Celebrating Canada Day with children in Paraguay

Our sponsorship manager in Paraguay explains why it’s important to commemorate Canada 150 in the communities we work.

I see it every time I visit the field — engaged and motivated children in Christian Children’s Fund of Canada communities. They want to know more about their sponsors, so we marked Canada’s 150th birthday with them in Paraguay at our annual ‘Knowing Canada’ awareness exercise.

Children dived into Canadian culture, learning about the food, weather, sports and language of their sponsors’ home country through videos, music, games and puppets.

In one of our communities, children were invited to imagine they travelled by plane to Canada. Decorations were hung, an informative mural showcased Canadian culture and maple syrup cookies cut in the shape of maple leaves were served.

Children used the time to design Canada Day cards to send to their sponsors. It was an opportunity to mark Canada’s contribution to their communities’ development. 

We’re always excited about how we can bridge two cultures and strengthen the bond between children and sponsor. But, most importantly, it’s a chance for children to learn a different culture while using their creativity and having fun.

They learned a lot. “Canada is a very beautiful country for its animals and its landscapes. I would like to visit it, but when it is not so cold,” Benita,12, told me.

It was also common to hear comments such as “Wow, it’s the second-largest country in the world?”

It was a great day. Vy’a pave (Congratulations) and Happy Canada Day, from Paraguay.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.