First Aid to Peru - Delivery of Supplies

July 19, 2001

 

Young students thank Rotaract	Claire brings smiles to the children

On Thursday July 19 the Rotaract Club of Oro Verde de Ucayali in

Pucallpa, Peru took me to "El Refugio de Esperanza" (The Refuge of

Hope). Since January R.C. Seattle had been working with R.C. Oro Verde

on an international project to benefit the students of this very

special school, tucked away behind the main road of this Amazon town.

The director meet us with open arms and gratitude as we presented 4

boxes laden with medical and school supplies that had been collected in

Seattle. He had arranged a special assembly for us to meet all of the

students, but first wanted to show us around the school.

 

El Refugio de Esperanza is a remarkable place. In Peru the government

funded school system provides little in the way of special needs

programs, therefore kids with difficulties are very frequently left

behind or just forgotten about. This school attempts to fill in that

gaping hole and is exactly as its name suggests - a refuge of hope.

Every kind of special need is addressed here: mental and physical

disabilities; deafness; blindness; students with Down Syndrome;

orphans. They also have a small dormitory area where kids and their

families can stay during drug rehabilitation. In addition to the

classrooms they have a dedicated section for job skills training,

specifically trades requiring skills in carpentry, metalwork, mechanics

and electronics. It is small and basic but offers what all the students

here value so much - a ray of hope.

 

In Peru, there is a certain social stigma associated with having a

disability, and they are often faced with the problem of parents

bringing their child to the school and leaving them there. Each of the

300 students here is treated with the utmost respect and fairness, and

benefit immensely from the environment that has been created for them.

There is always another project on the horizon at El Refugio de

Esperanza, something that will further enhance their ability to address

the needs of their students. During our visit the construction of new

bathrooms were in progress for the live-in students. On the wish list

was a commercial bakers oven that would not only provide bread for the

students but would provide a source of income that could be used for

further improvements of the school.

 

El Refugio de Esperanza is a privately funded venture. It was

constructed primarily with charitable contributions from individuals

and organizations in the local area. Rotary International has also

played a big part in its expansion, with clubs from Canada, the U.S.

and Europe all doing their part to ensure its continued success. The

culmination of our visit was when all the students gathered to meet us.

We sang songs, played games and had a quiz with prizes that was

obviously the highlight of their day. Each student received a pen which

they received with a huge smile. In fact they were having so much fun

the teachers had trouble getting them back to class afterwards. For us,

we were able to provide not only materials to aid the students, but

also a personal presence as an illustration of our support.

- Andre Morrissen 

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