Paraguay Participates in Latin American Women Forum in Taiwan; The First Lady of Paraguay, Silvana Abdo, presents update on the progress of the women empowerment program, Ñapu’ãke, which means, Let’s Rise Together.
¡Todos podemos ser parte del cambio hacia un mundo mejor! ????
?Así fue nuestra participación en el Foro ¡Mujer Empoderada, América Latina y el Caribe Empoderada! en la República de China (Taiwán), donde hablamos sobre la hermosa experiencia de nuestro Programa Ñapu'ãke. pic.twitter.com/UB5ePAi8Bw
— Silvana Abdo (@silvana_abdo) February 18, 2023
Programa Ñapu’ãke
Silvana Abdo advocates for the empowerment of women during a forum in Taiwan.
The First Lady of Paraguay participated as a speaker at the Empower Women! Empower LAC! a forum to empower Latin American and Caribbean women that took place in Taiwan, where the First Lady spoke about the successful experience of her social program, “Ñapu’ake” (let’s rise together) and the importance of working for the socioeconomic empowerment of women.
“We can all be part of the change towards a better world,” expressed Silvana Abdo, while emphasizing that,
“An empowered woman is a woman who is not afraid of success, she is a confident, self-sufficient mother who is prepared to face the adversities that arise, and confront them with optimism, solvency and proactivity,”
Silvana Adbo, First Lady of Paraguay
Programa Ñapu’ãke
The First Lady of Paraguay launched the Ñapu’ake Program in 2020 aimed at training and food security in territories across Paraguay. Through strategic alliances with public and private institutions and the Government of Taiwan, the initial goal was to benefit 27,500 people from 5,500 families, but the goal has been exceeded and has reached more than 100,000 people from 21,000 families in 74 vulnerable areas in Paraguay, according to a report from the First Lady’s office.
“Ñapu’ake” Program in 2020
In an article by La Nacion, Paraguay, the press details that the program started with Taiwan’s support of the “Ñapu’ake” program for orchid production. The Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), José Han, in the company of the President of the Republic, Mario Abdo Benítez, and the First Lady, Silvana López Moreira de Abdo, officially launched the “Ñapu’ake” program in August 2020.
“The objective is to promote community management to produce items for self-consumption and sale in the local market with the coordination of the Office of the First Lady (OPD),” described the press.
The project launched with the support of Taiwan. The country sent technicians to train in orchid and pacu production, said Ambassador José Han in 2020. The representative mentioned that Taiwan would offer technical assistance for production of orchids and pacu breeding.
“We send our technicians to teach orchid planting for this community, so that it is self-sustaining and can produce on its own,” said the ambassador. In 2020, La Nacion reported Taiwan exports of orchids at 200 million dollars annually and labeled it as “the kingdom of said flowers.” In this context, they shared techniques to resemble the project in Paraguay to produce and market them.
Ñapu’ãke Improves Food Quality, 2021
In a press release by the Agencia de Informacion Paraguaya, the agency stated that by August 2021, the Ñapu’ãke program helped improve the food quality of 50,250 people from vulnerable populations.
“The “Ñapu’ake” Program, implemented a year ago by the Office of the First Lady (OPD), registers some 50,250 people benefited through training in different areas that allowed them to acquire the skills to start their micro-enterprises,” reported AIP.
The OPD Training and Food Security Program offers the necessary tools, supplies, and knowledge so that women and their families can empower themselves and start their own businesses from home, while still caring for their young children.
In addition, the food harvested from family and community gardens is used for self-consumption and sale.
The first production and training center of the program was enabled on August 10, 2020, in the Nueva Asunción de Luque settlement, and one year after the implementation of “Ñapu’ake,”some 50,250 people were benefited from 10,050 families, reports AIP.
Likewise, some 1,084 people received training in different areas such as: use of the soybean processing machine, healthy soybean-based cooking, bakery, confectionery, clothing, professional styling, gardening, electricity, orchid cultivation, among others.
