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You can read Fiona's latest updates, praise and prayer points by visiting her blog at: fionalouisecooper.blogspot.com
'To transform the lives of children by training and equipping teachers who will teach with creativity, integrity and love'. That’s the vision of “Formación en Educación Inicial San Andrés” (St Andrew’s Early Years Teacher Training College, or FEISA for short) in Asunción, Paraguay. We aim to provide high quality teacher training, from a Christian perspective and inspire our students to make a difference in their country.
Paraguay is a country with many problems, the biggest of which is corruption. As a result of this, there is both extreme wealth and extreme poverty, with 40% of the population living below the poverty line. Nearly half the children in Asunción work on the streets, selling chewing gum, lottery tickets and washing windscreens, to augment their parents’ income. One of our students said, “I’m really worried about children here in Paraguay because they are so vulnerable. It’s hard to change the situation but with a little work every day I know that we can bring about that change. That’s why I’m studying at FEISA.”
In order to keep the fees low and grant scholarships to needy students, the college relies on donations from organisations and individuals who support the vision of transformation through education.
I came to Paraguay with SIM in January 2006 to teach at FEISA because God was calling me to use the skills and experience I’d developed during years spent teaching in Spain and the UK. My work here centres around teaching English to the students and training them to teach English and other languages to young children. I’m also involved in the mobile play scheme the college takes to local churches and schools in poor areas. This scheme gives disadvantaged children an opportunity to play freely in a safe and loving environment which they would not have otherwise.
Cynthia Brusquetti wanted to train to be a teacher when she left school at eighteen, but her father refused to allow it. So she worked in his office for ten years, meanwhile getting married and having children. She never lost her desire to teach. Her husband is a taxi driver and one of his regular customers knew about FEISA and eventually persuaded him to encourage Cynthia to apply for a scholarship at the college. She is now in her first year and really enjoying it. “The chance to study at FEISA has given me hope and raised my self-esteem. I feel very loved coming here. My dream is to improve the educational opportunities for poor children in my neighbourhood, maybe by working in a school or starting one myself.”
Lili Colman came from a very poor family background but had a real desire to teach, so FEISA gave her a scholarship and her classmates helped her with bus fares so that she could complete the course. “FEISA is very demanding but this is good because it makes students better teachers. It wasn’t until I started the course and discovered all that was involved in teaching young children that I realized I loved it. I knew I’d found my vocation. I learned that children learn best through play and discovery. I also learned the importance of lesson planning and of making lessons creative.” She’s now teaching in an indigenous community in a very impoverished part of Paraguay. She found the job a challenge at first but can now see real changes in the children as a result of her input.
I consider it a real privilege to be playing a small part in the extension of God’s kingdom in this way. Please pray with me that, through our students, Christ will touch the hearts of many children, giving them hope and a secure future in him.
Fiona Cooper
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