It Does Takes a Village to Raise Children

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Argentina’s indigenous people living in Fort Mborore are a proud people struggling to maintain their language, customs and spirituality. They are concerned that their young people may have adopted the white mans’ way of life. The Guarani became extremely alarmed when two of the village teenagers killed themselves and another attempted to commit suicide. The villagers believed that this action was the direct result from the influence of modern day society.

Silvino Moreyra who is the head of Fort Mborore, blames “ the adoption of white man’s customs” as a direct cause to “a spiritual disorientation of the village’s youth”. He also believes the Guarani people have been corrupted by the ”sins of the white man”

In order to curb this problem and bring spirituality back into the lives of these youngster, Guarani and the village people jointly decided to put their teenagers under quarantine. What this means is that for 60 days no one under 20 years of age is allowed to leave the village and nor are they allowed to drink any alcoholic

To ensure that all residents abide by this rule, 70 people volunteered to patrol the village and it’s boundaries. The villager elders intend to extend this period if it proves to be successful. But how long this period should be extended to, is yet unknown.

I do not know what has caused these kids to kill themselves or to attempt to commit suicide, but I do believe that it seems very likely Guarani teens might have easily lost sight of their own spiritual upbringing by the influences of the modern world. If quaranting teens from modern day influences work and their spirituality is returned then perhaps we might want to consider a way in which can raise our own children with a bit more spirituality and a lot less consumerism.

Perhaps the Argentina’s indigenous people truly know what the meaning of “it takes a village to raise a child.” is.