Annual Review 2023
Read our Annual Review for the 2023 period, during which we have impacted the lives of 773,704 people.
Creating pathsways of opportunity
We are celebrating 30 years in Paraguay! During these years we have had a positive impact on the lives of more than 1.3 million people, including children, mothers, teenagers, fathers and caregivers, in more than 650 communities in the departments of Central, San Pedro, Guairá, Caaguazú and Paraguarí.
Discover some initiatives and projects here
Our first years
- Mita Iru Active School
- Child-Friendly Schools
- Maternal and child survival development
- Comprehensive adolescent development
Mita Iru Active School
Mita Iru Active School
Partners: Ministry of Education and Culture, UNICEF.
Location: Cordillera, Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá.
Period: 1997-2005
The initiative aimed to actively engage families in their children’s education, provide quality learning alternatives for rural schools, and develop a high-quality education for children.
The methodology encouraged students to learn at their own pace and progress according to their needs and interests.
Children who participated in the project developed stronger reading, writing, and math skills compared to those who did not attend the Active Schools.
A total of 27,512 children, 238 schools, and 1,625 teachers benefited from the initiative.
<strong>Child-Friendly Schools</strong>
Child-Friendly Schools
Location: Cordillera, Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá.
Period: 2000-2005
The initiative aimed to provide greater educational opportunities for children by increasing the number of students completing primary school, improving the quality of education, and eliminating mistreatment of children in schools and colleges.
Maternal and child survival development
Maternal and Child Survival and Development
Location: Cordillera, Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá.
Period: 2000-2005
The initiative focused on ensuring that children under five and their families had access to healthcare services, quality education, disease prevention, and maternal and newborn survival and development.
Additionally, we built schools, classrooms, bathrooms, and potable water systems in collaboration with communities, providing training and supporting the formation of community committees.
Comprehensive adolescent development
Comprehensive adolescent development
Location: Cordillera, Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá. | Period: 2000-2005.
The objective was to provide opportunities for young people to develop in all aspects of their lives, including career and vocational choices, as well as access to quality health information and services.
Community development
- Healthy environment
- Food and economic security
- Comprehensive development for girls, boys and adolescents
- Building relationships, participation and organization
- Beyond the classes
Healthy environment
Healthy environment
Location: Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá. | Period: 2005-2008.
Communities integrated hygiene habits and environmental conservation into their daily lives, improving their health, gaining access to clean drinking water and modern bathrooms for the first time—marking a before and after in their lives.
Through these projects, community members, together with municipalities, developed unprecedented risk and disaster management plans for their cities, with a primary focus on protecting children and adolescents.
Food and economic security
Food and economic security
Location: Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá. | Period: 2006-2015.
This initiative began in 2006 to help children and their families improve their quality of life by increasing their income, accessing financial services, and supporting small businesses and food production.
Comprehensive development for girls, boys and adolescents
Comprehensive development for girls, boys and adolescents
Location: Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá. | Period: 2005-2013.
The goal was for governments and families to ensure children’s rights to health and education; for children and adolescents to access quality education in a school environment that promoted proper treatment, and for parents and families to learn how to prevent common childhood diseases.
Additionally, we worked with adolescents and youth through training that provided them with the tools to make informed decisions about their future professions or trades.
Building relationships, participation and organization
Building relationships, participation and organization
Location: Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá. | Period: 2005-2013.
The initiative promoted community participation to ensure the rights of girls and boys. It also supported the creation of organizations led by children, increasing their role and visibility in society.
Beyond the classes
Beyond the classes
Partners: Sonidos de la Tierra, Liga Independencia de Fútbol de Guairá, Asociación Amigos del Arpa de Guairá, Municipality of Independencia, Municipality of Ñumi, Ministry of Education and Culture.
Location: Cordillera, Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, and Guairá.
Period: 2005-2006.
The project aimed to strengthen self-esteem, develop life skills, and preserve Paraguayan cultural values among young people, helping them become more engaged citizens through art and sports.
Guinness World Record for the largest harp ensemble in the world (420 harps). More than 200 young harpists were trained through this projec
Around 2,830 children learned to play musical instruments such as the harp and guitar in the departments of Cordillera, Paraguarí, Caaguazú, and Guairá.
1,200 children benefited from art and sports programs in San Pedro.
40 artisans trained in musical instrument construction.
