Peru
In 2009, TFI traveled to Peru and, while there, discovered that one of the leading problems in Peru is domestic violence and its consequential relationship to poverty. Women who attempt to leave abusive relationships with their children often give up their only source of income. Another major problem in Peru is the plight of children living on the streets. These include those escaping abusive homes or those who have families too poor to care for them. We support two programs that are trying to make a difference.
La Comunidad de Niños Sagrada Familia
Source: Sagrada Familia
Source: George Rosenfeld
Begun over 30 years ago in Ventanilla, Peru, by Miguel Rodriguez, Sagrada Familia has blossomed. Starting as a safe place for street children to sleep, Sagrada Familia grew into a large school and orphanage with a medical clinic, and then, with the introduction of vocational workshops, most children began to find jobs upon graduation. Miguel came to this mission after experiencing a family tragedy and now puts his energy into providing love and care to all the children coming into this community. Alumni of Sagrada Familia are now working as successful teachers, lawyers, and other professions. With now over 1,000 children at the school, TFI has been extremely impressed by the scale of Sagrada’s work. Perhaps most impressive is the personal attention the staff give to all the children. Since 2012, with the assistance of VIDA Peru and generous donors, including BNP Paribas Bank in New York, TFI has been providing the children of Sagrada Familia with grants to help so many of these needy children.
Source: TFI
Hogar de la Esperanza “Mama Victoria”
Source: Mama Victoria
Source: Mama Victoria
Nelly Villegas, a remarkable woman who lifted herself out of poverty, established this organization in 2007. It is called Mama Victoria and provides temporary housing for women escaping domestic violence. In 2010, TFI was introduced to Nelly and the Mama Victoria team and have continually been impressed by their work. As part of Mama Victoria’s mission, they provide a safe place for women while educating their children. Their after-school program is funded through the production and sales of gourmet chocolates, tamales, painted pottery, and eggs. It is never enough, so this is an organization TFI must help, particularly in countries like Peru which has seldom sought to help women facing domestic violence.
Source: TFI
Kantaya
Source: Kantaya
Source: TFI
Kantaya provides free after-school programs for 400 children from under-served communities in different locations around Peru. They seek to improve education for children from kindergarten through 6th grade in reading comprehension, math, and technology. Besides academics, they seek to educate the whole child with socio-emotional skills taught through arts and crafts, yoga, sports, and dance. The children are also given life experiences to expand their otherwise limited world by visiting museums, businesses, cinemas, and universities. Kantaya works with professionals, counselors, therapists, and many local volunteers to run workshops aimed at transforming the lives of these vulnerable children. Children are encouraged to look beyond the statistics as to how far they can go in life, and as a result, many go off to college and end up working in the city of Lima.
Source: Kantaya