Our History

Trustees

We are Jon and Kath Bowyer, married for 11 years and Dad and Mum to a wonderful daughter. Jon works in pest control and Kath is a full time primary teacher. We are passionate about the work in Paraguay and the girl’s home, having seen first-hand the amazing difference knowing the Lord and having a safe place to live means to the girls. The support they are given provides not only the necessary material things but spiritual discipleship in living with the Lord for life.

We met when we went out on short term mission to Paraguay from our respective churches. The Lord works in amazing ways. We came back engaged and with a passion for the country. 11 years on, married and with a 10 year old daughter, we still feel that passion for the work in Paraguay and continue to raise awareness so others may hear, pray and support the work of OSA.

Chairman & Trustee respectively

Although nominally Chairman, Laurie is mainly involved in administrative matters and spends many hours in front of a computer screen. His favourite task is preparing & distributing the Update newsletters which tell of our current progress and needs. Sue, with her background in helping young people make career choices is responsible for Safeguarding in the charity’s work.

Our son was one of the four lads from Aldridge who, as teenagers, asked Phil, our Founder, to organise a trip to Paraguay, working as volunteers in a small village, back in 2001. This started the ball rolling for annual visits to Paraguay by teams of volunteers on building projects and we came on board in 2005.. By then we were hooked by the country, the people and eventually the project in Quyquyhó. After that it was just a matter of time.

We have seen tremendous progress since our first visit to Quyquyhó and the subsequent establishment of Operation South America as a registered charity. Each year has brought new challenges and successes. We know that the work has made a significant difference to the lives of a number of young people and that is reward enough. We hope and pray that the future brings more of the same.

Founder/Trustee & Committee Member respectively

Phil usually goes to Paraguay once a year to work with Osvaldo and Marie-Luisa who run the home. Due to his long association with Paraguay, he is able to advise on issues pertaining to the work there. He is also involved in fundraising and speaking to interested groups of people about the home. In addition he takes groups of volunteers out to Quyquyhó.

Liz, together with the other committee members, helps to ensure that the right decisions are made to meet the needs in Quyquyhó and generally tries to organise Phil, not always an easy task.

Phil felt The Lord calling him to Paraguay nearly thirty years ago to go out and work as an associate missionary with the South American Missionary Society. During this time he met Osvaldo who was working as a driver. From 2002 Phil started to take out groups of volunteers and later found out that Osvaldo was running a luncheon club or comedor for poor children in Quyquyhó and financing it out of his own pocket. Phil realised that Osvaldo needed support for this work and with the help of friends and Aldridge Parish Church, OSA began in 2007. Osvaldo and Marie-Luisa discovered that many of the girls were being abused, which led them to open up their home to alleviate the problem. Later, with the help of donations and a legacy, land was purchased and a safe house became available to help these girls develop a future.

Committee Member

My visit to El Puente was a life-changing experience and my inspiration to join the OSA Team. During my month’s stay Osvaldo and Marie-Luisa welcomed me with open arms. I was drawn to the Paraguay way, the attitude of the girls and especially warmed to see how God is working within the Home. This was instantly something I wanted a deeper connection with.

As a result, on my return to the UK, I worked for 2 years for a Christian organisation, supporting young people who have experienced sexual exploitation and teaching in local schools about the risks of sexual exploitation, internet safety and about healthy relationships.

As a follow on I am now studying for a degree in Social Work. I hope all of this will equip me with greater knowledge to benefit the girls. I am eager to help educate them since my last visit!

I would like to have returned to Quyquyhó by now but I have since become a mother. I hope to visit Paraguay again very soon and maybe, one day, my daughter will be inspired to get stuck in too!

Trustee

My wife Ela and I visit the girl's home in Quyquyhó every year. We are both learning Spanish and spend a lot of our time talking with Osvaldo, Maria Luisa and the girls regarding committee matters. Ela works with small groups of girls and teaches them sewing. I sort out the monthly budgeted spend with Osvaldo and Maria Luisa. We love Quyquyhó so much we have brought a house there!

Phil, our founder, spoke about OSA during a service at Aldridge Parish Church at a time when we were both looking for something to get involved with. Our imaginations were captured by the people there and the work that goes on in the children’s home. Since then we have visited Quyquyhó every year.

As the requirements for the work in Quyquyhó changes we hope we can be useful in supporting the work of OSA both here and in Paraguay. We have a house in Quyquyhó and are learning Spanish to enable us to be helpful in an ever changing, Spanish speaking environment.

We look forward to seeing the work continue and meeting new challenges as they arise, also to seeing the girls of the home turn into young women of the community. We hope to make a difference in the lives of the young people of Quyquyhó.

Committee Member

After growing up hearing all about Operation South America, how it started, how it has grown and all the stories behind it, I naturally jumped at the chance to go out to Paraguay when the opportunity arose in 2011.

My first trip was just over two months long and changed my life. I got to experience a life that not many people do and was fortunate to get stuck into projects that would improve the lives of many out there. I made many friends and have memories that will last forever.

When I came home I was asked to join the management team of OSA, to which I immediately said “Yes”. Three of my main passions in life are children, travel and helping other people, and being a part of OSA gives me the opportunity to pursue all three at once. I have been lucky enough to go out to Paraguay again since and hope to return one day.

Treasurer and Trustee respectively

Leo has been an OSA trustee since 2012 and took over the role of Treasurer in 2015. As a retired qualified accountant, Leo’s main role is to ensure the financial side of the charity is operated with integrity and complies with Charity Commission requirements. Leo also enjoys the fund raising side, especially when being the quiz master at the OSA Curry and Quiz events.

Angie joined Leo as a trustee in 2013 and has been involved in developing the Safeguarding policy to protect the children and young adults in our care. She also helps with monitoring enquiries generated through the web site.

Leo and Angie made their first visit to Quyquyhó in Paraguay in 2014 and plan further visits in the future. They were both blessed greatly by seeing the work first hand and feel privileged to be part of God’s work in Paraguay, and seeing how the prayers and financial support of a number of supporters can change the lives of a few girls in a distant country so dramatically.

Deputy Chairman and Trustee

My main role is supporting the chairman and the rest of the committee and chairing most of the meetings. I have recently started to take on a budgetary role arranging the financial transfers of the charity to Paraguay. I am also responsible for the issuing and counting of our churches OSA collecting boxes.

My work in Paraguay began in 2003 before OSA was formed, volunteering by doing building work for the Anglican Church. I fell in love with Paraguay right from this first visit and since then have made many trips and also many friends. I was involved in the forming of Operation South America and believe very strongly in the work that is being done out there by the charity.

I feel our work is extremely important in providing care and development for our girls and support for the young people in Quyquyhó. We have expanded this work with a new multi-user centre that has teaching and computer facilities.

Additionally working to provide a future for children in Paraguay I see as a priority. Our new way forward is to work alongside the Ministry of Children and Adolescents and the local courts, with children who have been removed from their own homes for a variety of reasons (safety, poverty, abuse etc.). Our aim is to work with these girls and their existing families, or maybe find other families more suitable, to prevent the need for them to be in short or long term residential care. Worldwide it has been proven that children respond better in a family, than even in the best homes or orphanages.

If you are interested in finding out how you can get involved with OSA then please fill in the form below.

Operation South America is kindly backed by the following people & organisations:

Friends of El Puente

Aldridge Parish Church

Stony Stratford Community Church

Rupert & Sam Parsons

We can’t thank you enough for your on-going support.