Bringing A Trade To The Street Children Of Lima

Ancestral conditions of extreme poverty form a part of everyday life for millions of Peruvian families - an unwanted gift of base, crude human misery passed on from generation to generation with levels of hunger so desperate that they put the very essence of life at risk.

As reported in a previous issue of 1080 News, these conditions so affected Peter Woodruff when he led our GSE Team to Peru that he vowed to do what he could to help. Peter has been fund-raising and physically assisting the construction of a carpentry workshop at the "Ciudad de los Ninos" project and this was opened in August 1999.
But this is only the beginning - "The Ciudad is far from complete," says Peter. "They desperately need our help with more training workshops. The project was featured in the Hall of Friendship at the 1999 Brighton District Conference. "I firmly believe that the clubs in 1080 have the opportunity to make an amazing impact and contribution to the future lives of Lima's Street Children" adds Peter.
The situation is changing weekly and the following are the most recent developments:
1) The Matching Grant application for the US$ 20,000 cost of repairing or replacing machinery for the carpentry workshop has been approved by the Rotary Foundation.
2) Archie Poulter, (Saxmundham's Vice President 1999/2000), visited the Ciudad for two weeks at the beginning of September 1999 to help plan the workshop layout and stayed with the San Borja Rotarians. During his visit he also obtained details of the orphanage/school's next most pressing projects - together with approximate costs. They need vocational training workshops for metal work, shoe making, auto mechanical and tailoring, together with a bakery, but it's important for us to understand their priorities.
3) Archie returned to the Ciudad as a 'Rotary Volunteer' for three months, (January - March 2000), to see the carpentry machinery was installed correctly and instruct the teachers in its maintenance and safe operation as well as furniture design and manufacture. During this visit he also obtained estimates for the other workshops to ensure our money is spent in the most beneficial and cost effective way.

For Update Number One, click here.
For further information on how you can help, contact Peter Woodruff on 01728 604141.

This document was originally prepared by Rodney Howell, Editor 1080 News.
Electronic 1080 News is edited and maintained by John L Raybould.

Last updated: 26 April 2000

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John L Raybould