A "Pathways to a Sustainable Future" service-learning project will take place in Paraguay July 6-21, 2015. Following orientation, participants will travel by bus to communities in the Chaco and Puerto Leda on the Paraguay River to learn about and participate in a variety of rural sustainable development projects.
Orientation
The orientation to UPF’s Pathways to a Sustainable Future Project will take place in Paraguay’s capital city, Asuncion. During these days, the International participants will live, experience, learn and work together while engaging with new people and a different culture.
This orientation period will conclude with a bus journey to a Mennonite community where participants will gain an understanding of the challenges in creating and running a sustainable community far from a major population center.
Connecting and Serving the Chaco Villages
This stage of the program will have the participants reside in local Chaco Indian villages where members of the Association for Sustainable Development in North and South America have been active for over a decade. The living situation is very simple as there is no electricity or running water. Volunteers will work side by side with local villages and experience their situation.
The Leda Experience
This important part of the program is designed to give participants a greater understanding of the vision of UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon's work in Latin America while offering a time to connect more deeply to the beauty of creation. Participants will have a chance to spend time on the river, ride horses, work and learn about farming and aquaculture.
Service activities will provide participants an opportunity to share and work side by side with local community members.
The time in Leda will conclude with a time for personal reflection.
Return to Asuncion
Participants will then return to Asuncion and have a short time to shop and attend a closing event with friends of UPF.
Qualifications
It is recommended that participants be 18-30 years of age. All volunteers must be in good health and willing to do physical work. Participants need to be willing and able to live humbly at times. The primary language of the project will be English but some Spanish translation will be made available.
Participants should be motivated by a desire to contribute to society and work together as a global community. The program is open to people of all faiths and is alcohol and drug free. Men and women are expected to act respectfully with each other and with all those who they come in contact with.
To Apply
All potential participants will need to submit an application and two recommendation letters to be considered for participation. Travel to the program orientation in Asuncion, Paraguay, is the responsibility of participants. To help cover the domestic transportation, housing, food, fees and program expenses a fee of $700 is being asked. This fee does not reflect the full cost of the project, for substantial grants have been given by UPF and Let’s Lead Green USA.
For a video of the 2014 project, click here.
For more information contact Rev. John Gehring,