Thinking Big: Fox Leadership Students Take on Poverty in Paraguay

Imagine a city so entrenched in poverty that if you’re upper middle class, you might have running water. Imagine a school so impoverished that the only bathroom facility is a small out-house with a bucket for a toilet. Imagine a country so deprived that dirt floors, partial roofs, and scarce food, water, and clothing are a way of life. These conditions are just a few of the many hardships faced by the residents of Tobati, Paraguay, a provincial area situated 40 miles east of the nation’s capital, Asuncion, and the site of the Fox Leadership Program’s 2004 International Service Trip.

The Fox Group outside of the initial phase of construction of a Conadomi High School classroom.

In late May, the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program took 15 students and staff to Tobati. The poverty faced daily by the people in Paraguay is both unimaginable and incomprehensible to most United States citizens. Over one-third of the population lives on less than $1 a day and 70% live on less than $2 a day. This poverty most pointedly affects the youth of Paraguay, who have an under-5 morality rate that is four times higher than that in the United States. Most families consist of at least four people who typically live in a one room shack. Only the wealthiest residents have shoes. Many families do not have enough money to clothe their children and over half of the houses in the region lack running water and electricity. There are numerous health risks including a serious problem with parasites, which can be contracted through the consumption of unsanitary food and water.

Fox Students, Paraguay, clothes donation

An impoverished Paraguayan family awaiting the delivery of clothes from the Fox students.

The Fox Leadership team traveled to Paraguay optimistic that they could make a lasting impact upon the lives of those much less fortunate than themselves. After concluding a university-wide clothes drive, the group of students and staff each got on the plane with two bags in their hand - one bag of their own belongings and one of clothes and shoes for the people of Tobati.

In less than two weeks, the Fox Leadership team worked on many construction projects including construction of a bathroom and a corridor at a grade school in the poor San Jose Obrero neighborhood (the existing bathroom was nothing more than a bucket); continued construction of three classrooms at a grade school in the rural village of Rosado, Tobati; began construction of a classroom at CONADOMI high school; and began construction of a multi-use sports floor at Cap. San Pedro Juan Caballero high school.

Fox students, Tobati, Paraguay, San Pedro Juan Caballero high school

Fox students, assisted by Tobati students, begin construction of a multi-use sports floor at Cap. San Pedro Juan Caballero high school.

In addition, construction was begun for an addition to El Centro de Salud, Tobatí's public medical clinic. The new addition to the medical facility was perhaps Fox’s greatest contribution as Tobati’s small and primitive medical clinic, like all public healthcare facilities in Paraguay, struggles with a lack of funding and a shortage of basic supplies and medicines. Most people cannot afford to purchase medicine or travel to hospitals in the cities for better care. The lack of prenatal care results in a large number of children dying during childbirth; and many Tobatenos are born with physical and mental defects. Our hope is that with our contribution of labor and finances, improvements in medical care will result in increased life expectancy and standard of living within the village.

Throughout the two-week period, hired professionals aided the Fox team in the construction projects. The students and staff provided the labor while the professionals provided supervision.

In addition to the construction projects the Fox team: distributed over 750 pounds of clothing and toys to the most impoverished areas of Tobati, handed out toothpaste and dental hygiene information, forged relationships with the children in the village, embraced the Paraguayan culture, and served as model ambassadors for the United States of America.

This trip would not have been successful without Team Tobati, a non-profit organization made up of students, recent college graduates, doctors, and faculty who seek to raise the standard of living in Tobati. Team Tobati has worked in the Tobati community since 1999 and already has a number of accomplishments to its credit, including construction of a literacy center and providing funds for construction and equipment for the medical clinic.

The hard work and dedication of the Fox team not only allowed for significant improvements in the lives of Tobatenos, but also in the lives of our students and staff. Whether the impact was made through the addition of a public bathroom, or by inspiring hope in the youth of Tobati, our efforts enabled effective change in the Tobati environment. As one Fox Leadership student wrote:

“After the first day in Tobati I felt thankful for the clothes on my back, the food on my plate, and the comfort of my bed. But I had an ache in my heart thinking that the kids who had helped with the days' work would go to bed with an empty stomach, struggling to stay out of the rain. I became painfully aware of the disparity between my lifestyle and that of the Tobatenos. I felt guilty about the privileges to which I had grown accustomed, and frustrated at the feeling that I could never do enough to help the people of Tobati. This is what happens when we open our eyes to the world around us.

But my hardened spirit succumbed to the first smile I saw. Instead of feeling bogged down by my inability to help all those less fortunate than I, I realized that at any given point we can give of ourselves in small ways, even when time and resources seem limited. Though we can't raise a building in ten days, a simple smile, the one show of humanity that bridges any divide, can lift a spirit and touch people's lives in immeasurable ways. This is what happens when we open our hearts and minds to the people around us.

There is much to love about, and learn from, a people whose warmth, hospitality, and love for their country supercede their basic struggle to survive. I am forever grateful for the way the people of Tobati enriched my mind, heart, and spirit.”

For more information or to learn how to support the Fox Tobatí initiative, contact Chuck Brutsche at brutsche@sas.upenn.edu or 215-746-7112.

