Among the new children, seven live at El Abrigo children’s home, also run by Servicio Voluntario Menonita Paraguay (SERVOME). They study at Emanuel and live at El Abrigo. One child is a girl with disabilities. Women receive gifts at a gathering of mothers. Fabiana’s new house. Spring 2015–Paraguay Emanuel Daycare/PROED Photos by Fiona Neufeld Report by Karen Gómez
