VK in Peru

Final Thoughts...

2006-12-23T18:41:00.000-05:00

The past two months have been extraordinary to say the least. I didn't know what to expect, but knew even before coming down here that I was going to have an incredible experience. Some days are easy to describe, other days are hard to put into words what I see, hear, and feel - even with pictures I feel like I am only capturing half the moment. Seeing firsthand the direct benefits and beneficiaries of the Coprodeli programs has given me a new found respect, appreciation, and admiration for those who help make it all come true. Edisa is bound for sainthood - her tireless efforts to correct, control, console, support, encourage, and love those boys is a type of selflessness I have never seen. Most recently, one of the boys, Campos was left behind - on the day where everyone got picked up or went home for break, he stayed - his mom never called. 3 days before Christmas and no phone call. Instead of going home to her family the next day, Edisa took Campos to Lima to walk around the Cathedral and municipal buildings, see all the Christmas decorations, and watch the people. They got home, had dinner and put in a movie. I came in about mid-way through, rather surprised to see them there. No matter how often this happens, I can't help but feel a near overwhelming amount of anger and resentment towards the parents. Campos is looking for a scholarship to study piano at conservatory and like many of the other boys, he won't be receiving any help or guidance from home...
These are good kids who, like any kid, needs love, direction, and support. They are so eager to love - offering big hugs and kisses at any time - its hard to understand how someone couldn't love them back. One of the girls the other day was really sad because she won't be going home to her immediate family for Christmas. Even though her dad hits her and her mother either screams or is totally negligent, they are her parents and she misses them. I can't even begin to comprehend, but try to be somewhat comforting. These are just a couple examples of the kids Padre Miguel has dedicated his life to helping. The brains behind it all, Padre is always looking for new communities to help, programs to develop, and people to bring it to life. The office feeds off his contagious energy and motivation - he has that uncanny ability to be everywhere at once even if he's not physically present. Because of Padre's efforts, these kids and families have an opportunity to make a better life - or simply, a life, for themselves. Its hard to keep up with him sometimes, but his leadership and inspiration is what makes Coprodeli a success.
My last day with the kids was full of mixed emotions. Feeling happy and fulfilled, yet sad to be leaving my new friends behind. They are used to having people come and go in their lives and were consoling ME as we said goodbye!! I have learned alot from them as well as from the various directors and staff. They provided a different perspective, a behind-the-scenes look into how these programs are run. As I've mentioned before, their dedication is also inspiring - working long hours, weekends to make it all come together. I used this blog as a way to share with others my experiences and my thoughts - I realize it probably only provided mere glimpses, just shreds of what I've seen and witnessed, but hopefully it was just enough to make readers want to experience it for themselves...
As Christmas nears, I am so incredibly grateful for the supportive, loving family and wonderful friends who encouraged me to make the jump and take some time to "live this life." I am a better person because of it, so to all those who helped make it a reality - GRACIAS! I can't wait for what lies ahead....

Last day with the boys....

2006-12-21T22:05:00.000-05:00

The boys also had a Christmas party that was put on by someone in the parish who always sees the boys and Edisa at mass. The morning was filled with last minute chores (washing sheets, folding clothes, packing bags) - once they were done, they were free to play. Here is Pablo in the middle holding the string for Miguel Angel and Campos...

The family brought music equipment and led the boys in Christmas carols....we blew up balloons, but they didn't last very long as the boys got a total kick out from popping them.

Here is Vega with the prized Santa hat...haha love his expression....

Here the boys are putting together a micro-mini car set they received as a house present. They wouldn't even talk to me as they were putting it up!!

The one posing with his hands is Freddy - hes graduating from the orphanage, so its quite likely the last time I'll ever see him. But he's definitely ready (except for the fact that he loves calling me mayonesa) , so its not a sad goodbye, but more a happy best of luck & keep in touch type of goodbye...

Group photo - about the only 5 seconds of the morning I was able to get them to stand still long enough to take a picture...

The family bought a soccer ball for every boy, so they were absolutely thrilled. This is them playing with their new toy - they're whipping the soccer balls at eachother, kind of like dodgeball, but every man for himself and no one was spared. It was like a warzone...

Last day with the girls....

2006-12-21T21:52:00.000-05:00

One of the Callao parishes who also support another orphanage in the area put on mini-show in the girls backyard. There was a dj, a clown, and obviously a Santa Claus. The festitives were held in the morning until about lunchtime. I stopped by for a couple hours to join in the fun and say goodbye...

They were energized, happy, and excited for the most part. Again, dancing is obviously involved - here we all are totally groovin'...

This is Janette - she's the oldest one in the house and is graduating this year. Her home situation is extremely difficult and her aunt can't support her, so there's really no where for her to go once she leaves the house. She's been living there for over 3 - 4 years so is familiar with all the rules, the girls, the way of life there. Instead of sending her out, Coprodeli will "hire" her to take care of the house and girls - whom better than someone who has been living there for years and has demonstrated an unbelievable amount of responsibility and maturity? She will continue to go to school, but will help Rosa and Betty (the two primary house keepers) with running activities, chores, helping with the girls homework, cooking, etc.

Santa! There was a barbie doll for every little girl and a purse for every older girl - it was so fun to watch them receive their gift and hug Santa!!

Amiga Secreta!

2006-12-21T21:09:00.000-05:00

Tuesday night was Amiga Secreta (aka Secret Santa) at the girls house. This evening every girl announced who their amiga secreta was. During the week they were supposed to write notes of encouragement or well wishes, or do something nice for their amiga. No gifts were exchanged, but it was more a celebration of friendship and companionship.

The house is fully decorated - Nativity scene, christmas tree and candy cane cut outs, Santa Claus, a paper mache type Christmas tree, and streamers decorated the house. Pictures from previous years' Christmas celebrations were also put up...the Christmas spirit was definitely alive and well!

Here is a picture of all the girls before the ceremony....Christmas is a happy time for some, but definitely not all. Not all the kids go back to their home - some stay with other relatives or good family friends. The hype of Christmas tends to illuminate the fact that there is something big missing from their lives, which is why they are brought here in the first place. The directors and psychologist spend alot of time with them this month, planning various activities and events to distract them from the rather ugly truth behind the scenes. There is significant amount of support from the community, either parishoners who get together and donate gifts or mini panettons and chocolate milk, or families who put on a small party for them. It was really neat to see the amount of activity and energy that has been going on these past few weeks, even the simple distractions were warmly welcomed.

This is Cathy - her birthday is in a couple days, but since they will be on vacation, they were celebrating it this evening. She didn't exactly have a cake; instead panetton, which is similar to our version of a fruitcake, but signficantly better. Peruvians first sing Happy Birthday in English and then do the Spanish version with more clapping - some of them don't retain any other English words but those used in the song!
Cathy's older brother, Jason, is in the boys orphanage - typically, if there is a sibling in the house, Coprodeli tries to keep them together - there are several brother sister and cousin pairs in the orphanages and CAEs.

This is Julia and Gloria - an amiga secreta matchup.

The party obviously included dancing - mainly salsa and reggaeton. I was copying them pretty much the entire time....these girls can move!!

Posing, obvi.....

