A space for the wholesale market kids

Every winter finds us on our travels – we go and see the people who farm our raw ingredients, and we visit Lemonaid & ChariTea e.V.’s social projects. In the winter of 2016, we packed our rucksacks and headed off to Paraguay.

Our arrival in Asunción saw us driving through a night of apocalyptic storms on streets that had turned to rivers, heading for the children’s centre “Ñande Rekoha“ (“Our Space”), which is supported by Lemonaid & ChariTea e. V.



This project, a place of refuge and education for the market traders’ and workers’ children, is one of the charitable organisation’s very first projects. The warm and kind coordinator, Elisabeth Gavilan, has been our point of contact from the outset.



Her project has a place at the heart of Abasto, the central wholesale market for fruit and vegetables. A chaotic and highly fascinating place, it is a riot of different colours, smells and sounds.



In the midst of this melee, where child labour is still an everyday occurrence, children and teenagers between 3 and 17 can find a safe space for education, medical care and – last but not least – human contact, play and fun.



During this visit, as during the last, we were so impressed with the hospitality and practical expressions of charity we saw, and were proud to be able to carry on supporting Ñande Rekoha’s important work with the proceeds of our drinks.



Hasta luego, Abasto!