Mission Accomplished

This past month, we completed a project we began with the community about a year ago. The people shared that they wanted help with recuperation of the soils and more trees in the community. As many trees native to Paraguay put nitrogen into the soil, planting trees seemed like a logical next step.  

Starting with the students in the schools, we taught about deforestation in Paraguay, the importance of trees, and how to properly plant them. We prepared presentations with each class and held an assembly at both schools where the students taught each other and their communities about what they had learned in class. Then the students planted 50 trees at one school and over 100 trees at the other school.

Trees for the new Plazita in Jhugua

We moved on to the agricultural committees in both communities, presented information about how trees could benefit the soils near the areas where they cultivated their crops. We worked with the committee Presidents to write grants to a Paraguayan non-profit organization, requesting 2000 trees to be planted in the communities. The trees were delivered, and planted by the community members. The last step was to visit the planted areas, take GPS readings, and report the locations to the non-profit organization that provided the funding to purchase the trees.

Mark takes GPS coordinates to locate Felix's trees

The community members were proud of their new trees and their contributions to reforesting Paraguay. 

Blancita planted 30 trees near the Tebucuary river

The tree plantings stretched from an estancia near San Miguel, to the river Tebucuary, to the plazita in Jhugua. The people who worked to plant the trees ranged from the youngest, a three year old to Don Ramon, who was in his 70’s. 

Don Ramon's smile speaks for him!

Teodocio was excited to have more shade in the patio near his home. But most importantly, he shared, was that he had a beautiful reminder of the time he spent with Susana and Marcos.

Mark congratulates Angel on a job well done!