A few months ago, a family friend, Mr. Hal, emailed and asked if there was any way he could help the kids I worked with in Peru. I contacted Lidia, the director of the IVHQ program in Lima, and we talked about what we could get the kids. We talked about getting them toys or clothes, but in the end decided on blankets. Toys and clothes break and are grown out of, but a blanket can last a lifetime. And for these people, it probably will. With the money Mr. Hal donated, we bought all the children in the Wawa Wasis program (a daycare program for working mothers located in Pachacutec, the shantytown surrounding Lima) a blanket.
About 100 children received a blanket a few days ago. These children are mostly from families that have one parent, whom works many hours every day. They are put in the government run Wawa Wasi program that provides three nutritious meals a day, vitamin supplements, and development testing to the children. They spend almost all of their time in these daycares. For a mother working to support her children, there is most likely not going to be extra money for presents, new clothes, or even a blanket. These children appreciate the simplets of gifts.
These blankets will be used until they are worn to rags (and then they will probably be used as rags).
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| A sweet caregiver with her little ones. |
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| Proud baby with her blanket! |
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| A group picture of all the kids, caregiver, and volunteers in one of the Wawa Wasis. |
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| Current volunteers with IVHQ giving out the blankets bought with the donation from Mr. Hal. |
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| A happy Wawa Wasi caregiver with her blanket and some of the little ones she watches. |
I am so grateful for those who have donated throughout my journey to Peru and back. After getting to know these kids, and caregivers, I've come to realize just how beautiful each and everyone of them are. Each of them is the face of Jesus. Every donation throughout that last year and a half has helped these children in numerous ways.
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