Sponsor's update from Esperanza, Peru

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Esperanza, Peru from Winter 2008.

Dear sponsors!

What is Christmas? It's the tenderness of the past days, the meaning of today, the hope of the future. We are so pleased to give to you our best regards and wish you joys and blessings this season.

Like we every year do, we would like to tell you about our goals and expectations for the years to come. The Children's Village shelters currently 106 children, while 14 children moved to their biological families and continue to be supported by the organisation. 4 young people are already in their way to the independent life: Elba (18) will soon become a nurse and has still enough time and energy to attend dance and English lessons, as well as to work as a volunteer at a public children´s shelter, where she has showed a big sense of responsibility and sensitivity. Occasionally she babysits. Peter (18) is following the career of Graphic Design, while working part-time at his uncle´s restaurant. He continues to practice his favorite sport, football and he is also does voluntary work together with his sister Elba. Rosa (18) will be a nurse as well and Geraldine (18) attends a Commercial Aviation Institute.

For the second year in a row the scout group ‘AISOS Esperanza’ carried out several activities, and a new group called ‘Los Castores’ (The Beavers) for children between the ages of 3 and 6 years was formed. Their moms take also part in the activities through the Scout Group Counsil, monitoring the work and activities of the three scout groups, and organizing activities such as camps, bonfires, hikes, etc. We also promoted the acquisition of new knowledge through the agreement with the NGO Generation ACTS Club International, thanks to which the number of children and adolescents attending free English lessons increased from 8 to 15 in two groups: Kids Alive (children under 6) and Youths Alive (16 to 19 years old).

In February we took part in the festival organised by CONADENNA (National Committee for Children and Adolescent Rights) together with other organizations supporting the development of Peruvian childhood. This festival promotes the exercise of fundamental rights as well as the participation. 18 of our young people performed the theatre play ‘Silence isn't good’, which was selected as the third best performance of the festival. 5 youths took part in the drawing and painting competition in different categories, with good results.

After their participation in the CONADENNA Festival, our young people organized the first Youth Festival called ‘Defending ourselves against sexual abuse’, using different communication techniques such as mimics, theatre plays, singing, games to keep people informed about how to protect themselves and their children against sexual abuse, to distinguish certain suspectful attitudes, recommending them not to keep quiet, as well as to be careful when chatting in the computer, to keep personal information private. Phone numbers were made known, of organisations providing support through free calls.

Growing up at Esperanza, Peru

The socioeconomic diagnosis was concluded in the neighboring areas, which has allowed us to obtain financial resources for the defense and protection of the rights of 150 children coming from the communities of Huayaringa and Nuevo Cupiche, province of Huarochirí. This work will be very helpful to prevent the abandonment of children between the ages of 0 and 5 years.

In June, 5 of our mothers, together with 34 mothers coming from SOS Children´s Villages throughout the country, were officially appointed as SOS Mothers, thus following the same path as heiresses of Helen Didl, the first SOS Mother in the world. They happily and proudly celebrated this special day surrounded by their children and friends.

This year the VI SOS Artistic Festival took place in Huancayo. 16 children and youths from our Children's Village had the opportunity to walk in a colorful parade through the main streets of Huancayo city and to perform the dance ‘Los Chunchitos de Yauyos’ at the festival. This is a satirical Peruvian dance where a powerful couple tap could be appreciated.

There was also a choir contest, with the participation of 12 children and youths from the ‘La Voz Juvenil de Huarochirí’ band, who besides showing their talent are planning to start a musical business project. After their successful performance they were invited to take part in different local events, such as the celebration of Mother's Day in the Human Settlement of Huayaringa, the award of a donation in the Human Settlement San Juan de Nuevo Cupiche, and fundraising activities of the SOS Children's Village in Zarate, Lima.

In the framework of the program for environment development and protection, an agreement was signed with HSBC, thanks to which educational projects will be financially supported for a period of five years. One of the projects approved is called ‘Sustainable Environmental Education aimed at children and adolescents from the Community of Ricardo Palma’. It started in October and will last three years. Aim of this project is to protect the biodiversity of the area through the implementation of a botanical garden, and of an ecological garden nursery, but most important, offering the children from the Children´s Village and from the community an environmental education program. In the future this project is expected to sell organic products from the garden nursery to supermarket chains.

Events at Esperanza, Peru

In July Sandra (07), Dora (09), Janet (09), Nataly (10), and Cristina (12), enthusiastically began to rehearse to take part - together with other 45 children and youths - in a family musical play called ‘Mundo de Todos’ (Everybody´s World) under the direction of the renowned Peruvian actress Gloria Maria Solari. The play, dealing with topics such as Children´s Rights and Inclusion, started showing in October and offered 6 performances where - according to its slogan - ‘children didn´t shout their rights, they sang them’. The girls were very excited about performing for a big audience at the traditional ‘Teatro Segura’ in Lima. This was a big experience for them, which has highly contributed to their personal development and to enhance their social skills and improve their self-esteem.

In July, after two years of hard work on behalf of children, the Committee for Children Protection was renewed through an internal election process and the participation of children and youths from the Children´s Village. They not only took part in the election process but also in the organisation of this big event. They voted and elected their representatives, a mother and a co-worker, who are now members of the new committee. In order to raise funds for the work of the newly elected authorities there was a Bingo game and a fair with many friends and relatives as guests.

In August and in coordination with the NGO ‘Acción por los Niños’ (Action for Children) and the DEMUNA (Office of the Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents) in Chosica, a countrywide workshop aimed for mothers and aunts called ‘Prevención del abuso sexual en niños y adolescentes’(Prevention of sexual abuse in children and adolescents’) took place at the SOS Training Centre. In our efforts to work in close cooperation with the community we established an alliance with the National Educational Institution José Antonio Encinas, thanks to which the Youth Group ‘Impacto Juvenil’ was founded formed by young people from the community who come together in order to discuss about topics of interest for them, as well as to be trained through workshops and conferences dealing with topics like Sexual Abuse Prevention, Team Work, etc.

Javier joined his SOS family together with his full brother. He was very reserved and quiet. He could hardly start a conversation with other people and it was difficult for him to make new friends. His SOS mom then took him to therapy sessions he required and made him take part in activities organized by the scout group. He gradually overcome his fears and become more sociable and friendly. A few months ago he was selected to take part in the National Meeting of Children and Adolescents promoted by CONADENNA. We were so proud and happy to have him as our representative at the meeting, and to see him improve his social skills and beat his fears that prevented him to freely express his feelings and opinions.

And that was what we wanted to share with you. We are confident that joining our efforts we will be able to help the children and youths be prepared for a successful and promising future.

For good moments, gratitude,
For bad ones, big hope,
For every day, a dream,
And forever, happiness!
In the name of the children, families, and coworkers, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2009!

Yours faithfully

Juan Reátegui Ballón
Director - SOS Children´s Village Esperanza