Our collaboration with Fundación Moisés Bertoni (FMB), a boarding school in Paraguay, began as part of the SI President’s Appeal 2021 – 2023: Opening Doors to a Bright Future. It continues now under the banner of Soroptimist International Foundation.  

The partnership with Fundación Moisés Bertoni works to create positive change for indigenous girls living in poverty within the Mbaracayú Education Centre, based in the Mbaracayú natural forest reserve.  Fundación Moisés Bertoni offers technical degrees in Environmental Science and aims to help young people become entrepreneurs and agents of sustainable change in their communities. 

The project addresses the isolation of rural and indigenous youth by offering access to sports as a means of promoting wellness and development, while also empowering young women to become skilled environmental leaders.  

This project included the construction of a sports centre at the Mbaracayú Education Centre and the implementation of a specially designed sports development programme. Led by a Sports and Exercise Science Teacher, this program focuses on empowering 120 girls through training in gender violence prevention, self-esteem, self-confidence, teamwork, nutrition, and core values. Additionally, the initiative expands its impact with a Youth Environmental Camp, promoting gender equality and environmental responsibility. 

Annual Youth Environmental Camp 

The Annual Youth Environmental Camp, held on 25 and 26 October at the Mbaracayú Forest Natural Reserve, brought together 40 participants aged 17–21 to develop environmental leadership skills. The programme focused on key topics, including managing protected areas, change causes and consequences, biodiversity conservation, waste management, composting, forest fire prevention and environmental project development. 

Activities included: 

• Talks on protected area management and volunteering. 

• Workshops on climate change, biodiversity at the biological station, forest fire prevention, and project development. 
• Birdwatching, hiking, games, campfire and music. 

The camp hosted 28 students from the Mbaracayú Forest Biosphere Reserve and 12 university students from different cities in Paraguay. Notably, 62% of participants were women and 38% men. 

This immersive experience combined hands-on learning with outdoor activities, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship and empowering youth to lead impactful projects in their communities. 

Sport as a tool for wellbeing and development 

The Mbaracayú Educational Center continues to harness the power of sports to promote well-being, personal growth, and social development. With a focus on fostering self-esteem, collaboration, and core values, the center’s sports development program also addresses the prevention of violence against women and girls and equips students with critical life skills. 

Key Initiatives: 

• Infrastructure Enhancements: Improvements to the bathrooms and changing rooms at the centre provide better facilities for students, encouraging active participation in sports. 

• Equipment and Resources: Volleyballs and other sporting equipment have been purchased and donated to support the programme’s activities. 

• Workshop: A suicide and drug prevention workshop complements the programme by addressing mental health challenges and building resilience. 

• Local Tournaments: Students are encouraged to participate in local sports tournaments, promoting teamwork and community engagement. 

• Sports Court Tournaments: The new sports court hosts events involving students from surrounding schools. These tournaments emphasise well-being, inclusivity, and preventing violence against women and girls.  

Through these efforts, the Mbaracayú Educational Center reinforces the role of sports as a catalyst for holistic and social development, fostering healthier, more equitable communities. 

Further information: 

Soroptimist International Foundation is a Charitable Trust overseen by SI (Soroptimist International) Limited. Soroptimist International Foundation is currently managing legacies, Educating Women from War Torn Countries fund and the final projects of ‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ Appeal (now closed to donations).

For further information or to make enquires regarding legacies, please email hq@soroptimistinternational.org

Donations to Soroptimist International Foundation are gratefully received.

An average of 34 UK pounds will provide a woman or girl with transformative training, funded by Soroptimist International Foundation.