Child-centered development
- Participation and financial education for girls and boys
- Birth Registration “Make Me Visible”
- Learn without fear
- International day of the Girl campaign
<strong>Participation and financial education for girls and boys</strong>
Participation and financial education for girls and boys
Partners: Financiera El Comercio, Ministry of Education and Culture
Location: Guairá
Period: 2009-2015
The project aimed to teach children about their rights, participation, and fundamental financial literacy concepts, including money management, savings, and personal entrepreneurship, encouraging them to contribute to their communities’ development.
129 schools established School Councils as a result of the project.
More than 8,000 children benefited.
686 teachers trained in Financial Education and 226 in child and youth participation.
146 schools participated in the program.
85 school councils implemented community projects.
<strong>Birth Registration “Make Me Visible”</strong>
Birth Registration “Make Me Visible”
Period: 2005-2013
The project promoted birth registration, ensuring that more children and adults were officially recorded in the Civil Registry. Innovative programs were developed to reach remote populations, guaranteeing their right to identity.
Partners: Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice and Labor, National Secretariat for Children and Adolescents, UNICEF, and the Coordinator for Children’s Rights (CDIA).
Learn without fear
Learn without fear
The objective was to eradicate all forms of maltreatment, physical punishment, sexual abuse, or harassment towards children and adolescents in schools.
- Specifically, 715 schools in 25 cities participated.
- 1,889 school directors and teachers and 100 legal advisors reached.
- Approximately 10,000 children and 5,000 parents benefited from the training.
Partners: Ministry of Education and Culture, National Secretariat for Children and Adolescents, Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) | Location: Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, Guairá, and Presidente Hayes | Period: 2008-2012
International day of the Girl campaign
International day of the girl campaign
The International Day of the Girl was established on October 11, 2011, by the United Nations to raise awareness about the challenges and issues faced by girls and adolescents worldwide.
At Plan International, we commemorate this day in over 80 countries where we implement various projects to create representative spaces where girls, adolescents, and young women can demonstrate leadership in safe environments and have their voices heard.
Through the so-called “Girls’ Takeovers”, institutions from various sectors open their doors to adolescents, young women, and girls, allowing them to assume decision-making positions, lead teams, present their proposals, and be heard.
Since 2016, 2,005 Girls’ Takeovers have been carried out in ministries, governorates, municipalities, embassies, businesses, and organizations, strengthening the leadership skills and self-esteem of girls.
Location: Paraguarí, Caaguazú, San Pedro, Guairá, and Asunción
Period: 2016-2024
Rights of girls and boys in development and humanitarian contexts
- Economic Empowerment
- Intelligence Factory
- Ayuda humanitaria y gestión de riesgos
- Safe Neighborhood San Francisco
- The League
- Strenghtening Youth Organizations
Economic Empowerment
Sape’a 1.0
Allies: MTESS, AECID, local businesses, CAH, Ministry of Social Development | Location: San Pedro, Caaguazú, Guairá, and Paraguarí | Period: 2015-2019
This program aimed to facilitate access to the labor market through employment or self-employment for adolescents and young people between 15 and 29 years old.
- 8,181 adolescents and young people from rural areas received vocational training.
- 6,465 adolescents and young people received life skills training.
- 529 entrepreneurs received seed capital.
Emprende Ya
Allies: MTESS, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) | Location: Caaguazú | Period: 2015-2019
Strengthening the capacities of entrepreneurs supported in Sape’a 1.0.
- 251 business plans reviewed and improved, 68.5% of them led by women.
- 64 young entrepreneurs received seed capital.
Sape’a 2.0
Allies: MTESS, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Fundación Saraki | Location: Caaguazú, Guairá, San Pedro | Period: 2019-2024
A model program for youth employment and entrepreneurship aimed at improving the social and economic conditions of adolescents and young people in rural and urban areas of Paraguay.
The initiative supported young people—especially women in vulnerable situations, people with disabilities, and members of indigenous communities—in overcoming the barriers and stereotypes that prevent them from accessing decent employment. Its key pillars were: Inclusion, Innovation, and Equality.
Over 300 young people secured jobs through labor intermediation processes.
Over 4,700 young people participated in training to enhance their technical, business, and soft skills.
More than 1,500 young people developed their business plans.
Over 450 young entrepreneurs launched businesses with seed capital support.
More than 1,000 young people took part in job orientation sessions to facilitate employment access.
Intelligence Factory
Intelligence Factory
Allies: Itaú Foundation, MEC, Municipalities. | Period: 2015-2019
The objective was to create community centers for comprehensive early childhood care to improve the well-being of children aged 0 to 5.