Gabriela and I....she's adorable

Hahaha....I love this picture - so much going on at once - it was basically like this the entire time. In the front is Corpusa (I think thats how you spell her name) - she's trying to get us to join their picture / circle. In the back is Stefanny yelling for someone's attention. Then there's Carmen and Sandra is the one with the pink jacket who manages to sort of just fade in and out...

Tocando Cajon!

2006-12-21T20:29:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, five of the boys were invited to play cajon for an end-of-year party that was being held in one of the bigger clubs in Callao. They don't get too many opportunities to perform in front of an audience like that, so it was not only an honor, but quite nerve wracking as well!

Here we are on our way to the show, each of them holding their cajon....

The teacher is a professional dancer, a black belt in several types of martial arts, and a cajon player / instructor. He volunteers twice a week and comes to the orphanage to teach the boys dance (critical for when they go to celebrate quincinieras), cajon, and tae kwon do. As a kid he had ADD and in order to get him to concentrate on something and hopefully settle down, his parents enrolled him in a dance class. He was instantly hooked. Its unbelievable how patient he is with the kids. I watched several of their classes and he was lucky to get half of them to really pay attention. Not all of them are equally engaged in each activity, so you inevitably have some that are advanced in cajon, others in the dancing. But regardless, its a wonderful way for the kids to focus on something else, something fun, when school's out.

Here's the fab 5: Vega, Miguel Angel, Campos, Cruz, and Jose. The little guy on the end is not part of Coprodeli, but his teacher is friends with the other instructor. We borrowed him for the show - he's 3 years old and can play nearly as well as the bigger kids. So cute!

Cajon is supposed be accompanied by dancers and they dance according to the rhythm and beat of the drums. In this case, "Profe" tends to lead so the kids watch his movements while they feel / hear their beats....the two together are a beautiful combination...

Also in the show were the traditional Marinera dancers. This pair is a champion and won a big contest last year....the rest are a group in Callao that came to perform

This is a traditional dance from "la sierra" - there were about 10 guys and 10 girls, so it was quite a big group. The girls outfits were absolutely beautiful - the colors literally lit up the room. There was a lot of jumping and twirling going on and in the middle they had a load of "tunas", a Peruvian fruit that kind of looks like a mini cactus without the spines. I'm guessing it was a traditional dance to bring the harvest because they had the fruit gathered in a basket, then dispersed them, and later gathered them up again....whatever it was, it was very fun to watch!

End of Year Party!

2006-12-19T17:20:00.000-05:00

So much has happened in the past week its been hard to keep up! The school year has wrapped up so there are many end of year activities for the kids - everything from reviews with the psychologist and teachers, to exams, to the annual party celebrating the end of another school year. Not to mention some down time of just hanging out and chillin'. It has been a fun past couple of weeks to say the least!

Much of last week was spent preparing for the party - coordinating with the different centers transportation, schedules, directions, etc. I had the very fun task of helping the director of the kids programs (at risk youth centers, orphanages, padrinos coordinator) go shopping for the event. We bought soccer balls, volleyballs, beach balls, prizes, candy, and (my favorite) water balloons for the kids to play with day of. The celebration was at a huge park in Callao - there were jungle gyms, soccer fields, a zoo, a mini-stage and enough room for the kids to run wild. And run wild they did! Over 450 kids from the Coprodeli orphanages and at risk centers (CAEs) arrived bright and early (9 am) at the park. I mainly hung out with the boys and girls from the orphanages, so readers will likely see familiar faces!

Below are the pre-party pictures - everyone was up by the usual 6 am, ready and waiting for the 8am bus. The boy in the non-Coprodeli shirt is an orphanges alum. He graduated from the program about 2 years ago and visits every now and then to help out, visit Carlos and Edisa, and hang out with the kids. During the day, four of the older boys were pretty much glued to his side. It was pretty neat to see not only the companionship between them, but the "big brother" admiration that was quite evident.

Total mayhem on the boys' bus. This is what it looked like from the front - while the bus was moving! They were sooo excited it was about all we could do to keep them from jumping out the window!

It was HOT outside, especially with the kids running around. A guy was selling popsicles (think Flavor Ice) and a few of the kids were dying to have one...I made the mistake of buying a couple of them and within minutes kids were coming from every direction. We literally wiped the stand clean and it wasn't even noon yet!

We're taking a break. With me is Rafael, Evans, Luna, and Rosas. This is pre-water balloon fight, before all hell broke loose. We filled them up in the water fountains that were located throughout the park. I was thinking we'd start with a water balloon toss and go from there...oh no. Within about 30 seconds the boys were reaming them at eachother. At first they were hesitant to throw any at me, but they got over and by the end I was SOAKED from head to toe. After lunch they took the empty 2L pop bottles and filled them with water, snuck up behind me, and drenched me. Luis was on my side, but there wasn't much we could do against the other 8 or so who were against us. What a blast.

Gotta love the contrast between boys and girls. Here the girls are nicely playing in the park. I also gave them water balloons to partake in the fight, but they really didn't want to have too much to do with it....

The party included a show - here a couple of the girls bravely got on stage and danced to a popular Reggaeton hit, "Rompe". They were AWESOME - much better than the so called "professionals" that were hired. I was a bit surprised by the ones who go on stage - Brigette was a given, but Gabriela and Gloria are normally more shy - no stagefright here! We were all cheering - including the teachers!

CHOW TIME!! Lunch was pollo a la brasa - roasted chicken, french fries, a side salad, and pop. I don't think there was a french fry left.

This is Samantha. I met her on my first trip with Coprodeli in April 2005 and we've kept in touch ever since. She attends one of the CAEs in Pachacutec. Her dad left when she was young, her older sister has a little 2 year old boy - also a single mom. The sister doesn't have a steady job, the mom volunteers in the school as a cleaning lady. And despite the hardship, Samantha is one of the happiest little girls I've ever met. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up and one of her biggest dreams is to fly in an airplane and travel. Luckily, her mom and sister are behind her 100% - they don't want her to "end up like us" - they want her to focus on herself, her future, her dreams. I can't wait to see where those dreams take her...

Me and the girls.... :)

All things are not Peruvian...

2006-12-09T14:51:00.000-05:00

...and John Lennon lives. At least last night that was the case. The district of San Miguel in Callao organized a John Lennon tribute concert to honor the artist's life & music. It was free and interestingly enough the beer that sponsored the show (Pilsen Callao) was not served although there were ads for Pilsen everywhere. But then again, this is Peru. The show lasted several hours and various musicians / groups were brought on stage to sing the Beatles classsics - including the mayor of San Miguel! I guess he is a huge Beatles fan and was the main push behind the event. So we jammed to a bunch of Peruvians singing Beatles tracks and I have to say, they were pretty decent.
After the event we went for drinks at a nearby bar that had German microbrews. And while the Kolsch wasn't as good as the real thing, again pretty decent. And to round off my international culture sampling, I went to a Botero exhibit this morning. The pieces came from the National Art Museum in Colombia and was the first time most of those paintings had been in Peru. The focus of the pieces were depicting the pain and terror that has gripped Colombia these past few decades. Sad, but impressive - and real.
Tomorrow we are going to a huge market (think El Rastro in Madrid) about 45 minutes outside of Lima. The Peruvian version of bargain shopping...just in time for Christmas....

