Hosted by Lawrence High School and Lawrence Free State High School

Lawrence, Kansas

Mirtha Silvana Aramí Riveros Alvarenga Silvana is a 17-year-old student from the city of San Lorenzo. She attends private school Los Tulipanes in her hometown and is in 11th. Grade. She studies English at the bi-national center (CCPA). She has been teaching English to children in her home since 2005. Last year she took part in a debate called, “A Paraguay le falta libertad?” Such project was about freedom in Paraguay and the current situation. She is very mature, outspoken and has a great personality. Silvana enjoys reading very much (Kakfa, Edgar Allan Poe, Tolstoy). She is an idealist who would like to establish a new political party, “because politicians only want to win elections and don’t care about people”. [Hosted by Parendi Birdie @ Lawrence High]

Ever Gerónimo Ruíz Díaz Rojas Ever is a 16 year-old student from Asunción and is a sophomore at San Miguel Garicoits School. He has been studying English for 4 years at CCPA. Ever likes politics and enjoys watching political debates on TV and is very up-to-date with current Presidential Elections in Paraguay. He also likes to dance typical Paraguayan music and likes to cook typical food from our country. [Hosted by Kyle Grimes & Daniel Viacva @ Lawrence High School]

Thirza Elfriede Klassen Thirza is 17 years old and comes from the Mennonite colony of Filadelfia, Chaco. She attends Colegio Filadelfia and is in 11th. Grade. As a descendant of Mennonite immigrants, Thirza is fluent in German, Spanish and English. She enjoys playing the organ and is an active volunteer at “Hora Feliz”, a program that goes on every Saturday afternoon and benefits indigenous Indians of the Nivaclé tribe, where her father also works. Thirza and 10 other volunteers organize various activities with the children. She is currently working in Asunción at a daycare center where she will stay until the end of her summer break. [Hosted by Justine Ahle @ Free State High School]

Jazmín Larroza Jazmín is a 17 year-old student from the city of Santa Rita in Alto Paraná. She is a senior at Centro Educativo Integral Alemán Staufenberg (C.E.I.A.S). She is a self-taught English learner and practices speaking with some of her American friends. She loves to dance Paraguayan typical dances. As part of her community work, she also teaches English to children in her community. She says that she “would like to show Americans our culture, traditions and customs as well as the positive aspects of Paraguay like its countryside, hills, food and the kind people of Paraguay”. [Hosted by Morgan Nilhas @ Lawrence High School]

Luis Bernardo Recalde Ramírez Luis Bernardo comes from the city of Yaguarón in the department of Paraguarí, where he attends Nuestra Señora de Fátima School and is in 11th. Grade. Luis is 16 years old and is also a self-taught English learner. At his young age, Luis is currently writing a book about how Paraguayans live. With a winning and clean personality, Luis has participated in a variety of community projects and social service. He was given awards such as: “Niño destacado del año” (2004 and 2005) “Niño genio del Paraguay” (2005) and “Hijo dilecto de Yaguarón”. [Hosted by Carolyn Dinsdale @ Free State High School]

Alhelí Aranda Alhelí is a 15 year old young musician from Asunción. She currently attends 10th. Grade at Asunción Escalada Public School. She’s been studying music for seven years and English for one year at the Ministry of Defense Institute of Languages. She plays the guitar, viola and piano. She also teaches classical music and loves composer Claude Debussy, as well as abstract music. Alhelí knows about Paraguayan folk music and would like to pursue her musical career in the US. [Hosted by Morgan Sherve @ Lawrence High School]

Guido Germán Caballero Servián Germán is a 16 year-old student from Asunción and is a sophomore at San Miguel Garicoits School. He is a hard-working young man who excels in his studies and has a part time job in a medical equipment company to help pay for his English classes. He has been studying English for two years at the CCPA. Germán is currently taking music, acting and dance lessons. As part of his community service activities, he participates in “Teenagers for a linked world” since he was a little boy. Activities include maintenance of public spaces, collecting goods for the needy and giving advice to drug and alcohol addicts. [Hosted by Amanda Jones @ Lawrence High School]

Dalmalia González Núñez Dalma is 17 years old and comes from the nearby city of Luque, where she is a senior at Silvio Pettirossi public school. She considers herself an actress and is involved in her theater group at school and has won some recognition. She also loves to recite poetry and is very outgoing. Her social work includes activities in the church where she is member of a group called “Exodo”. This group does various religious activities to help people in need. Dalma has been studying English for four years at the CCPA. By being a Youth Ambassador she would like to “get a universal vision of the world”. [Hosted by Lindsey McDaniel @ Free State High School]

José Amilcar Oviedo Bareiro José is a 17 year-old student from the city of Capiatá. He goes to Saturio Ríos Public School and is a junior there. José is a young and talented musician who composed and copyrighted his own ballad song. His main hobby includes composing songs and playing the guitar with friends which he does as part of his community service at the neighborhood chapel during Mass services. He would like to become a youth Ambassador to become part of the “enterprising people that tomorrow will guide the country to a better future”. [Hosted by Alexandra Hare-Schreiner @Free State High School]

Nathalia Lorena González Barbosa Nathalia is 18 years old and lives in the nearby city of Ñemby. She attended San José Apostólico School. She recently graduated from high school and would like to study journalism. As a talented singer, Nathalia enjoys singing typical songs from Paraguay. Last year, she wrote a poem about life that was published and commented in one of the local newspaper. As part of her community service work, she has worked for “Ñemby en desarrollo”, a project in charge of local development in her community. Nathalia believes in “cultural integration and understanding of the countries as a way to achieve world’s development”. [Hosted by Amanda Bari @ Free State High School]