710 mothers and fathers trained.
25 early stimulation centers in operation.
670 children aged 0 to 7 received early stimulation.
<strong>Ayuda humanitaria y gestión de riesgos</strong>
Chake Ou I y II – Jaku’e
Allies: SEN, UNDP, Red Cross, OXFAM, COOPI, ECHO, Gobernaciones of Presidente Hayes, Alto Paraguay, and Central, Municipalities of Asunción, Villa Hayes, and Carmelo Peralta. | Period: 2013-2018
We worked on strengthening disaster preparedness capacities and coordinating actors for response at national, municipal, and community levels, promoting the resilience of vulnerable populations in Bañado Sur of Asunción, the Paraguayan Chaco, and the Central Department.
Strengthening capacities and disaster preparedness:
8,779 children and 6,780 adults directly benefited.
Añu’a
Period: 2014-2016
We provided assistance to children affected by floods in Asunción through the establishment of fixed tents called “Añu’a, spaces of joy” (“Abrazo” in Guarani). These were set up in temporary shelters and included emergency education, psychological support, artistic activities, educational materials, recreational kits for early childhood and adolescents, and school support, led by Plan International staff in Bañado Sur, Bañado Tacumbú, and Falcón.
Respuesta al COVID-19
Allies: Ministry of Children and Adolescents, Itaú Foundation, British Embassy, Inter-American Development Bank, AECID. | Period: 2020-2021
We developed an emergency response plan addressing the needs of child protection, food security, hygiene, sanitation, and income generation in the departments of Central, San Pedro, Paraguarí, Guairá, and Caaguazú.
We successfully delivered in 370 rural communities:
1 immediate protection space for children and adolescents, providing 24-hour support in collaboration with the Ministry of Children and Adolescents.
19,104 food kits
18,281 hygiene and disinfection kits, benefiting over 102,000 people
11,636 play kits for children
6,177 menstrual hygiene kits for girls and adolescents
172 young entrepreneurs received financial support for their businesses
2,100 kg of food, 361 menstrual hygiene kits, and sanitation supplies for 9 shelters supporting children in need of alternative care under the Ministry of Children and Adolescents
Safe Neighborhood San Francisco
Barrio Seguro San Francisco
Allies: Itaipu Binational Entity, Ministry of Education and Science (MEC), Ministry of Children and Adolescents (MINNA) | Period: 2017-2019
The program aimed to make the new San Francisco neighborhood in Asunción a model of a safe city, with secure and inclusive environments, equipped institutions, trained staff, and a commitment to accountability towards all children and adolescent girls in their diversity.
- 6 Early Childhood Development (EDI) spaces of the “Abrazo” Program of the Ministry of Children and Adolescents at Basic School No. 8175 San Francisco were equipped.
- 40 early childhood care specialists, 4 social workers, and 2 family support specialists were hired for the operation of the Early Childhood Development spaces.
- 28 teachers trained in risk and disaster management.
- 168 children trained in leadership topics.
- 705 children trained in risk management workshops.
- 957 combined stoves delivered to families.
The League
The League
Time: 2019-2024
The League is a project that provides opportunities for skill development and sports talent as a means of positive recreation and social integration.
The presence of female coaches has been strengthened, playing a crucial role in encouraging families to allow girls and adolescent women to participate in football training.
217 girls and adolescent women participated.
260 boys and adolescent men participated.
20 communities benefited.
400 children received medical check-ups thanks to coordinated efforts with Family Health Units.
Support committees for Mixed-Gender Football Schools were established in the communities.
Strenghtening Youth Organizations
Flexible Youth Model
Partner: Plan International Sweden | Period: 2022
We seek innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for young people by implementing concrete actions that yield lasting results.
From this perspective, we support youth-led collective initiatives to strengthen the protection of their rights, particularly for girls and young women, through transformative actions.
Strengthened organizations: Asociación Cinecable and Corazones Abiertos.
Regional Youth Program
Partner: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) | Period: 2023
Local coordination was carried out with organizations such as the Comité de Jóvenes Ciudadanos de Caraguatay, UNEPY, and Kuña Poty. These organizations were strengthened with financial, administrative, and programmatic tools to enhance their performance.
The program aims to promote greater respect, protection, and fulfillment of children’s, adolescents’, and youth’s rights. It also seeks to foster more just societies by facilitating advocacy spaces with key stakeholders and allied organizations that contribute to strengthening an enabling environment for activism.
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