Education that opens doors and breaks down barriers
In the heart of the city of Concepción, Pedrito, a child with a disability who lives with his grandmother, was able to access his right to education.
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In the heart of the city of Concepción, thousands of stories intersect every day. Among them is that of Pedro Brítez (8 years old), a child with a disability who lives with his grandmother, Andresa, and who, since last year, has been able to fully exercise his right to education.
Through the Let’s Go to School! project, in coordination with the Municipal Office for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (CODENI) of Concepción, Pedro was able to enroll in and attend school for the first time.
Pedro is in second grade, enjoys playing football, and is known as an abuela memby—a commonly used expression in Paraguay that refers to grandchildren who are raised by older adults and whose care is assumed by them.
After the death of her daughter, Andresa Ramírez had to assume the responsibility of caring for Pedro. Amid the pain of this loss, she sought support through the CODENI of the Municipality of Concepción to become her grandson’s legal guardian, as established by law. This step allowed Pedro to enroll in school and enabled Andresa to be fully involved in all aspects of his life, exercising her rights and responsibilities as his legal guardian, and guiding him toward becoming an autonomous person capable of facing life’s challenges in the future.
But the journey was not easy. At first, Andresa was told that it would be impossible for her grandson to access education because of his disability. The news broke her heart, but it did not stop her from continuing to knock on other doors. CODENI—already working in close coordination with the Let’s Go to School! project through staff member Jovina Medina—played a key role in ensuring that Pedro was ultimately enrolled in the Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Basic School in Concepción.
“It is heartbreaking to think of him growing up illiterate, without knowing or understanding anything,” Andresa recalled, referring to the door that had initially been closed to them. However, thanks to coordinated efforts and the respect and commitment with which the case was handled, she expressed her gratitude for the support received, which restored her hope. “I am very grateful, because I never imagined Pedro would be where he is today, and I want him to move forward,” she concluded.
José Díaz, a social facilitator with the Let’s Go to School! initiative, accompanied Pedro throughout his integration into the education system and reaffirmed that access to education is a fundamental right of all children and adolescents, without exception. To this end, close coordination with CODENI and the mobilization of various local actors were essential in creating opportunities for Pedro to build a better future.
Pedro’s teacher, Feliciana Martínez, adopted a personalized approach to support his learning, initially focusing on developing his psychomotor skills and strengthening his oral communication.
For me, both personally and professionally it was very rewarding to be part of this, to support Pedro and to see how he continues to improve day by day.
The Let’s Go to School! project is an initiative of the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC), implemented in partnership with UNICEF and the Education Above All Foundation of Qatar. At the local level, Fundación Alda and Global Infancia support the implementation of the project through actions that promote the identification, enrolment, retention, and learning of children and adolescents experiencing educational exclusion.
Through intersectoral collaboration, institutions such as CODENI, among others, contribute to identifying situations of exclusion and working jointly to ensure that children and adolescents can return to school or enroll for the first time, thereby guaranteeing their right to education.
