Cateura Paraguay – a community of 20,000 people living in a landfill

In Cateura, a landfill community outside Paraguay’s capital, more than 20,000 people live and work among mountains of waste. It’s also where children grow up, go to school, and dream of brighter futures, often without access to even basic healthcare.

Earlier this month, GoodVision Paraguay, brought free vision screenings to the heart of Cateura. Dozens of children and adults received eye exams, many for the first time. Some squinted at vision charts, while others beamed in awe as they saw clearly with new glasses.

Among the most memorable moments:

• A 15-year-old boy, now able to see the blackboard in school
• A father who smiled through tears as he read small print again
• A sight-saving retinal scan led to surgery for a 12-year-old boy with pediatric glaucoma.

For many, this day offered more than clear sight. It offered dignity, confidence, and a renewed sense of possibility.