(Courtesy Susana Barúa)
Every act of volunteering makes a difference. But when people join forces to change the world for the better through giving, the power of love is unstoppable. It’s a force that is so profound that it leaves both volunteers and the ones they’ve helped with joy.
With Good Deeds Day approaching, an international day of volunteering founded by businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison, people around the world have decided to do good, including in Paraguay. One Paraguayan woman is a testament to how many lives can be touched through volunteering, and the power of volunteering when instilled as a family value.
Volunteering as a Family in Paraguay
Susana Barúa, a Good Deeds Day coordinator in Paraguay, knows the immense capability of volunteering to create positive change when carried out together. Barúa has made it her mission to volunteer and help people from all walks of life, together with her family. “I see ourselves as small drops of water that, when joined with other drops, form giant waves of love that flood the lives of others,” Barúa told Goodnet. According to her, it’s hard to put into words the feeling one experiences during activities fueled by love.
Barúa has embraced volunteering along with her daughters, who have also become Good Deeds Day volunteers. “Bringing kindness into our daily lives has been a great opportunity for us, as it has become a way to teach our daughters by example. Gradually, they stopped being just companions and became active volunteers for Good Deeds Day. Mili, my oldest daughter, loves children, and Sofía, the little one, loves animals, so volunteering has become a lifestyle for them since they were young,” she added.
(Courtesy Susana Barúa)
Bringing Smiles and Healthy Meals to All
Barúa has undertaken several initiatives to give back in Paraguay, such as We Are What We Eat and Spreading Love and Painting Smiles. She said she always carries out activities as a family. The activities have taken place in Bañado Tacumbú, one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in Asunción, Paraguay's capital.
In this community, the challenges are immense, with emotional support a significant need due to the difficult living conditions. It’s here where many residents also rely on collecting recyclable materials from a nearby landfill. Unfortunately, addiction issues also add another layer of hardship to the lives of families here.
But Barúa and her family are making a big difference and sparking hope. “We prepared healthy food for the elderly in the community, and those who could make it to the Amucoes Center enjoyed a delicious lunch. For those who couldn't make it due to different circumstances, we started the adventure of taking long walks to their homes to bring them a healthy lunch and genuine love,” she explained.
Barúa’s daughters, Milagros and Sofía, along with their schoolmates, also organized activities with children. They taught through play, painting, and singing about caring for the environment, including recycling, since most residents work in the recycling industry. As a result, shyness faded gradually, and smiles brightened the children's faces.
(Courtesy Susana Barúa)
The Positive Ripple Effect of Volunteering
Volunteering creates lasting ripples of positive change. “Being family volunteers strengthens family unity, as well as values like empathy, solidarity, love, respect, trust, and humility,” said Barúa. The impact of volunteering has had far-reaching effects, beyond her own family.
“Happiness doesn't consist of the big things we possess but in the small actions we take: hugging, caressing, laughing, dancing, and singing with these people who really need our time,” said Nilda Aguilera, a volunteer.
Barúa has met volunteers of all ages in Bañado, who strive daily to improve the quality of life for inhabitants. Good Deeds Day has provided the opportunity to create positive change through volunteering to help those in need around the world and in the Paraguay neighborhood.
“They've also learned that by showcasing their work through Good Deeds Day, they're creating a cascade of positivity for their lives and those in Bañado,” she said. This comes as Good Deeds Day takes place on Sunday, April 6 — with around 115 countries participating in the global movement.
(Courtesy Susana Barúa)
