Happiness in Paraguay

This year, I participated in two summer camps here in Peace Corps Paraguay. Check out the videos below:

Campamento Jaikoporâ was a health and leadership camp to train youth as peer educators in their schools, and communities.

Translation: 

I love Paraguay! I like nature, I like the countryside, I like terere, I like chipa, I like the Parguayan family, I like speaking guarani!

But, there are things that need to change.

We, the Paraguayan youth, have the power and the responsibility to fight for:

-Gender Equality

-Nonviolence

-Healthy Lifestyes

-For a country free of discimination

-For a better country

Campamento Jaikoporâ!!

I also participated in Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World), which is a leadership camp focusing on Paraguayan girls.

Translation:

I am strong. I am valued. I am beautiful. I am imperfect. I am myself.

The women who speak in the video are offering advice to the girls and the youth reflect on their experiences.

Peace, Love, and Summer Camp.

Quick Paraguay update to share one of the countries weirdest traditions: Festival de San Juan.

San Juan parties are held all over Paraguay really anytime a school or community wants to celebrate in late June or early July. It's unclear to me where exactly the tradition came from, but the story pieced together from several senoras and youth I spend time with goes like this:

"Once upon a time in Paraguay there was a fiesta and San Juan was there. There was also a man there who was really ugly and dressed as a women. San Juan died at the fiesta so we remember him by having a party every year with traditional games and foods."

I clarified that San Juan was not the crossdresser, but other than that nobody had much more to add to the story. Is any of this true? I have no idea, but the party was fun and Paraguayans love any excuse to get together and have a good time.

These boys are the "camba," played by boys in masks made of ripped tshirts and paint. Some are dressed as women-- note the boy on the right in low heels.

These are the littlest girls dancing the "chipera," or chipa girl.

There are also a ton of games, from sack races to walking on fire to some game involving a live duck. Some things will just remain mysterious.