6-1, 6-3

2006-12-06T12:16:00.000-05:00

That would be the score of our tennis game on Sunday. Padre beat me, but I have promised revenge. I don't think its a fair match-up - he has God on his side...in Callao there are several public parks with tennis courts, basketball courts, and soccer fields that anyone can use after paying the 7 soles ($2.25) entrance fee. Unfortunately, they are not very well maintained, but we lucked out and found a decent court and net.

After playing in the hot sun, it was time for the beach. We took the girls to the beach in Miraflores - a relief to what has been so far, a sporadic summer. They all had hats (which came donated from Coprodeli USA clothing drive - note the Goose Island Brewery in the front!!), matching swimsuits, and t-shirts. They were sooo excited!! We loaded up the Coprodeli combi (which can fit about 16 people), Padre manned the wheel, and we were off. The girls sang practically the entire way there. As we got closer and the traffic got heavier, people just stared at our car packed with 29 girls and 3 adults...which only encouraged them to sing louder.

I wasn't planning on getting in and stayed behind to take pictures of them running into the ocean, shrieking when the cold water touched their toes, and laughing at one another. I tried to have them turn around, but they were much too busy running in the other direction.

Most of the girls didn't know how to float, much less swim, so after about 5 minutes of me attempting to take pictures, I got in (hence the lack of pictures). Instantly the little ones started to crawl all over me, hanging on as the waves rushed over our heads. Thankfully, the ocean was tame...

After the initial surprise / shock of being in the water wore off and each younger girl was taken out to the "deep end" at least once, we started to have floating lessons. Several of them got the hang of it, others either couldn't stop laughing or were just too nervous to let go. I was helping Elizabeth when this huge wave came over and she swallowed a huge gulp of water. Oops. She wasn't very happy with me...

It was finally time to go, so the girls dried off and loaded up the car. The ride wasn't very comfortable - we were sticky with salt, clothing was wet, and we were packed in like sardines. When we got back to Coprodeli, everyone showered, quickly had dinner and reunited in the office for a movie. It was movie night and Gladiator was the feature of the evening.

They had seen it before and the ones who I thought would be disturbed by the fighting and blood (like Susanna and Julia) were telling me what was coming next!! They brought with them a giant bag of animal cookies (think Costco, 5 lb bag) which was passed around the room.
By the end of the movie about 25 of the 29 were fast asleep. It was late - about 10 pm - and the girls get up around 5:30 am, so they were ready for bed. Exhausted and sleepy eyed, the girls sauntered out of the room. What a day....

School days, school days....

2006-12-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

Last week I accompanied Padre Miguel on a visit to some of the Coprodeli schools in Callao. He was there to say hello to the students as well as do a routine check-up on the schools condition - looking at the actual buildings, classrooms, furniture, etc to make sure things were up to par. When vacation starts, the maintenance begins - painting, construction, and repairs begin shortly after the New Year and are completed by the end of March, in time for the new school year to start. We were there with a member of the engineering team who was documenting all that needed to be done.

Watching Padre entertain the class was by far the best part. He walks into the room and the kids jump up with an enthusiastic "Buenos dias, Padre!" Its not often he makes a visit, so they are quite excited by his presence. He says hello, asks them what they are studing - sometimes quizzes them - and ususally starts a song of some sort. They are captivated by every word, giving him every ounce of attention.

As we were walking around the school grounds, recess started which gave the kids a chance to hug, kiss, and play with Padre. Again, absolute love and admiration for this man - and he was so patient as they asked 100001 questions at once.

Another classroom at San Miguel. The bookbags and additional school supplies are donated from their Padrinos, individuals generally from the US and Spain who financially support the kids' education. The cost? Just $1 / day ($360 / year) gives them an education, school materials (bag, uniform, supplies), books, glasses (if needed), and offsets part of the cost for food (which is also funded by USAID).
Would YOU like to sponsor a child? Visit www.coprodeliusa.org to learn more!

Hula-hooping during recess - this game never gets old!

Every center has a library - here a student is using his recess to catch up on some extra reading. The library is accessible to all students and they can borrow books at any time to take home.
Coprodeli USA is collecting books to renew and fill these libraries. Children's English books, Spanish novels & classics, and Spanish texts (math, literature, science) are needed. On December 17, Coprodeli USA in Chicago will be having a book drive - we would love and appreciate your support! Visit our website at www.coprodeliusa.org , or email me at vkeating@hotmail.com to learn more how you can help!

Two girls peering out as I was peering in...

Another classroom at San Miguel. The school was funded by a very generous donation from an international company in Peru. In addition to the construction and infrastructure of the school, the company donates money every year for maintenance & upkeep, which costs about $12,000 per year. The students have their own notebooks which they use for nearly all their subjects. Because school books are so expensive, the books are used for about 3 - 5 years and in order to keep them in good shape, the students write in their notebooks instead.

Gym class! The little ones are lining up into teams before their race begins. I was tempted to participate.... :)

Preparing for the future

2006-11-28T17:46:00.000-05:00

One of Coprodeli's programs - Coprodeli Empleo - focuses on job training and development. The three directors of the professional centers are Francisco, Bessi, and Gabriel, do everything from coordinating business classes to contacting companies for new hire placements to recruiting students for enrollment. There are three opportunities for students to enroll throughout the year and classes generally last for about 3 months. Internships are organized with the assistance of one of the directors following the completion of a course. There are no requirements or entry exam which is both good and bad. It encourages students to come, but during the holiday months (Oct - Dec) when companies are on a hiring spree, about 30-40% of the students leave school for work. When I went to visit the center, most of the classes were about half full. After the student has met the necessary requirements set forth by the Ministry of Education, they receive an official certificate of completion which can be presented for permanent employment. Cost: 50 soles ($15) per term. This is actually higher than what a similar public center charges (20 soles / term) because the government sponsors all the public school programs and maintenance. However, the Coprodeli center offers more variety in courses and job training and is more involved with the job placement process. Scholarships are given to about 20% of the students and Ministry of Education guarentees at least 6 scholarships / term.

Class offerings include everything from baking class (looking for a stove, blender, and oven in order to turn it into a full on cooking class), costmetology (looking for new salon style chairs to enable more students to work at once), sewing / clothing design (need new sewing machines), nursing & pharmacy (desperately need new texts on these subjects), entrepreneurship (desperately need new general business texts), marketing, computer (need new computers), graphic design, electronics, English, and jewelry to name a few.

Attendance IS tracked and if a student misses 2 consequtive classes, the teacher has to follow up. Before each term, all faculty and staff flyer around the neighborhood with the new class offerings. About 3-400 students matriculate each time they participate in this type of PR. Clearly quite effective in attracting people and it also gets the members of the school out in the neighborhood.

For students who are completing their courses, they offer classes such as Personal Marketing. This class goes over appropriate dress code, manners and etiquette, protocol, the importance of a resume, how to follow up after an interview - all standard Career Center offerings. I sat in on a lecture and was quite impressed how interactive and engaged the students were. The picture to the left caught my eye - how to properly sit while wearing a skirt.