Through preparations in horticulture, 442 family orchards and 13 community orchards were also created for families to be self-sustaining and consume healthy and organic food.
The Mbya Guaraní “Mbokajatymiri” indigenous community of Itá were also part of the initiative of the first lady, Silvana Abdo, and built a community garden for self-consumption.
Fish farming is also an important area of the program involving the training of youth and adults. At the time of this report (Aug/2021), seven ponds had been built for the benefit of communities in vulnerable situations.
In August 2021, Ñapu’ake was reportedly implemented in 15 vulnerable areas of: Luque, J. Augusto Saldívar, Asunción, Areguá, Guarambaré, Bajo Chaco, Mariano Roque Alonso, Itá, Itauguá, Lambaré, Capiatá and Limpio.
At the time, the program was in the process of implementation in: Nueva Italia, Ypané, Bañado Norte Asunción and Villeta. “In these places, another 33,805 people from 6,761 families will benefit, reaching a total of 82,555 people from 16,511 families by the end of 2021,” published AIP.
The “Ñapu’ãke Program” of the Office of the First Lady OPD, was launched in coordination with the Itaipu Binacional Entity, the Paraguayan Chamber of Exporters and Marketing of Grains and Oilseeds Capeco, the Los Angeles-Taiwan Foundation, the Ministry of Development Social Security, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the Fundación Centro de Información de Recursos para el Desarrollo (CIRD).
“Ñapu’ake” Program continues to grow, 2022
In July 2nd, 2022, some 96,971 people from 20,251 families in a vulnerable situation in Asunción and the Central Department, benefitted from the “Ñapu’ake” Program, from August 2020 to June 2022.
It is a social initiative promoted by the Office of the First Lady (OPD), focused on the empowerment of women, food security and nutrition of families.
In the last week of June 2022, First Lady Silvana Abdo officially opened two new training, production and nutrition centers in the cities of Ypané (Costa Puku) and Itauguá (Villa Montserrat), numbers 15 and 16 respectively.
“We want our people to be able to train in different areas and have all the tools they need to get ahead in their communities through our Ñapu’ake Program,” said the First Lady of the Nation, who also emphasized the importance of working together and in an articulated manner among all sectors of society to contribute to improving the quality of life of families in poverty.
The women receive training in healthy cooking based on soybeans, horticulture and in other areas with quick job opportunities, with the support of the National Service for Professional Promotion (SNPP), SINAFOCAL, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Paraguayan Chamber of Exporters and Marketing of Cereals and Oilseeds (CAPECO), which donates all the soy that is processed in the machines and pasteurizers and which in turn is used as the main ingredient for the preparation of juices, sweet and savory foods.
In the city of Ypané, some 1,500 people will benefit from the program who live in the settlements: 5 Estrellas, San Miguel, Caacupemí; neighborhoods: Potrerito and Municipal Arroyito.
Meanwhile, in Villa Montserrat de Itauguá, another 1,250 people will receive the benefits of “Ñapu’ake”. Silvana Abdo toured the community gardens set up in both communities, observed the food produced and shared with the families, amid much joy and color.
Ñapu’ake is a program of the OPD, in partnership with the Itaipu Binacional Entity, CAPECO, the Los Angeles-Taiwan Foundation, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, and the Development Resources Information Center Foundation (CIRD). With the support of SENADIS, which provides assistance to people with disabilities, and INFONA, which is in charge of planting trees in the communities.
“By empowering women, we are also shielding them from intra-family violence and doing our bit to reverse social inequality and lack of opportunities,” said the First Lady, who spoke at the event and accompanied Paraguay’s President Mario Abdo Benítez on his official visit to the island of Taiwan.
Ñapu’ake (let’s rise together, in Guaraní) has generated a network of empowered and enterprising women of different ages. Through the program the women learn skills that facilitate a quick access to new job opportunities. The knowledge learned has been applied to food production for self-consumption in community gardens, and the women transmit the knowledge learned with more women.
