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Life on the move in Paraguay
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Migration in ParaguayThere are many reasons that result in children moving away from home or not continuing with school.
Migration is mostly due to people moving in search of jobs and schooling and it is generally from the rural into the urban areas, although in some cases it is from rural to rural areas.
When this is the case, people move within communities to find better soils in which to plant their crops and improve their harvest. These rural families do not actually own their land, so when the soil becomes unproductive in one area, they move into another area which shows more agricultural promise.
If children are enrolled at school and their families decide to move, they are facing a migrating existence if they are to continue their education.
Children from ages 10-16 years old often go along with their fathers to help them with the cotton harvest, so the migration can be seasonal too. They will be absent form school between January and April during the cotton harvest and then return to classes. If the children arrive and the school year has already begun, then they will have to wait for the following year as there will no longer be vacancies. Some schools delay the start of the school year to coincide with the completion of work in the cotton fields.
In most of the rural areas, there are few secondary schools and few opportunities for the children to study past primary school. The families tend to be large and parents often do not have the resources to feed and educate all of their children.
In most cases children who wish to continue their studies are then forced to move away from home and go and live with a close friend or relative in the urban centres.
Friends or relatives will provide the children with shelter, food and pay for their formal education and in return children are expected to run errands, clean the house or help with cooking. These activities are seen to be a part of the child's education. It is common practice for children to be sent away from home, either the new home is closer to the school or the particular friend or relative cares for a specific child and wants to assist that child.
Some children prefer to return to their families and unfortunately they may not be able to continue with their education.
This migration presents a challenge to Plan as it makes communications difficult and education inconsistent for the child. As children are on the move effective correspondence may prove difficult. Plan is involved in developing these rural communities to provide them with adequate educational facilities that help to ensure these children receive the best possible education, facilities and support.
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