"Project Catalyst"

The last several days have been a whirlwind of activities.

Since Wednesday last week (yes, it has been a few days now), the school has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. When we last saw it before a couple of days touring, the roof was nearing completion, the new classroom was done and wired in, the painting had started (and was in fact half done). Also, the fence has been completed around the entire playground, which itself has been leveled and cleaned. Missing windows were replaced and covers were put over them to protect the windows from future soccer ball related incidents. All in all, the school is looking great. We were on the site right through til Saturday afternoon, six solid days of hard work. On Friday and Saturday we had a number of Scouts from around the area come out and help. It seems our neckers are very popular items for trading...but we're somewhat reluctant to part with them because of what they've come to mean to all of us. Even the dirt on the white of the necker is a reminder of something as we've worked.

Also on Saturday, a TV station came out and interviewed a few people on the site. This brings our media coverage to three radio broadcasts, three newspaper articles and a TV interview. All of this coverage really is starting to make a difference. We're recognized walking down the street as the Scouts from Canada. Yesterday, when we were in Ciudad del Este, we had the opportunity to visit a church because the congregation had heard that we were in town and wanted to talk with us and ask questions. Walking down the street earlier today, a woman saw us and a couple of Canadian flags on our backpacks, asked if we were the Scouts from Canada and then started telling the person next to her all about the project that she had heard about on TV. If awareness is the first step towards action, we can proudly say that Scouts Canada has had a direct impact on that action. Someone has commented that perhaps this is simply "Project Catalyst", paving the way for work within communities here, by the communities.

We've also had opportunities for more cultural exchanges. On Thursday, the Contingent went to two different activities. Part of the group had the chance to go to a fifteenth birthday party for one of the Scouts from the Group in Luque, just outside of Asuncion. The fifteenth birthday is a very important occasion in Paraguay, as well as most of Latin America, so this was quite the opportunity. The other group was invited to a barbeque with the Leaders from another Scout Group (whose meeting we had visited last weekend). Barbecues seem to be a very big part of the local culture and a great way to meet and talk with new people.

On Saturday, we had another chance to stay with host families, with whom we had stayed previously on one of the first nights. It was good to see our friends again and to see just how much we had changed over these past weeks. Some of the activities included souvenir shopping, going to the national Expo (with incredibly big cows) and of course barbecues.

Late Sunday night, actually very early Monday morning, we all boarded the bus for a five hour drive to Ciudad del Este. This city borders with Argentina and Brazil, so at certain times over our two days there, we could actually see three countries at once when standing at the Parana River. Also here, we were able to go on a trip to Iguazu Falls, which were absolutely amazing. It's sad to say, but I don't think any of us will be able to look at Niagara Falls with the same awe as we once had after seeing Iguazu.

We're now back in Asuncion at the Scout House getting ready to go to bed. Tomorrow we're back at the school for our last day of work. It's currently dumping rain outside and storming to the point where some of the roads were actually flooded, but we're optimistic for work tomorrow, especially because most of it will be inside painting.

We've now been out from Asuncion across to the eastern reaches of Paraguay and all the way along, we've run into news of the project. When we first arrived, we were under the impression that our only support would be coming from the Scout Association of Paraguay. We were soon joined by both of the border towns with the school and the Ministry of Education. Now, it seems that our support and interest has spread across the country. We're hopeful now, more than we have been so far, that this project will continue to grow long after we leave.

Good Scouting