Another important part of the Empleo (job) program is Incubusiness, which focuses on entrepreunership / the creation and development of a business. The idea is to have one "mother" business that then spawns off smaller jobs. One "mother" is CoproNet that utilizes Linux, a free software system designed to be an alternative to Microsoft Windows. New variations and additions to Linux make the system more competitive and more compatible to what most people are used to. CoproNet works on improving Linux to fit the needs of businesses and schools, installing the system in these institutions, and providing technical support. They also work on security issues (i.e., hacker prevention), Internet control (installing website restrictions), and courses to help transition the system into the market. Dani , the dude with the long hair, is head "WebMaster" and in charge of directing the CoproNet efforts. Gabriel, as mentioned above, is one of the directors of the overall Empleo program.
Similarly, CoproVivir is another "mother" business that focuses on housing developments and construction. Coprodeli's idea is to provide dignified and affordable housing to those who couldn't otherwise afford it - one of the many forms of supporting CoproVivir is through the Touchstone program where support from a donor and the Peruvian government help provide the funds necessary to provide a house for a family in extreme poverty. And in line with the efforts of developing the community from within, CoproVivir hires local labor to man the construction efforts - providing housing and employment to the community.

The story of Luis Taco is the definition of a Coprodeli success story. Luis arrived in Pachacutec in 2000 with his wife and two kids and a used truck he bought from a friend. Quickly he heard of Padre Miguel's plan to build a church, schools, and homes for the families of Pachacutec and offered his truck to help transport materials. Bit by bit he started to help in the actual construction efforts - with no previous carpentry experience he learned quickly. Coprodeli at this time was hiring an outside contractor to primarily be in charge of the construction efforts. Luis learned the work and was eventually hired as the primary contractor. He hired and trained workers (local labor) and his core team is now 8 - 10 people large. He took business courses offered by the Empleo center, including financial management and planning. His first loan from MiBanco was for 1000 soles, ($320) that helped fund badly needed materials – wood, nails, etc. His next loan was for $1000, then $2,000. Most recently he applied for a $5,000 loan. Before approving his request, MiBanco came to Pachacutec to visit his work shop, evaluate his short term plans, finances, etc. Two and half weeks ago they offered him a $10,000 loan of which over the next two years he will pay off at $700 per month.

His story doesn't stop there – his oldest daughter, Yessinia, 18, is preparing to take the entry exams for medical school. After medical school, she would like to dedicate her life to service – enter a monastery and practice medicine for those who couldn't otherwise afford it. His other daughter, Stephanie, 15, would like to follow more in her father's footsteps and become an engineer. His other children – Jose Luis, 7, and Maria 2, are too young to have career plans, but will at least have the opportunity to dream – and dream big. Luis is “forever indebted for the opportunity Coprodeli has given him. There was no work when I first came to Pachacutec – I had to invent work to do, which is why I started by volunteering my services transporting materials....Coprodeli has given me and my family a life – practically everything. I don't know how to repay Padre for the opportunity he has given me to have a new life and to God for giving me a second chance. His energy, idealism, and ingeunity is contagious and keeps me motivated...” And THIS is just one example of the CoproSuccess story.

Beachfront madness

2006-11-28T16:37:00.000-05:00

Two weekends ago I took the girls to the Punta to hang out, soak up the sun, and play. For the rest of the week the boys complained that I love the girls more, that I never take them anywhere, that they want to go too, etc. OK. So Sunday I took the 11 boys who didn't go home for the weekend to the beach. They each grabbed a hat from the closet (the sun is wicked harsh here, as I found out for the second time) and were running out the door before I could even grab my keys.

Unlike the girls who walked in two or three giant packs calmly, they ran down the street, smacking eachother on the back, racing, kicking the soccer ball in and out of the street. I had about zero control and they totally took advantage.

I love this shot - here are Marcelino, Campos, and Jason. The three of them walked together, arm in arm, for almost the entire time.

When we arrived, the boys quickly changed and ran into the water. Most of them aren't very good swimmers and thankfully they stayed in shallow water. Cruz, the one to the far left, was by far the most fearless. His dad taught him how to swim and he proudly showed off his skills. He wanted to go cliff jumping. NO WAY - not with me!

Practically like seals, they would come out of the water to warm up, dry off, and then would dive back in again. This beach only had rocks - no sand - so while it was difficult to walk, it was quite comfortable to lay down. I was master keeper of all the cool rocks and by the end, we had too many to carry home. I told them we'd be back and we can dig for cooler rocks and hermit crabs...a promise they will obviously not forget.

This is Michael (pronounced Mitchell). He's the oldest, mos responsible kid. He didn't get in, so him and I talked the whole time. I asked him to tell me about himself - anything - and that was all it took for him to open up. He talked about his first soccer coach who taught him how to play goalie, his past soccer teams, his previous schools and houses before coming to Coprodeli, his plans for when he leaves, his dreams about studying in the US - across the board. I just listened as this normally pensive, quiet kid came out of his shell.

This is Cruz and Campos playing in the nearby park. They were like little terrors running through the park. Again, zero control!

Pablito on the monkey bars. Him and his brother, Jose (below) are totally adorable - they are always smiling, happy, polite - so cute. Pablo is 6 or 7 and while friendly, he tends to keep to himself alot. He has 2 micro mini cars that his brother gave him and he plays with those. He's also at the age where imaginary friends are great company. He has trouble at school, but tries hard - one of those that needs a little more coaching / extra help.

CHICAGO PRIDE BABY! Saving the best for last....I nearly flipped when he put this hat on. All I gotta say is you don't see any Yankee or White Sox caps around, clearly proving our dominance at an international scale.....

This is Jose - just as cute as his Pablo. What I love most is how he takes care of his little brother without being overbearing or pushy. He watches out to make sure he's OK - checking up on him every now and then, but leaving him be to do his own thing too.

So that was the day at the beach. I was exhausted by the end - they seemed to be more energized than before. I don't know how they do it!

Happy Turkey Day!

2006-11-24T10:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, a holiday unique for the US, a day set aside for us to reflect on all that we are grateful for in our lives. On Thanksgiving we spend the day giving thanks and remembering our blessings we have had over the past year. The day is about sharing - sharing company with good friends and family, sharing food with one another, sharing laughter, sharing stories and memories, sharing friendship and love....all of which can be celebrated anywhere in the world, at any time, not just on a specific day.
It was my first Thanksgiving away from home (although I was fortunate enough to spend it with family) and I was a little sad about it, but as a good friend pointed out to me "...a day like today and being away from your family will actually make you more thankful for everything that you have in your life...you really have to appreciate everything...that has allowed you to follow this course in your life." And he couldn't be more right. The phone calls and emails from friends and family helped me focus on the fact that I have so much to be thankful for. Thankful to those who love and support me, who have given me this opportunity to be here & now, who have confidence and faith in me even when I might lack it, who continually encourage, motivate, and inspire me in various ways to ultimately be a better person. For all that and more, I am truly thankful - yesterday, today, and everyday when I am constantly reminded that I am so very lucky.
I realized I needed to take a step back and reflect on where I am and what I'm doing here. I am surrounded by kids and families who despite all the cards stacked against them, are thankful for the little they have in their lives and take solace in the fact that at least they have eachother. I am surrounded by boys and girls who love and accept me as if I had been a part of their lives from the very beginning. I am surrounded by amazing people who work so hard every day to provide a better life for those who otherwise wouldn't have a chance. All of these things embody the spirit of this great holiday, Thanksgiving.

