Itaugua, Paraguay -- Norma Mendoza could not hold back the tears as she surveyed the park designed to help her students walk unassisted. Her voice broke with emotion as she thanked all those who had brought her dream to fruition.

Norma is the principal of the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Itaugua, a small town about 45 minutes drive from downtown Asuncion. It cares for 55 children from Itaugua and the surrounding area.

The park is a first for Paraguay and perhaps for Latin America designed with curving paths, curbs, and minor obstacles to help the students to learn to navigate the outdoors with the use of a cane. This is an important breakthrough in a country where the blind are traditionally thought incapable of coping outdoors alone.

The project arose from a partnership between the local municipality, the Global Peace Foundation of Paraguay, and A Todo Pulmon, an environmental group dedicated to reforestation in Paraguay.

Four local schools came out to support the park opening and there were traditional songs and dances from the children. Everyone stood for the National Anthem and prayed the Lord’s Prayer in a simple unaffected way. The mayor spoke as did one of the students and the representative from A Todo Pulmon.

GPFF’s international president. Youngjun Kim said the organization’s vision of One Family under God meant embracing those with disabilities and securing their dignity. Noting that the mayor had called the park a miracle, he said, “a miracle doesn’t just happen; people have to work hard to make it happen.”

A Todo Pulmon donated 100 trees that were planted in the park and another 3000 that will be planted in parks throughout the area. As part of its culture of service initiatives, GPFF recently signed an agreement with A Todo Pulmon to have young people plant trees in parks and open spaces around Asuncion.

The town officially named the park, “Plaza Fundacion Paz Global,” or “Global Peace Foundation Park.” A total of ten parks in the area will be similarly named in recognition of the tree planting work undertaken by the foundation.

Meanwhile in Itaugua’s new park, as the crowd dispersed from the opening, children were already testing their skills with a cane on its paths.