During a trip to Lima Peru in 2007, Skip1's founder Shelene Bryan would see just how great the need was for the thousands of families living in horrific conditions throughout the area. In Pamplona Alta - just one of the many "young towns" that have popped up around Lima in the past ten years - it is estimated that more than 150,000 people live here, struggling to find food and decent shelter. That's about 30,000 families.
Below: just one of the many valleys in Pamplona Alta. Estimated population: 150,000.
In 2007, a relationship was formed with an amazing organization working on the ground in Peru. That organization was ACED (pronounced "ah-said"). Run by Teresa Choquehuanca, ACED’s focus is on feeding children in need and providing for their well-being through long-term sustainable programs. When Skip1.org was founded in 2009, ACED was at the top of their partner list.
In September 2011, a small team from Skip1 traveled to Peru to meet with ACED and discuss next steps for a few projects that desperately need funding.
"At risk" children - currently living in Lurín, Pamplona Alta, Chilca and a dozen of other surrounding "young towns" - need a safe place where they can be fed, go to school and flourish. In the small community of Chilca (located about 45 minutes outside of Lima), there is a great opportunity. ACED owns about two acres of land in Chilca where they currently run a private school for about 50 children and a new bakery that provides supplemental income for the school and its programs. The school is called I.E.P. Jireh - Papa Leon XIII - it has classrooms, a small playground, a multipurpose room and teachers. A family lives on-site and oversees the school. On the same plot of land, right next to the school, is a dormitory, a kitchen facility and a well that sit empty. This is the orphanage.
The dorm can accomodate 32 kids and 4 teachers. It has beds and toilets and showers.
The kitchen building is completed but needs pots & pans, a refrigerator, a stove, pantry, flatware and food.
There's no place for the kids to eat. No tables. No chairs. No roof in case it rains.
All they need is a jump start.
On the September 2011 trip, the Skip1 team met with six families who were considered candidates for the orphanage. This was just the tip of the iceberg. The issue isn't finding kids for the orphanage. The issue is determinging which ones need it the most.
Some of these children are currently living in abusive situations. Their mother is desperate to provide them with a better life by having them stay at the Chilca Orphanage. One mother was sick with cancer, unable to take care of her kids. Her eldest daughter works 12 hours away for several weeks at a time, only coming home to help for one or two days befor heading back to work. The team saw a baby and two kids being cared for by their grandmother who was in no physcial condition to care for these kids. Yet she selflessly had the baby strapped to her back and was doing her best to care for her grandchildren. She was asking the Skip1 team when they thought they could bring the kids to the orphanage.
In order for the orphanage to open its doors, the kitchen has to be done
The timing is perfect. School starts in March 2012. With your help & support, we can finish the kitchen, build the dining room and get children into the orphanage by January 1, 2012. This gives the children two months to get acclimated before school starts in March.
Jim Elliston is the co-founder and CEO of Clover and he's also a Skip1 Ambassador. He traveled with Skip1 to Lima in September and saw firsthand the need and how he and his company could help. He's rallying his circle of friends and clients to support Skip1's efforts in Peru. Jim, and his business partner Ben, have set up a matching grant for up to $15,000. That means for every dollar Skip1.org raises, Clover will match it. We can raise $30,000 thanks to this matching grant. This is a huge opportunity.
So how can you help?
Donate. Share this exiciting opportunity and get your friends to donate. But most of all, skip something and help us feed these children. Whether it's a coffee, a car wash, a magazine or a pack of gum... skip it and donate that money instead to the Chilca Kitchen Project.
This is how it breaks down:
Support the Kitchen:
The kitchen facility has been built. But it’s empty. It needs a refrigerator, stove, pantry, pots & pans, plates & dishes, flatware, etc… (a full list of items will be made available very soon). That costs $15,000. Included in that amount is the cost to replace the temporary roof that’s currently in place. To keep the kitchen running, it costs about $300 a month. Once the kitchen is complete, the kids will need a place to sit & eat.
Support the Dining Room:
The dining room, which is attached to the kitchen, costs approximately $15,000. That includes the cement slab, the roof, tables & chairs. This can serve as a dining room for both the 50 students at the school as well as the 32 kids at the orphanage. And the current plans allow for growth so we don't have to re-build in a few years.
Here's how YOU can help
No amount is too small and we promise you'll see the results. Remember, 100% of your donation will go to feeding these children. We have a small group of partners who cover the costs of our trips, credit card processing fees and website costs so you can know for sure your money is getting to these kids.
32 kids equals about 1,900 meals a month. 23,000 meals a year. Also, the dorms have been structured in such a way that they can accomodate 64 kids if they build up a second story. More on that later.
Below: a better view of the dorm rooms at Chilca. These 2 buildings can
accomodate 32 kids. When the 2nd story is done, it'll hold 64 kids.
Below: two of the empty dorm rooms
Below: one of the families the Skip1 team met with during the September 2011 trip.
Below: a typical home in Pamplona Alta, Peru.