Girls turn!

2006-11-20T18:43:00.000-05:00

Sunday night was pizza night for the girls. It was a blast - and just like the boys, we were starting from square 1. Few had ever eaten pizza before, much less make it, and they were thrilled to do it all. The older girls came with me to the grocery store and were the ones responsible for putting it all together. Their approach couldn't have been more opposite from the boys. Although the boys followed by directions (sauce, cheese, ingredients) they more or less just threw it all together. Not so for the ladies. They carefully measured and spread the sauce so that it evenly covered each and every space of the pie. They lightly sprinkled the cheese, making sure to leave about 1 inch for the crust. The ingredients were evenly spaced - I mean, so meticulous even I was impressed!!

Same drill regarding the oven - we took it to the bakery around the corner and paid 35 soles (about $10) to use the oven. The owner was totally confused and asked me to return within 15 minutes because he had no idea what baking a pizza entailed. No problem - I wasn't quite sure about the conversion, but told him to set it to 200 C (about 400 F - my first mistake - oops) and I'd be back. When I returned, the owner and his crew were just staring at the pizzas blankly, like they were from another planet - he had no idea what to with them. I had to laugh out loud and take a picture. Slightly charred, but plently good to eat, we trucked back home, pizzas in hand.

Reaction was the same as the boys - first silence, some picking apart the pizza to see if they liked the individual ingredients, others diving right in. Overall, a hit - thankfully we had more than plenty to go around and unlike the boys, even had leftovers. And I had just enough leftover stickers to pass out one for each - trading went on for about 15 minutes before they were satisfied with what they ended up with.

After they were done eating, they graciously thanked me, clapped in unison until I turned beat red (in addition to the sunburn) and asked when they could do it again. Seriously, they are so eager to try anything and happy to please, I wish I could do it every day.

Sunday was also salon day at the girls house. Two of the girls' moms came over and cut their hair. They don't get paid exactly, since the parents have to give at least 30 hours of volunteer support throughout the year and this was their contribution. The new dos were stylishly sported that evening with headbands, barrettes, and ponytails. They looked great!!

This is Suzana sporting her new 'do. Cut a little short, but cute as always. Suzanna was the little girl I wrote about a few weeks ago who had several behavioral problems / outbursts. Good news to report - she seems to be doing better and behavior has been improving. The psychologist talked to the rest of the girls and asked them to be patient with Suz, congratulate and encourage her when she behaves well, kindly correct her when she steps out of line instead of yelling at her. When I asked how she had been behaving she happily told me that most days shes good...except for couple days last week when she didn't do her homework. But no bedwetting and no hitting!!! progress!! She pinky swore that this week would be even better and since I was returning on Thursday to help the girls with their English homework she was to give me a full report. I love this little girl - her hugs are strong, her heart is big and her eyes are wide with eagerness. I can only hope that this recent turn of good behavior goes on for more than just a couple weeks, that Suz keeps her pinky promise and that despite all else, she knows she is loved...

Bragging rights

2006-11-19T14:16:00.000-05:00

Sunday was election day - more than 16 million Peruvians voted in the municipal & local elections. This includes officials for the town, city, province, and region. Here voting is a big deal - people are fined if they do not vote, and they really get into it, so the turnout is quite high. Moreover, people have to return to their hometown to vote - there is no absentee ballot or online voting (though they were considering it). Many had to travel long distances in order to cast their ballot - one girl in the office traveled 12 hours each way! One wonders how many choose not to vote because its less expensive than the costs incurred to travel...Two main focus points are education and jobs. Public schools are terrible in Peru and for the past two or three years, education has been in a state of emergency. Teachers lack formal training, accountability, steady pay. There is a law currently in debate to turn the public schools over to the municipal governments - which would probably only worsen the situation. Private schools are not much better - many of them are run out of peoples homes, but at the very least, provide more individual attention. Election results were topic of conversation - I didn't have much to contribute, but it was certainly interesting to listen to!

On Saturday I witnessed part of the training sessions given to the older kids in the boys & girls orphanages. These sessions help the psychologists and directors evaluate the kids to see if they are ready to graduate / leave Coprodeli and return home. There are various exercises - everything from sherades to writing samples - to determine if the child has the confidence, stability, emotional and mental readiness to be removed from the orphanage. It also helps structure the follow up sessions that are done once the student is back home. They stay in contact to make sure the student is in school, will graduate on time, plans on getting a job, etc. If not, there is intervention - and possibly a return back to the program. I stood in the background and quietly watched. It was interesting to see - no big surprise who stayed quiet, who led, who talked without hesitating, except for one. They were playing sherades and Bryan (left) had to act like Cinderella. Imagine a 13 year old boy having to act like a princess in front of girls and boys his age or older. For some that would be terrifying, but Bryan took it in stride. He had trouble at first, but with some encouragement from his team, ended up doing a great job. It was pretty cool to see the positive interaction between the students - and pretty gratifying to see this type of program and structure work.

Weekends at the boys orphanage usually means home or family visits - as long as they behave in school and at the house. This weekend all the boys went home - except one. Daniel (the one in the towel) just turned 13 a couple weeks ago and still wishes he was 12 so he could still act and play like a kid instead of having the expectation to be little more mature. He is a little reserved, but his smile is infectious. Hes been here for a few years now - no dad to speak of and his mom couldnt adequately provide, so he and his sister came to Coprodeli. When he was little, there was a fire in his house (accidental) and burns cover a good majority of his body. Whats incredible is the confidence and normalcy he displaces - he doesnt seem to be fazed or feel awkward about his appearance at all. Since Saturday and Sunday were going to be days with the girls, I took Danny with me. We picked them up and went for a walk to La Punta (the point) of Callao where there is a playground and the water is shallow enough for them to wade in. At first, Danny was excited to go, then almost went home because he was surrounded by 20+ girls...he walked in the back and kept to himself, letting the girls skip and sing by themselves. I cant imagine too many boys who would participate in that either! Once we got to la Punta, they all took off their socks and shoes, rolled up their pants and dipped their legs in the cool water. This was a first for the year and they were thrilled to soak up the sun and play. Even Danny joined in on the rock throwing and splashing contests. They could have stayed for hours more, but finally we had to go...
Danny and I dropped the girls off then went back to our house to play games and watch tv. He kept checking the clock and as the time wore on, got quieter and quieter, no longer talking. Finally at about 8 pm he gave up. He excused himself for a few minutes - I am pretty sure he was crying - then came back to finish the game. It was heartbreaking. The next day we woke up early and went for a run, meandered through a couple neighborhoods noticing the long lines of people voting, talked about the latest reggaeton hit, Sunday's soccer match up, our favorite candy...slowly, Danny was sharing bits and pieces of himself. It was like a turtle coming out of his shell. We hung out the whole day and late in the afternoon went to the girls house where he was once again surrounded by nearly 30 girls. This time it didn't take long for him to warm up to them.

