Details are finalized for our fourth annual Peruvian Dinner Fundraiser.
We spent another wonderful four months in Arequipa, visited the three non-profit agencies SUPC made donations to this year: Instituto de Rehabilitación Integral del Discapacitado (I.R.I.D.),Cuna Jardin Corazon de Jesus and Crines, the therapeutic riding centre. We also made some home visits with the children from the Cuna Jardin. I also volunteered at Crines, helping with tacking the horses and as a sidewalker to prevent children from falling.
Here’s the links to photos from the visits to the different NGOs:
With the I.R.I.D. Director – Dr. Mary Luz Barreda
Second Cuna visit and home vists:
The Cuna Jardin has had to cut the number of children it takes and cut some staff because of funding cuts from donors in Europe. However, they still have more than 150 children enrolled.
Crines now has three pones and two horses – either donated or bought at low cost; however, all have health problems (which is why they were available for Crines) and need money for their care and feeding. There’s a sliding scale fee for the therapy and total subsidy for those unable to pay. Currently two long term volunteers work at the Centre and there are other short term volunteers.
I.R.I.D has received Government funding to build additional living homes for the children who live at the Centre rather than in-home. However, they have a shortage of workers and volunteers, based in part on the distance the Centre is from the city centre.
Economy in Arequipa
Currently, Arequipa is in an economic boom –this has increased the price of many items including food making it more costly for the agencies to buy basic food items. The boom has also attracted more people from rural Peru with an immigration of about 20,000 a year. They build structures made of volcanic rock or cement blocks on the outskirts of the City and initially lack all basic services (water, sewer, electricity). Many of them access the services of the NGOs we support. The photos indicate some of the living conditions.
Fundraisers
Plans are well underway for our two fall fundraisers, this year we’re going back to the original format with the Peruvian dinner and Latin Music Night separate. The dinner will be held the third weekend in September, stay tuned for details and a link to buy tickets. The Latin Music night will once again be held at the Yardbird Suite in November. We’ll have a silent auction at both events. Stayed tuned for finalized details.
I’ve been in Arequipa for two months and have visited two of the NGOs SUPC supports, below are links to some pictures from the Cuna Jardin, Coraon de Jesus
http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2014_01_29_corazon_de_jesus_siesta_time
and the therapeutic riding centre Crines:
http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2014_04_25_visiting_crines_theraputic_riding_centre_in_arequipa_
In addition to supporting these NGOs, SUPC is also providing support to Instituto de Rehabilitacion Integral del Discapacitado (I.R.I.D)
We will be posting new pictures within the next week.
More than 100 people attended our third annual Peruvian dinner, Sunday Nov. 17th at the Yardbird Suite in Edmonton. This year we combined the dinner with the Latin Music night – the two events were held separately last year.
Thanks to everyone who came out to support SUPC, made donations and bought silent auction items. A special thanks to those who donated items for the auction, to Carla Tamayo for her wonderful food, to Pam and Lisi from the Yardbird for all their work as well as Yardbird volunteers Deidre and Marian. SUPC Board members Aisha, Carmen and Vicky also helped make the evening a success.
Performances and Music provided by:
Marco Claveria Project 
Lisi Sommer – Lisi y Los Hermanitos 
Sebastian Barrera 
North Tango 
Fernando Munoz 
Tango demonstration provided by Vicente A. Munoz and Cristina Munoz
Following up on last year’s two successful fundraisers we’re combing them into one fantastic event. Join us Sunday November 17th at the Yardbird Suite, 11 Tommy Banks Way, for Peruvian food and great Latin music. We’re also holding a silent auction with a wide range of items to bid on.
Performers:
North Tango
Sebastian Barrera
Lisi y Los Hermanitos
Fernando Munoz
Tango Dancers
Marco Claveria Project
Tickets: $30 single, two for $50 in advance; $40 single, two for $60 at the door. Children under five free, 5 to 10 $10, 11-13, half price.
Doors 5:00 P.M., Dinner 5:30, Music 6:30.
Paid parking available in the lot next to the Yardbird Suite or free on-street parking on 103rd Street or Tommy Banks Way.
For more information or to buy tickets contact supcsociety@gmail.com or tickets at YEGLive: http://yeglive.ca/events/standing-up-for-peruvian-children-society/nov-17-2013/yardbird-suite
Aisha Oboh and Carmen Severight, who completed their final block placement in Arequipa in 2011 presented with me at the Central Alberta Social Work Conference. We talked about Arequipa, the agencies they worked with – Instituto de Rehabiltaction Integral Para Discapacitados (I.R.I.D.) a home center for handicapped children who were abandoned by their parents; it also provides in-home supports to children remaining with their families; and Ayudame Caballo a therapeutic riding centre for children with physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
We also talked about forming Standing up for Peruvian Children, the fundraisers we held and that this year the funds went to I.R.I.D, the Cuna Jardin Corazon de Jesus, the therapeutic riding centre (now Crines) and the orphanage Casa Hogar Luz Alba – a new agency we added this year.
We`re also in the planning stage for our next fundrasier to be held at the Yardbird Suite this October.
While in Arequipa Tracy and I have visited the NGOs we support and have some photos to share of the orphanage Casa Hogar Luz Alba and the Cuna Jardin Corazon de Jesus. As well, we visited some of the families whose children go to the Cuna Jardin. Below are some pictures and a link to more can be seen here:
http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/standing_up_for_peruvian_children
Take a look at the video prepared by Omni Television at the SUPCSociety Fundraiser:
SUPC has had three successful fundraisers since October 2012:
The Peruvian dinner and silent auction, with great Peruvian food catered by Carla Tamayo, and hosted by Board member Aisha Oboh who completed her practicum at the Instituto de Rehabiltaction Integral Para Discapacitados in 2011.
The Latin Social and silent auction at Metro Billiards, organized by Christine Murray one of the students who completed her practicum at the Cuna Jardin in 2012. Special thanks to Joey at Metro Billiards for donating the food and the musicians and dancers for donating their time and talent for the event. Performances were by Lisi Sommers, Macro Claveria, North Tango and a tango demonstration by Vicente and Cristina Munoz.
Special thanks as well to those who donated items to the both silent auctions,and to those who purchased them.
The third fundraiser was organized by Smitty’s Whitecourt in conjunction with board member Nicole Barrett, who also completed her practicum at the Cuna Jardin in 2012. Smitty’s donated their profits from coffee sold in the restaurant each Sunday in December.
With private donations made during the Christmas season the three fundraisers raised more than $6,500.
