Paraguay: real lives

Most of the families in the community of Chacarita - a poor suburb of Asuncion - live in shacks made from recycled materials.

Many are illegal settlers that have come to the capital city in search of better job opportunities. The river often floods during the rainy season and the settlers are forced to evacuate.

Few people in the community have regular jobs, and instead, work on the streets selling snacks and other items. A few find work as occasional labourers, but it's difficult to make enough money for a family to survive.

Life for children in Chacarita is particularly hard - there's often not enough money for food and clothing, and nothing for treats and toys. To help, ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Paraguay is working with local communities, providing support to strengthen and build the community.

The primary focus of the program is on learning. For the children of Chacarita, a good basic education represents the best hope for a better future. Kids in the program receive extensive after-school tutoring - including work with computers - to help them do well in their subjects. Financial assistance is available for buying books and mandatory school uniforms. And to help students stay alert, the program provides a snack of milk and biscuits every school day.

Healthcare is also important, and children receive basic and emergency medical care, glasses, medication and immunisations.