Later that evening, when we were back home and most of the boys had returned from the weekend, instead of being down about being the only boy in the orphanage who didn't go home, Danny bragged how he got to spend most of the weekend surrounded by girls, went to the beach and dipped his feet in the water, went for a run around town, and had the girls asking for him after he left. He was beaming with satisfaction as the boys verified his stories with Edisa and I and once they got confirmation that he was telling the truth, gave him pats on the back. Danny was smiling ear to ear as he recounted the weekend's activities and had the boys attention for more than just a few minutes. Eventually the boys settled back into the usual routine and turned on the tv to catch the tail end of the game, but for a night, Danny was the center of attention, the cool kid in the crowd, instead of the one being left behind....

Dedication

2006-11-13T17:54:00.000-05:00

So far I´ve been in awe of the kids here - their love for life despite even the worst of circumstances, their smiles, their mischievious ways, their compassion - it goes on. But what I haven´t mentioned or talked about are the people who make it happen. The various program directors and staff work long hours (by US standards even) and some commute over 1.5 hours each way, every day because they truly love what they do and believe in what Coprodeli does. They are constantly thinking of new approaches, new ideas, new opportunities to expand or improve their specific program or responsibility. They work together, bounce ideas off one another, research, investigate, write, call - they move fast, capitalizing on an idea before it disappears into that place where good ideas sometimes go.... Many times they are successful - I was actually in the office when they found out they had just received a grant from a proposal that was submitted last week. Cool. Other times not so much - but even then they document what went wrong, process it, and include their learnings for the next go around. Last Friday I came to the office around 9 pm with one of the boys in search of a movie for the evening...a few of the directors were still here, working as if it were 3 in the afternoon. Granted, we all put in long hours, regardless of the profession. But to see firsthand the fruits of their labor is inspiring.

When I go out to Pachacutec, I normally go with one of the head engineers (Julio) and the director of the housing program (Marlith). Julio chats with the team, inspects the work thats been done, makes note of odds and ends that are still outstanding, and provides direction and advice as needed. Marlith is the primary contact between the office, recepient family, and sponsor. She monitors the progress on the Touchstone home (see picture to the left) and is an integral part of the Coprodeli team at large.

Flor is in charge of the Padrinos program and coordinates all key events with the kids. In October they had their annual Olympics - all schools, CAEs, and orphanges participated. They were divided up into teams by center and played games like volleyball, soccer, tug of war, and balloon toss.

So heres a shoutout to all the hard working teachers, directors, staff, and volunteers who help give these kids a fighting chance at a better life. GRACIAS!

Pachacutec - Thursday 11/9

2006-11-10T12:31:00.000-05:00

Thursdays trip up to Pachacutec, the shantytown where Coprodeli also focuses their efforts, was busy busy. There is alot going on - various construction efforts (homes, schools, church), programs (social clubs, after school activities, meetings), and services (medical attention, food, education). Part of my job here is to act like a reporter - capture events and activities that go on oustide of the day to day routine. This job sounds easier than it is - there is a ton happening here!! Every day I am learning more specifics about the programs - how they are run, who they serve, what resources are utilized, what the long term plan is for the program, year end objectives, etc. I take my camera and notebook everywhere - and my shorthand has developed into a Spanglish combination that would horrify my Spanish teacher to no end. I´m in the process of writing my first report and trying to decide what story to write about first seems to be my biggest problem.

The two photos to the left are snapshots of the Pachacutec area. These shanty huts are typical of the community where over 100,000 people reside. They are made of reeds strung together. Most of the dwellers are here illegally, but since they have no where else to go, they come in droves. Actually, there was a group of people huddled together and when they saw me taking the pictures, started to swear and scream at me - they thought I was a newsreporter or government worker who was going to report them to officials. I quickly got back in the car...

This little girl is a Coprodeli student - she looked at me hesitantly and then smiled before turning around and meeting up with her siblings. The students go to school from 7:45 am - 5:30 pm, which is about 3 hours more than the public schools of Peru. Classes go until about 3:30, then they either do homework or participate in one of the clubs / after school programs Coprodeli offers, which includes English, Computer, Jewelry / Arts & Crafts, Music, Chorus, Theatre, Cycling, and Electricity. At least several of these activities are offered everyday - and many more are needed. A director at one of these schools would like to put to put a formal after school center together - ping pong tables, chess, puzzles, etc. - anything to give them another option than hanging out on the street.

Thanks to generous grants from organizations like USAID, Coprodeli can provide longer school hours and the nutrition necessary to sustain their energy all day long. Students, teachers, parents who volunteer at the schools, and some family members are fed lunch and a snack. Here is one of the newer comedores (cafeterias) during lunch time. The students go in shifts by grade level so there is enough space to sit.

Just a few pictures of the construction efforts currently going on. This site will be the home of 4 new classrooms - workers are working quickly to get it all done by Christmas and definitely by the new school year.

They just finised building one of new buildings for the CAE program which focuses on high risk youth. This program provides them an education, food, clothing, books and school materials, and psychological counseling.
This little girl is another Coprodeli student in Pachacutec. I must've taken about 10 photos of her alone - I thought she was just precious.

PIZZA NIGHT!!

2006-11-10T12:02:00.000-05:00

Wednesday night was pizza night at the boys orphanage - and what a blast. It was the first time any of them had made pizza before, and for many of them, the first time they had ever eaten it. Each table had a set of ingredients - pizza dough, sauce, cheese, mushrooms, onions, peppars, ham, pepperoni, and another vegetable similar to cucumbers. They´ve all seen pizza before, so I thought that they would be able to put it together....in retrospect, rather silly of me. So I told them how to do it step by step - first sauce, then cheese, then the other ingredients.

At first they put the sauce and cheese sparingly - not knowing how much they would really need. After a bit of encouragement, they applied everything more generously. They made the pizzas in shifts - the older ones started things off and the littler ones finished with the details. Then they all took one last look at their labor before it was taken to the ovens. That was another thing - they all thought it was cooked in the microwave! Not sure why, but it took some convincing to that it would taste better if cooked in the oven.

There is no oven in the house - too expensive to use - so we had to go to the bakery around the corner and borrow their oven. How long? When is it going to be ready? 20 minutes seemed like eternity.

Finally the pizzas came through the door and the room filled with fresh baked goodness.....I showed them how to cut it in slices, we said grace and then dug in. I ate with my hands - they insisted on using forks and knives. They knew you were supposed to eat it without utensils, but couldn´t get past the awkwardness even though I did.

When they first started eating it was total silence. I think they were half processing what to make of the flavor in their mouth and decide if they liked it or not. After the first few bites, came the smiles...kid approved. Here´s a meal we could definitely repeat! Again, I don´t know who enjoyed it more - me showing them how to make pizza, or them eating it!

Now of the girls....

2006-11-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

STICKERS! Quite a hit - thanks Judy!

