Thank you everyone who came out to the SUPC fundraising dinner last night, those that volunteered, to those that donated, and those who bought items at the silent auction. Special thanks to Carla Tamayo Aragonfor her wonderful food and help in promoting the event.Thanks as well to the talented Jorge Vargas for his engaging performance. With all your help we had a successful event.
Click on the picture to view more photos from the dinner.
Tickets now available for our annual Peruvian dinner fundraiser, come out enjoy the marvellos food of Carla Tamayo Aragon (aka Kipus Peruvian Cuisine), listen to Latin Music and bid on local and Peruvian items in the silent auction. Have a great evening and support the agencies SUPC works with in Arequipa.
While in Arequipa I was able to visit the Cuna Jardin twice and IRID once. After the covid restrictions both have resumed regular activities. Children are back in person at the Cuna, although numbers are down to 90 compared to the more than 120 pre-pandemic. My first visit was for the Navidad (Christmas) celebration, both Tracy and I gave out donated gifts to the children. (see photos)
https://pbase.com/tracyk/2022_12_22_cuna_visit__christmas_party
I visited again during summer holiday, from January to mid-March, to go over the social economic data on the parents. Although some have improved living conditions, electricity, etc. many still live in extreme poverty, a Mom with one or two children in a single room without amenities, or in a larger home shared with several extended family members also without amenities.
My visit to IRID coincided with the rainy season (see photos) but I was able to tour both the garden, the animals, and the new building for older residents which is still under construction. Work occurs when there are funds for supplies and to pay workers. Because of on-going theft protective bars have been placed on the widow openings of the building. The garden has expanded and there are several animals on site which are being raised for food and a horse for therapeutic riding.
Also, for the first time since the pandemic started, I was able to visit with the children. Currently there are 32 residents at IRID and children who live with their families are once again able to attend school in person.
Dra. Mary Luz is still involved with IRID, hoever her nephew Mauricio now oversees the daily activities of the home.
Thank you to all who came out to support our fundraiser Latin Music Night Special thanks to Hitomi and all at the Yardbird Suite who helped make the event happen and to all the volunteers. Thanks as well to those who donated to the silent auction and bought items. And, as always a very grateful thank you to the performers: Jorge Vargas, Los Rebeldes Musicales and Mariachi Mundo with Frank Bessai and also the True North Community Jazz Ensemble with Oscar-Jose Garcia. Without their participation we wouldn’t have been able to have such a successful event.
Photos to the night in the link below:
We’re returning to the Yardbird Suite for our Latin Music Night fundraiser. Come out to hear some great Latin Music and jazz, bid on local and Peruvian items and support the agencies we work with in Arequipa
Doors at 5:30, Music at 6:00 (Please note this is the day we return to Standard time).
Tickets only $25 and include light refreshments, children six to 10 $10 and under six free.
Tickets available with an e-transfer to supcsociety@gmail.com or using the donate button on this website. Hope to see you there.
Thanks to all who came out, bought items from the silent auction and made donations at our dinner, it was a huge success.
Volunteers at the dinner with our cook Carla Tamayo Aragon and her daughter Taty:
https://pbase.com/tracyk/image/173008604
Jorge Vargas, who once again volunteered to perform at the dinner:
Save the Date – Sunday July 17th we are holding our Peruvian Dinner fundraiser. After a two year absence we will hold a sit down dinner, with entertainment and a silent auction. Once again the marvelous Carla Tamayo Aragon will be the cook for the dinner. Come out to enjoy wonderful food, bid on Peruvian and local items and support the work we do with agencies in Arequipa. Tickets $40 each, children six to ten $20 and under six free. Available through an e-transfer to supcsociety@gmail.com or our donate button here : http://supcsociety.com/wordpress/donate/
LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLe
We visited the Cuna Jardin, Corazon de Jesus and got an update from the Director. Since the start of Covid restrictions, there haven’t been any children at the Centre, but they’ve been able to construct additional buildings. A second, pre-fab, room was built for the two year olds to enable social distancing required by the Government. As well, a larger mult-purpose room has been completed, initially it was intended as a space for homework club for older children, library and a dining area. However, for now it will just be used as a dining area until the other activities can be resumed.
The intention is to have children return in March, the end of summer holidays, before Covid there were approximately 150 children at the Cuna Jardin. However, because of Government restrictions there will only be 70 this year. There is hope to be able to continue internet classes with some of the children who won’t be able to come in person.
So far, the number of cases of the Omicron variant has been limited with authorities hoping to limit the spread through a widespread vaccination effort. However, both the rate of poverty, now at 27% and the rate of anaemia, especially amongst children has increased in the past two years.
Photos from the visit, with descriptions here:
I visited IRID and talked with Mauricio, the acting Director, who oversees the daily activities at the centre. The founder Dra. Mary Luz still comes to the centre occasionally but not on a regular basis. Because of health restrictions I didn’t interact with the children, but toured the grounds. With additional funding work on the building to house older residents has resumed and a roof has been added. When completed the ground floor will have a central chapel and small shops where residents who are capable can work. The upper floor will have bedrooms and bathrooms. Currently there are 32 residents at the centre. By restricting interactions with the residents and by implementing careful health protocol none of the residents nor staff have contracted Covid.
To increase food security, they’ve acquired more animals including several sheep and two steers. Once all the animal pens are built they will also have pigs. Thieves have again entered and stolen building material, to prevent future thefts a fence to surround the whole property is being built and in addition to the guard geese there are now two guard dogs.
Thanks to all who support us through donations, attending our fundraising events and volunteering we were able to make a donation to IRID to help them with the above activities.
Our fundraising Peruvian items are selling, check out the updated list and buy before an item you like sells.
With the uncertainly of possible further health restrictions we have decided to cancel this year’s Latin Music Night. The need in Arequipa is still great, COVID-19 has created intense challenges for the Cuna Jardin and the IRID and we are trying hard to continue to provide them much needed support at this time. We are selling silver jewelry, children and adults Alpaca clothing and other marvelous Peruvian items. And as always, we will gratefully accept donations. please visit http://supcsociety.com/wordpress/donate/Orcontact a SUPC Board member of your choice. Items for sale in attached link with photos and prices, send a message to arrange payment and pick-up or delivery of your purchase.http://supcsociety.com/2021-Peru-Fundraiser-Photosprices.pdf