Street Kids, Society, and the Government

Almost all businesses, apartment buildings and many houses have armed guards posted 24/7. There has to be a reason for that, but I have not witnessed it.

I had lunch today with some people that are trying to reach the poor.  One lady is from England.  She came here five years ago and works in a “soup kitchen” in one of the poor areas of town.  They give the kids a midmorning meal and then have a couple of classes with them.  These are street kids. They may or may not have a parent that cares for them.

Another is a computer programmer from Germany that has lived here for about the same amount of time. He works with teenagers and older children.   

The next couple are missionaries that want to reach people for Jesus. They have a regular Saturday gathering of street kids that gives the children a chance to be children and not be scared that someone will hurt them.

They were describing street kids that have been deserted by society. Many of the elite do not even acknowledge that they exist, much less to help them.  The kids live in areas that even the police do not go.  There is usually a gang leader that controls an area.  He’ll sell drugs and use the kids to transport the drugs to meet with a buyer. The kids do not have a chance to be children.  They have to always be on the watch for police, older kids, thieves, and child molesters.

I pass by an intersection that is about three blocks from my apartment often, at least once a day and sometimes four times in a day.  There are kids that wash your windshield and people selling things on every day except for Sunday. 

There are people at most major intersections wanting to wash your windshield for whatever you give them. This is common throughout Latin America. There are vendors that walk through the stopped cars selling, candy, pastries, windshield wipers, cell phone cases and whatever else they can sell. They do not have jobs and have to make a living somehow. 

The current president is one of the richest businessmen in the country. He believes that there should not be graft and corruption. He wants Paraguay to be a first world nation. He appointed technocrats as his ministers and took away the lucrative posts from the elite.

For example, the country has one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world on the border with Brazil. The President appointed a Paraguayan who worked in a hydro dam in the Northwest United States to run this dam. It took the operations from a family that ran it for years.

One of the things the President wants to change is the underground economy such as you find on the streets. If they are not licensed, they cannot sell. However, those people make their livings by selling on the streets. It is a conundrum for the country’s leadership.

The President knows that he must alleviate the poverty. He also wants to bring Paraguay into the 21^st century. It is quite a challenge.

Barrio Santa Ana and the Children's Church

             We went to the barrio on Saturday morning to go to a children’s church.  The building used to be a pharmacy and is about 30’ by 30’ on a corner in the barrio.

There is a pretty Catholic Church at the next intersection and a witch has set up shop a block the other direction. The sewer in the middle of the intersection was overflowing. It doesn’t look like they’ll ever fix it.  Not enough political clout.

The street is made of cobblestones and we were told that it is not a good area to go alone day or night.

            I was told that the local adults watch out for the place and respect it.  A gang used to set up across the street and taunt everyone that walked by.  They moved to another location after the church got set up.  There are no signs on the outside of the building advertising what it is. Everyone knows that it is a church.

While they call it children’s church, it is really a chance for the children to get a couple of hours of peace without having to work, scrounge through the trash or do whatever it takes to survive. Each of the little ones answers to a parent, gang member, stepparent, or sibling.  They have concern about finding food, bringing in something for the family, not getting abused and who knows what else. They get a couple of hours on Saturday morning to play and not be concerned about life.

Some of the kids had been coming for months and some were recent. Some are regulars and some come when they can.  The local pastor had about eight or ten in the back of his truck. Many have to walk a couple of miles to get there. They range in age from two until thirteen.

There were three children that sat by the window and did not participate.  I was told that they come every Saturday, but do not participate in the games and singing.

They played games and sang songs.  Every one of the children that participated had a big smile on their face.  I couldn’t help but keep a grin that started from my heart.

Close to the end of the activities, we counted the children (35). We put two beef empanadas and a hot dog bun on a plate.  Then we set the children down on a 10’ x 20’ rug remnant and set the children around the edges. We blessed the meal and brought a plate to each of them.

The children are not raised to help each other. They are raised to take what they can. Here they are taught not to hit each other (and it is very common for them to hit or kick each other). I witnessed older children helping the younger and simple love being shown. This children’s ministry is making a difference in their lives.

THE BARRIO

            We went through the rougher part of Barrio Santa Ana on the way out. There were houses on 75’ square lots.  Some were made of adobe and some of wood.  Most were trashy, but some were not. There was one place were the children were rummaging through trash….no shoes, no gloves….they were looking for anything of value. The streets were very littered.

            There was one house with a grandmother, mother with two children, and two other adults in a 12’x12’ shack.  Neighbors will come and steal all that you have of value if you leave your dwelling for any time, therefore, someone has to stay in the dwelling at all times.

            The trash dump is not too far from the barrio.  They are rummaged through for anything of value.

            The barrio is not far from the river and there are many mosquitoes when the weather is warmer.  Dengue Fever is rampant.

            The children’s church is a chance for them to get away from it all for a couple hours of peace and fun.

THE COOPERATIVA
           The barrio has a cooperative that can work well for everyone.  They agree to do business with each other. There are carpenters, masons, plumbers, pharmacists, stores, and many more businesses that joined the cooperative.  If someone contributes time or effort or goods to the coop, everyone will join together to build them a house. They will pay a modest amount for five years and the house is theirs. The coop works together for the good of the whole and everyone benefits.