Yvonne completing her Saturday chores...a total gem. She´s so sweet and being one of the older ones, very responsible. Cruz, from the boy´s orphanage, is totally enamored with her - yesterday he was telling me how the minute he saw her smile it was like Cupid had hit him with an arrow...awwww

The girls also love to be photographed - even more so than the boys. Here are Claire, Stephanny, Elizabeth, and Ana. Both Elizabeth and Claire are leaving the orphanage at the end of the year, Claire will continue to be educated through the Coprodeli schools in Pachacutec; Elizabeth is going home and will continue to go to school in her town. They are both a bit nervous to leave the orphange, but have been working with the director (who´s also a psychologist) to be mentally and emotionally prepared. Thankfully their family situation is alright...they want to do well for themselves - and I have no doubt they will.

Amigas - Veronica, Yvonne, and Gabriela. They LOVE to dance and were teaching me a few moves...they sort of keep to themselves, do their work, talk about boys, standard girl stuff....

The one laughing is Stephanny - she´s the one I wrote about the other day. I love her laugh - she´s such a happy girl, one would never know her family story. Her younger sister is a lot like her and they get along well, despite the 2 or 3 year difference. We having a ball - as you can see!

Sandra and Marcielo...two of my favorites (I know I´m not supposed to have any...) Sandra struggles a bit in school, but tries hard. She´s quiet at first and then really opens up when she´s comfortable. She loves the camera and was thrilled when I gave her pictures from last May - just like Betty (one of our volunteers from the spring trip) had promised to do (thank you, Betty!). Marcielo has a younger sister in the orphange - Gloria. The two of them are beautiful little girls - so well behaved, wonderful personality, friendly, and really sweet....un encanto son.

Finally some pictures!

2006-11-08T09:17:00.000-05:00

Took a while, but I will now be able to include pictures on all my entries. Here are just a few of the boys - girls to follow.

They LOVE posing, but here´s one of them just being goofy and hanging out. Mitchell is the one in the yellow tshirt - he´s the most responsible one, always helping clean up, cook, or do whatever is needed. The boys totally respect him for it - he´s kind of like a big brother to them.

Here are two of the 3 stooges - one of the twins, Evans, and the other is Pablo. Together with Williams, they are totally adorable - and total trouble makers. Yesterday they skipped class, left school early, didn´t do their homework, and picked on a few of the boys. The day before they didn´t behave well in school either. So we had a chat - I asked them what they did and they told me everything - no shame there. Its hard to be stern with them - in the morning they jump up in my arms and give me a big good morning hug and kiss...I mean, how can I resist???

Here the boys are playing soccer in the backyard before dinner. Rafael is the one in the middle - soccer stud. They had the Coprodeli olympics before I came and he scored 75% of their goals. I tried to get some shots of his bicycle kicks, but they didn´t come out very well. Rafael´s a good kid - picked off the streets, about 3 or 4 grades behind, and kind of quiet...until you get him talking and then he can´t stop. But he wants to do well, just needs a little more confidence

These boys are great - the Jose Luis is in the middle - quite mature, does well in school, loves to read. He and I are starting a book club - I´m hoping a few more want to join in after a few sesions. The other two are total joksters - I sat at their table last night and it was constant jokes...where did you learn so many? From the gum wrappers!!! Love it.

Williams reading - he´s the third part of the trifecta. Here we´re in the library picking out the books for story time. They each get to pick one, which is quite a process. They normally end up reading one in the library, discuss which ones they want me to read, pick a few more (just in case I want to read, you know, like 8 that evening) and then crawl into bed. I sit in a chair in the middle of the room...honestly, one of my favorite parts of the day.

Heartbreaker

2006-11-06T09:11:00.000-05:00

Saturday - girls day - was fantastic and sad at the same time. I came sort of as a surprise and was immediately greeted with shrills and "Vanessa, you came back!! You said you'd come back and you did!" and 100001 hugs and kisses. Wow - helluva a way to start the day, huh? After a while, they settled down to whatever they were doing before I caused all the chaos - homework, playing outside, arts & crafts, helping with chores. Much quieter than the boys, I must say.
A while later I went back inside to see if Sra Betty needed help with lunch preparations...and thats when my heart sank. I heard screams and fists pounding a closed door, legs kicking, wails and some choice vocabulary. What was going on??? Sra Betty explained. Susanna, now 7, was having a tantrum. But not your typical, "I want what shes having" tantrum. Susanna has been living with Coprodeli for a couple years now. Her mom hasn´t come to visit her in months and Susanna aches to see her. Thing is, its probably better that she doesn´t visit her - she isn´t fed or bathed and is taken to inappropriate places - parties, and the like (all of this the directors found out after questioning Susanna what she did when she went home). Typical of situations like this, Susanna has started to act out - hitting other girls, causing trouble, wetting her bed. The psychiatrist has been working with her and among other things, trying to convince her that home isn´t a good place for her, but it hasn´t been easy. How do you make a 7 year old understand? The crying and kicking and screaming went on for about an hour - I had to go outside beacuse hearing it was just too awful. She came in a bit later and joined the group for lunch, sporting her contagious smile and glowing eyes. This little girl is a hoot when shes´s in a good place - the night and day difference was almost unbelievable.
Another one, Stephanny, pulled me aside and asked to talk privately. She´s 12 and has a younger sister also in the girls house. They are well behaved, loving, and studious. Unfortunately, her mom wants to bring them home because she believes her "problems have been resolved." What problems I asked? They really aren't her problems, more like her fathers. He drinks, occassionally works, but not often. He abuses their mother and screams at the kids. One time, while the mother was pregnant, he threw a brick at her. Stephanny jumped in, pushed her mom aside so the brick wouldn't hit her, and it ended up landing on Stephanny's foot. Close call. The girls are terrified and are convinced things aren't better and the directors have talked to the family to keep them in the orphanage. The father won´t meet with them and the mother is being pressured by him to demand that they come home. Legally, Coprodeli can´t keep them against the parents will, so they are working on it, but its not looking good. Stephanny didn´t expect me to do anything, she just wanted someone to talk to. And like her, I am sure there are many...
The day wasn´t all sad - we played volleyball, danced, etc. They asked about the boys - asking what they did, if they were well behaved, etc. Again, I am a messanger and was asked to give notes to a couple of them....delivering them is the best part. The boys blush and grin and stuff the note in the pocket to escape the ooos and ahhhs. I offered to arrange a party for all them - a pre Xmas party or something - and they loved the idea. That should be fun.
Last night I spent some time with Edisa, the boys house mother. This woman has the patience of a saint and has literally dedicated the rest of her life to these boys. The success stories push her to continue - one of them, Guillermo, graduated from the program, finished school and started working. He´s now saving money to go to police academy and fulfill his dream of becoming a policeman. He came back and visited Edisa not too long ago, to share his excitement. Another one was not as ambitious. He left the program with only 1 month left in the school year. He´s back home, on the streets, but enjoying himself. He also came back to visit Edisa, and when he left she kept asking herself what she could´ve done differently, why did he go the other way? You can´t win em all, and some, even when given the opportunity, still choose another path. But she does what she does because there are those who just need a little hope and motivation to make a better life for himself. And that makes it all worth it.

