Carmen Mercado, a resident of Itá, set a clear goal: to build an additional room to improve her family’s well-being. Through consistent effort, the support of her partner, and the motivation provided by the Duermo Feliz (Happy Sleep) contest, she succeeded in transforming both her home and her life. Her achievement not only improved her living conditions, but also symbolized the power of collective effort, community organization, and personal determination. Like the stories of many other women across Paraguay, Carmen’s journey shows that small steps can lead to big change.
Until recently, Carmen and her daughters shared a single room. A situation often taken for granted was clearly highlighted thanks to the Poverty Stoplight, a tool that helps families visualize their living conditions and make informed decisions to improve them. Motivated to take action, Carmen began buying building materials little by little, while her partner took on the task of constructing the new room.
The turning point came with her participation in the Duermo Feliz contest, an initiative by Fundación Paraguaya designed to inspire women across the country to transform their sleeping spaces as a way to bring dignity to everyday life. In this edition, 22 finalists—all members of women’s committees supported by the foundation—embraced the challenge of building a space of their own where they could sleep with pride.
Carmen and her committee, Toledo of Itá, won the contest following an online vote that engaged thousands of people. As a prize, Carmen received ₲5 million, and the Toledo Committee also received the same amount for their outstanding teamwork and community spirit.
“Today I can say I have my own room, and my daughters have their own space too. That changed our mood and our way of living,” Carmen shared, visibly moved.
Her story is also the story of her fellow committee members, who played an active role in making that dream come true—showcasing how solidarity among women is a powerful tool for social transformation.
Thanks to her community’s support and the guidance of Fundación Paraguaya, Carmen was able to “turn green” the Separate Bedrooms indicator on the Poverty Stoplight—a meaningful step toward better living conditions. Her journey is living proof that when there’s will, organization, and support, personal growth becomes a reality.
