Sponsor's update: Arequipa, Peru
01/11/2007
The Village Director has just written this update on the children:
This year we have taken in 4 more babies, 2 little boys and 1 little girl, which were received with a lot of affection and happiness by their new SOS families. Three of the babies were abandoned in a hospital, the little boys are orphans and the girl was abandoned. Thanks to your support, they have a home now with a mother who offers them affection, protection and siblings who feel happy of having a new member of the family! So we now have 115 children in the Village, alongside 28 teenagers in the SOS Youth Homes.
5 girls in the Youth Home are starting the independence process, inside the semi-independent housing programme: Guadaloupe and Gabriela are now teachers; Rosa is studying for a degree in accountancy; Sara is training to become a chef and Mónica is working in the clothing industry.
We want to tell you about our SOS mother Margarita who has lived in the Village for 22 years; she has dedicated half of her life taking care of 22 children. In spite of not having had biological children, she learned how to be the best mum; she is excited and says: “They are 22 different worlds to whom I gave all my love and care, today they are my biggest happiness, I have cried and laughed with them, they taught me to be a complete woman”. She feels also for her 4 grandchildren, whom she adores. These small ones now are the happiness of the house, when on weekends or important dates they visit her.
At the moment, SOS mother Margarita has 5 boys and 4 daughters to care for; all are younger and they still study in the school. But she feels proud of the good results that she has had with her older children, among whom there is a policeman, a priest, technicians, mechanics, an art teacher, managers, a teacher, and an accountant. For everything, Margarita feels really happy and wants to continue being an SOS mother for years to come.
Thank You. All this is possible thanks to your support. On behalf of the whole SOS family of Arequipa, we thank you with all our heart to allow us to work and give these children a happy present and a successful future.
Sponsor's letter: SOS Children Zarate
The Village Director has recently written this report on the Village:
In our Children’s Village we care for 134 children, the youngest of whom is just one years old. 31 teenagers live in the 4 SOS Youth Homes in Lima, where they start to obtain independence by managing their own time, budgets, work and schedule. A youth advisor is always on hand should they need anything, and they can of course always turn to their SOS mothers at any time. The youths stay here until they are fully independent, whether this is at 18 or 25.
This year we have welcomed two new children: siblings Luis Alberto and Camila are now the youngest members of mamá Pilar’s family. It was difficult for them at the beginning to adapt to their new family, but thanks to the loving care of their mum and siblings they have been able to overcome their fears and are now confident, bubbly children. All the positive experiences they have had at the Village have really helped them flourish.
The children have recently been participating in lots of cultural events. Attending children’s theatres and performing cultural plays, among other things, have helped them learn more about Peru and it s rich history. And, for those children interested in music, a professional violinist came to the Village and put on a beautiful performance.
The football-mad boys continue to train at a local football academy, and they are doing really well. Their skills are quickly improving as they have been taking part in local competitions.
We feel it is very important that our children should help to make the decisions that concern them, in conjunction with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The children and their SOS mothers have been attending a few workshops where they learn what rights a child has, and how they can put these theories into practice.
Relevant Countries: Peru.