Birds and the bees

2006-11-04T09:22:00.000-05:00

Last night´s dinner was quite entertaining. Since the boys have assigned seating, every day I sit at a different table so that I not only get to chat with each of them, but also so they don´t think I´m playing favorites. These kids just crave love and affection, and whether I realize it or not, they keep tabs on me and eachother...So the dinner conversation somehow went from their favorite subject in school to girls. What do girls like, they asked me. Mind you, most of them are 8 - 13 and very impressionable. Respect was #1. Love, kindness, patience, boys that can dance, etc etc. Then Christian, who´s 11, mentioned he used to have a girlfriend - Yvonne - and they´d talk and go out for ice cream, but since he never had enough money to buy even one ice cream to share, he´d buy crackers instead. And how´d you meet Yvonne? On the street, he said, before Coprodeli. Ah ok....so do you see Yvonne anymore? Nope - now that I´m here, I don´t see her. But my life is better here, so thats ok. I go to school, have food.....and the girls are better too!! To which all the boys around us started laughing....just another small reminder that these "street kids" are given a chance here - and they get it. He also put me in charge of giving an anonymous valentine to his current interest, Gloria, who lives in the girls orphanage. Last week there was a quinciniera (15th birthday celebration for girls) and they were invited. He wanted to ask her to dance, but it ended before he could ask her, so he´s sending a valentine instead. And it was a Britney Spears valentine, no less.
This morning came quickly for us - 5 of the boys and I went for a run at 6am. They have morning chores to complete, so we had to get it in early so they could be back in time. Unfortunately, not all of them could come - only those who had behaved well with the pyschologist, participated and done well in class, and behaved during the week were allowed to come. I don´t know who was more excited - them or I. I was up by 5, and they knocked at my door promptly at 5:58. The run lasted for about 20 minutes before we had to walk because Carlos´ shoe was giving him blisters. So we walked, took in the somewhat fresh air, and chased the birds. Callao used to be a key military port and its still active, so theres a good number of ships and subs around. We watched the boats, climbed on an old cannon, and pretended we were captains of the ships and fighting against Chile. We walked home, talking and laughing and playing soccer with the stones the whole way back. The two hours passed by in no time. When we returned, the select 5 quickly joined the rest of the crew completing their chores when we returned - washing thier clothes, preparing breakfast (the older ones), sweeping the floor, etc. Edisa assigns these tasks, because they won´t always have a washing machine or someone else to do their laundry, or cook for them, so its good for them to know how to do these basic things. Uniform of the day: jeans and a plaid cotton shirt. There are no classes on Saturday, but their day is still somewhat structured. Breakfast, then the psychologist comes at 9 and meets with some of the students. They do any homework they might have, read, etc. before lunch is served at 1. After lunch, some of them will go back to their families for the rest of the weekend; the rest will stay with Edisa.
Today I am spending the day with the girls. They have a simliar Saturday planned, but only 1 or 2 of them go home to their families. Unfortunately, my Ipod hasn´t been recharged for them to listen to, but my camera is good to go...

Hot topics

2006-11-03T18:14:00.000-05:00

Interesting lunch today...met up with a good family friend for some fried guinea pig (which is delicious, minus the head and innerds - I kindly gave those up) at a nearby restaurant. Joining us was colleague of his and one of the candidates for mayor of the town. Nice to hear they were not only familiar with Coprodeli, but very pleased of the work we´re doing and spoke highly of the organization. Currently, the Peruvian congress is debating a new law that they say will make NGOs more accountable because they will have to respond to the government. Theoretically, it sounds like a good idea because there are some 3,000 NGOs floating around in Peru and only about 300 of them are properly registered, certified, accountable, etc. However, in reality, if the government starts to get intimately involved in the way these groups are run, there inherently lies the risk that they will start to manipulate how NGOs use the funds so that they best suit their programs and best interests. For organizations that are in good standing, abide by the rules, use the money appropriately and are accountable (like Coprodeli) it could affect how they finance their various projects...will ultimately have to be something we work around / with, throwing another log in the fire. Anyways, this was the topic of conversation for part of the lunch, of which we didn´t really come to an agreement per se, but just tossed around arguments back and forth. Interesting to say the least...

Forgot to mention in my previous entry about my visit to Pachacutec, the shantytown of Peru where Coprodeli also works. There was a meeting with the families who are involved with the Touchstone (habitat) program. Pachacutec is an area of over 100,000 people - they live in reed huts, strung together by tarp and cheap string or any other materials they can scrounge up. These people are totally marginalized by the government - most basic needs of food, water, and shelter are not met without someone fighting on their behalf. The habitat program works with the Peruvian government, the recepient family, and a donation from a sponsor in the US to build proper housing - out of bricks, with a proper roof, etc. So the meeting was for those families who´s house has already been built and with those who´s house is about to be built. Extremely interesting that the majority of the deed owners were women.....It was nothing short of awesome to meet the families whos lives are about to change forever, and hear from those who have already received this incredible opportunity. We passed several of the Touchstone homes and some of them were already putting on additions to the original structure!!! The pride they have in their new home is bar none. And it doesn´t come free - not only do they have to pay for some of it, they have to put in hours (or $250 worth) of sweat equity. I will be up in the area next week and will take pictures - hard to put into words, but hopefully I´ve set the scene somewhat....

A first time for everything....

2006-11-03T10:10:00.000-05:00

After several requests from friends and family, I have succumbed to the blogging trend to share and document this little adventure I will be taking for the next few months. I finally arrived in Callao, Coprodeli HQ, early Wed morning and definitely woke some of the kids up as I was dragging my suitcase up the stairs...oops. My home for the next few months is in the boys orphanage in Callao. I am greeted in the morning by 26 smiling faces "Buenos dias, Senorita" and in the evenings when I return "Buenas tardes, Senorita". They open doors, carry anything I have in my hand (usually just a notebook and pen), take hold of both hands / arms, and properly greet me with a kiss on the cheek. Talk about gentlemen!! I spent most of Wednesday hanging out with them - cards, board games, ping pong. Just last week someone donated a new ping pong table - it sits in one corner of the ´backyard´ where it is properly stored and folded up when not in use. Edisa, the house mother, allows them to play only when someone is around to watch over them to make sure they´re playing nice. Apparently, they´ve already lost / destroyed a few ping pong balls....boys will be boys. I gave them my Ipod and they listened to it until the batteries ran out. They love Juanes, Shakira, Daddy Yankee, Pearl Jam, and the Rolling Stones. They did not appreciate my country music, but oh well....
That evening we watched Lord of the Rings (yes, Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen are just as good looking when speaking Spanish) - their reactions are priceless - A SU MADRE!! WOW! - and of course, a couple of them have to reenact the battle scenes. A few of them go to mass, which is optional on weekdays.
They set the table, bring the plates to the table, say grace together, and dig in. Complete silence. They each wash their own dishes before helping themself to some ice cream. Without being told, they only take 2 scoops - no more - before returning to their seat. Once more, silence. Ice cream is a treat and they are savoring each bite. They wash their own dishes again, clean the table, put away the tablecloth, and start to get ready for bed. I am given a kiss goodnight, before they race eachother upstairs. The rooms are set up hostel style - bunk beds, 12 or 14 boys in each big room, everything neatly stored away before going to bed. Impressive how well behaved they are - no doubt there are days when Edisa is not so lucky.
Not a bad first day...