Contribute to the Paraguay trip here



Newsletters Research & Reports Making Food Stamps Work Bio-Terrorism Transforming Probation Through Leadership Fox Leadership Students Take on Poverty in Paraguay Have Faith in the Big Easy Campus Clips Photo Archive		Thinking Big: Fox Leadership Students Take on Poverty in Paraguay Imagine a city so entrenched in poverty that if you’re upper middle class, you might have running water. Imagine a school so impoverished that the only bathroom facility is a small out-house with a bucket for a toilet. Imagine a country so deprived that dirt floors, partial roofs, and scarce food, water, and clothing are a way of life. These conditions are just a few of the many hardships faced by the residents of Tobati, Paraguay, a provincial area situated 40 miles east of the nation’s capital, Asuncion, and the site of the Fox Leadership Program’s 2004 International Service Trip. The Fox Group outside of the initial phase of construction of a Conadomi High School classroom. In late May, the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program took 15 students and staff to Tobati. The poverty faced daily by the people in Paraguay is both unimaginable and incomprehensible to most United States citizens. Over one-third of the population lives on less than $1 a day and 70% live on less than $2 a day. This poverty most pointedly affects the youth of Paraguay, who have an under-5 morality rate that is four times higher than that in the United States. Most families consist of at least four people who typically live in a one room shack. Only the wealthiest residents have shoes. Many families do not have enough money to clothe their children and over half of the houses in the region lack running water and electricity. There are numerous health risks including a serious problem with parasites, which can be contracted through the consumption of unsanitary food and water. An impoverished Paraguayan family awaiting the delivery of clothes from the Fox students. The Fox Leadership team traveled to Paraguay optimistic that they could make a lasting impact upon the lives of those much less fortunate than themselves. After concluding a university-wide clothes drive, the group of students and staff each got on the plane with two bags in their hand - one bag of their own belongings and one of clothes and shoes for the people of Tobati. In less than two weeks, the Fox Leadership team worked on many construction projects including construction of a bathroom and a corridor at a grade school in the poor San Jose Obrero neighborhood (the existing bathroom was nothing more than a bucket); continued construction of three classrooms at a grade school in the rural village of Rosado, Tobati; began construction of a classroom at CONADOMI high school; and began construction of a multi-use sports floor at Cap. San Pedro Juan Caballero high school. Fox students, assisted by Tobati students, begin construction of a multi-use sports floor at Cap. San Pedro Juan Caballero high school. In addition, construction was begun for an addition to El Centro de Salud, Tobatí's public medical clinic. The new addition to the medical facility was perhaps Fox’s greatest contribution as Tobati’s small and primitive medical clinic, like all public healthcare facilities in Paraguay, struggles with a lack of funding and a shortage of basic supplies and medicines. Most people cannot afford to purchase medicine or travel to hospitals in the cities for better care. The lack of prenatal care results in a large number of children dying during childbirth; and many Tobatenos are born with physical and mental defects. Our hope is that with our contribution of labor and finances, improvements in medical care will result in increased life expectancy and standard of living within the village. Throughout the two-week period, hired professionals aided the Fox team in the construction projects. The students and staff provided the labor while the professionals provided supervision. In addition to the construction projects the Fox team: distributed over 750 pounds of clothing and toys to the most impoverished areas of Tobati, handed out toothpaste and dental hygiene information, forged relationships with the children in the village, embraced the Paraguayan culture, and served as model ambassadors for the United States of America. This trip would not have been successful without Team Tobati, a non-profit organization made up of students, recent college graduates, doctors, and faculty who seek to raise the standard of living in Tobati. Team Tobati has worked in the Tobati community since 1999 and already has a number of accomplishments to its credit, including construction of a literacy center and providing funds for construction and equipment for the medical clinic. The hard work and dedication of the Fox team not only allowed for significant improvements in the lives of Tobatenos, but also in the lives of our students and staff. Whether the impact was made through the addition of a public bathroom, or by inspiring hope in the youth of Tobati, our efforts enabled effective change in the Tobati environment. As one Fox Leadership student wrote: “After the first day in Tobati I felt thankful for the clothes on my back, the food on my plate, and the comfort of my bed. But I had an ache in my heart thinking that the kids who had helped with the days' work would go to bed with an empty stomach, struggling to stay out of the rain. I became painfully aware of the disparity between my lifestyle and that of the Tobatenos. I felt guilty about the privileges to which I had grown accustomed, and frustrated at the feeling that I could never do enough to help the people of Tobati. This is what happens when we open our eyes to the world around us. But my hardened spirit succumbed to the first smile I saw. Instead of feeling bogged down by my inability to help all those less fortunate than I, I realized that at any given point we can give of ourselves in small ways, even when time and resources seem limited. Though we can't raise a building in ten days, a simple smile, the one show of humanity that bridges any divide, can lift a spirit and touch people's lives in immeasurable ways. This is what happens when we open our hearts and minds to the people around us. There is much to love about, and learn from, a people whose warmth, hospitality, and love for their country supercede their basic struggle to survive. I am forever grateful for the way the people of Tobati enriched my mind, heart, and spirit.” For more information or to learn how to support the Fox Tobatí initiative, contact Chuck Brutsche at brutsche@sas.upenn.edu or 215-746-7112. Contribute to the Paraguay trip here