“To do this, we work very closely with the beneficiaries with great affection. We provide them with all the tools and supplies they need so that they can trust themselves and implement everything they learned for the benefit of their families and the entire community,” detailed Silvana Abdo, during the international forum.
Likewise, she mentioned that she decided to create the program so that women can be trained for free in their own communities, without having to leave their children in the care of other people and so that they themselves are the owners of their future, with a solidarity, collaborative, community, and sustainable approach.
Recently, some 160 women entrepreneurs from the program received seed capital through the Misión Técnica de Taiwán and the Proyecto Reemujerpy, with which they are advancing their business initiatives.
The inspiring testimonies of life of women beneficiaries of the Ñapu’ake Program are published on the YouTube channel of the First Lady, Silvana Abdo.
Taiwan’s Welcoming Message to the Empower Women! Empower LAC! Forum
On the morning of February 15, President Tsai Ing-wen addressed the opening of the 2023 Empower Women! Empower LAC! Forum. In remarks, President Tsai said that she hoped the forum would allow the sharing of experiences and exploring of international cooperation in the current global economic climate to promote women’s economic empowerment and contribute to post-pandemic economic revitalization and recovery around the world.
Glad to welcome #Paraguay President @MaritoAbdo & First Lady @Silvana_Abdo back to #Taiwan. For more than 65 years our countries have stood together through good times & bad. Today our relations are stronger than ever & we will ensure that our partnership continues to grow. pic.twitter.com/JnozjVbUWE
— ??? Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) February 16, 2023
By President Tsai Ing-wen
Welcome to Taiwan. This is the first time we have hosted the Empower Women! Empower LAC! Forum. Thank you all for attending.
It is especially significant [to be here today] with so many distinguished guests who are concerned about women’s rights. I would like to take this opportunity to share how Taiwan is working toward gender equality. We have long striven to achieve full gender equality. After exerting much effort and overcoming many obstacles, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019.
On the political front, the proportion of female legislators in Taiwan surpassed 40 percent last year, the highest in Asia. On the economic front, 37 percent of small- and medium-sized enterprises are led by women, according to statistics from last year. Across many sectors, women have always been the backbone of Taiwanese society.
As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan actively works in cooperation with like-minded countries and international organizations to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world. Under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), Taiwan, its diplomatic allies, and many other countries have jointly held interdisciplinary seminars on important gender issues.
In addition, we work hand in hand with our diplomatic allies to assist women in upgrading their professional skills. We also provide consultations and resources needed to start a business. With this support and encouragement, more women can realize their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. Through these projects, women become economically independent and improve their working conditions. This gives them a sense of accomplishment, confidence, and courage, and creates positive change in their lives.
Our diplomatic allies in Latin America and the Caribbean who are participating [in today’s forum] all have abundant experience cooperating with Taiwan. We have worked together on many projects that have yielded significant results. I hope this forum will allow us to share these experiences. I also hope we can explore how to expand international cooperation in the current global economic climate to promote women’s economic empowerment and contribute to post-pandemic economic revitalization and recovery around the world.
A pleasure to sit down with First Lady Rossana Briceño & discuss #Taiwan–#Belize cooperation. I hope that through our joint women’s empowerment projects, we can help more women realise their potential & further strengthen the ties between our countries. pic.twitter.com/UBeqjsRzU6
— ??? Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) February 14, 2023
Once again, many thanks for attending this event. Taiwan is willing to actively contribute to promoting gender equality. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future in the fields of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Delighted to welcome Foreign Minister @KeisalPeters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on her first visit to #Taiwan. I look forward to her sharing #SVG’s experiences at tomorrow’s forum on women’s empowerment. pic.twitter.com/hx8gmAiGYY
— ??? Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) February 14, 2023
Among those present at the event were Paraguayan president Mario Abdo Benítez and First Lady Silvana Abdo, Belizean First Lady and Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children Rossana Briceño, Saint Vincent and the grenadines minister of foreign affairs, foreign trade, regional integration and the diaspora Keisel Melissa Peters, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.
Dr. Soledad Quartucci | Founder
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