July 31, 2002 |
July 31, 2002 |
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Today's ECHO activities brought to you by
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 Unloading bricks |
 Boat at the dock |
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We began our day at the Port of Concepción on the Río Paraguay. We watched a boat unloading passengers and freight from Fuerte Olimpo, 400 km north of Concepción on the border between the Gran Chaco and Bolivia. Horses and wagons were waiting to transport the freight into town. |
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Camalote (floating vegetation) is seen moving down the river when it is hot in Bolivia and the melting snow caps cause the Río Paraguay to rise. The increased speed of the current tears the vegetation from the banks. The river floods every year with major flooding occurring about every 10 years. People are encouraged to move back from the river's banks. A dyke is being built to keep the city from flooding. |
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The ECHO 2002 group toured the Hogar Dulce Hogar (Home Sweet Home) school that is supported by donations and uses many American Field Service volunteers from around the world.. Monday through Friday from 2:00 to 5:00 seventy children congregate in a two-classroom building. Students learn English, Spanish and Math through stories, songs and games. No books are available for students to use. The children come from the poorest barrios of Concepción and are taught basic hygiene and given a place to bathe. These wonderful children tugged at our heart strings as they made small kites and danced and sang songs in our honor. |
