FEMALE GO-GETTERS THRIVE IN PARAGUAY SKILLS-BUILDING PROGRAMS

Our CMAVIL sponsor site in Paraguay stands on the pillars of five values: faith, love, gratitude, optimism and work. Those last two are intertwined – optimism energizes action, and actions – when aligned with love, hope and gratitude – inspire a desire for improvement.

The site has always prioritized programs that strengthen the families, especially women. They offer training for in-demand skills in hopes that the mothers can find better employment or start their own small businesses. This year, they had a wide-ranging line-up of workshops that included embroidery, cooking, gastronomy, cosmetology, residential electrician installer, cashier, and Industrial Safety Assistant.

Miguelina embodies the CMAVIL spirit. As a mother of five, she came from a remote community to the city of Villeta, looking for a better life for her family. Two of her children now have Chalice sponsors through the CMAVIL site. Getting to know the young mother, the Chalice staff could see that Miguelina was the perfect candidate for a program they were envisioning.

Miguelina seized every opportunity she could.

"She is a very active person,” the site staff described. “Every opportunity she is given she takes advantage of to train.” Miguelina took the gastronomy and embroidery courses, which were both online and in-person. With her training, she set up a stall in front of her house and has now started her own take-out lunch business. 

The CMAVIL site staff feel very blessed to be able to open doors of opportunity to women who are so eager to take initiative and make positive change for their families. “Every day we thank the Lord for so many blessings received,” the CMAVIL site staff reflect, “for being able to assist families through training, offering them a tool, which will make it possible through their desire to overcome, to have a decent life.”

And these trainings don’t just make an impact on the mothers within the community. The next generation is seeing what is possible when they apply themselves and learn new skills.

Miguelina’s daughter, Rocío, watched her mother bloom through these courses at the CMAVIL site. She was inspired to take the hairdressing training course. She dreams of opening her own salon someday – but not until she has finished high school and college first! In the meantime, Rocío is happy to help her mother at the roadside restaurant. 

“In every mother, in every young person who comes to training, we see a light of hope, a better future,” write the CMAVIL staff. "Thank you very much Chalice!”