Sponsor's update from Rio Hondo, Peru

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

Dear sponsors:

Kindest regards from the SOS Children´s Village Río Hondo, which currently shelters 106 children from 12 families. Besides, we keep on supporting 40 young people who are now going through a phase of decision making with regard to their professional life. Thanks to their own effort and industriousness they are gradually achieving their goals. During the first months of the year the children enjoyed their summer holidays going on family trips to the beach. School started in March and they were glad to see their school mates and teachers again. Two young people joined the Peruvian Army as volunteers. They visit their SOS families monthly and are very proud to serve their country. A young lady has recently become the mother of a cute baby girl. What a joyful event it was for the family, especially for her SOS mom!

By the end of June co-workers of the supermarket chain Plaza Vea - Risso (Super Mercados Peruanos S.A.) visited us and shared with children and families a wonderful day. They played and had lunch together. It was hard for them to say good-bye to their little friends. A sweet smile, a big hug and a kiss were the unforgettable thank-you they took with them.

In July we celebrated our 30th anniversary, surrounded by many good friends and local authorities, such as the Major of the neighboring district of Santa Eulalia de Acopaya and the Group ‘Trascender’, formed by students of the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, who financed the construction of the sports field as well as the painting of the swings. They were led by Mr. David Fishman, one of our most recent SOS Ambassadors. In a special ceremony, our children and youths thanked this valuable contribution giving them self-decorated photo-frames.

Children growing up at Rio Hondo, Peru

After several weeks of rehearsals, children from the dance group travelled to Huancayo, to take part in the VI SOS Artistic Festival, where they marched in a colorful parade around the main square of the city, and performed the dance ‘Los Cañeros de San Jacinto’. It was a hard task for the jury to choose a winner, since the performances were all outstanding. In September over 320 children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 17, leaders of 18 Peruvian regions, gathered in Lima city to take part in the XI National Meeting of Children and Adolescents organized by CONADENNA (National Committee for Children and Adolescent Rights). They jointly prepared and proposed to the main authorities of the government new policies regarding the Educational system. The topic dealt with in this event was ‘The Right to benefit from a Quality Education for all’. The conclusions of this meeting were handed in to national authorities, who welcomed this initiative. In October a female football team formed by girls, mothers, and aunties from the Children's Village managed to win the Footsal District Championship.

There are lots of things to do in December. The children study hard for the last school examinations looking forward to the end-of-the-year celebrations and to the summer holidays. Christmas time! New Year's party! Family trips to the seaside! Summer workshops! Exciting indeed! And it will be even more exciting for Renzo and Gianmarco who were admitted this year into the Children's Village. On their arrival they were surprised by a wonderful welcome party organized by their SOS mom. They couldn´t believe there was a party especially arranged for them! The day after she took them shopping and to the barber´s shop. It was very touching to see them in front of the mirror when they got home. They had new clothes on! And what a nice pair of shoes! Now they have both a very close relationship with ‘Mamá Silvia’ and get along very well with their siblings.

A promising future is waiting for them… thanks to your support! May the smiles of these children be a gesture of gratitude to you!

May this Christmas and the coming new year bring much more joy to you and your family!

Yours faithfully,

Jorge Waldo Ramírez Aragón
Director -SOS Children's Village Río Hondo