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.

Photos from the visit here:

We were able to visit IRID, but because of Covid we didn’t interact with the residents, we toured the garden and animal area. IRID is becoming more food self-sufficient, growing a large variety of vegetables and also has more animals including hens for laying eggs but also sheep and rabbits which will eventually be used for food and once they’ve completed building a pig pen will also have pigs. They are composting waste material and using it to grow plants. During last year, it has been robbed three times – thieves took building material and also some of the outdoor equipment used by the children. The front of the premise is secure but the back area where the garden and animals are housed is open to surrounding fields. There’s now a camera security system and also “guard geese” as efficient as dogs at announcing intruders.

Link to pictures here:

https://pbase.com/tracyk/2021_03_02_irid_visit

Under the Covid-19 restrictions we held a scaled back Latin Music Night and silent auction at LAaCite Francophone. Thanks as always to musicians who volunteered to perform: Senor Vargas Project, Marco Claveria and Mariachi Mundo. Thanks as well to the volunteers, board members and those that bought tickets.

Pictures from the evening here:

https://pbase.com/tracyk/2020_10_04_latin_music_night_at_la_cite_fracophone

Our Latin Music Night & silent auction fundraiser this year is from 5:00 to 7:00  October 3rd at La Cite Francophone. It features Marco Claveria, Señora Vargas Project, and Mariachi Mundo.

BUY TICKETS – this will be a social distancing conscious event.

If you are not comfortable coming out please consider making a donation.

A lot has changed since the last post:  COVID-19 virus has hit Peru hard and is having a profound impact on the agencies and families SUPC supports in Arequipa even though Peru implemented strict safety protocols on March 15th.

Many Peruvians could not comply with either the social distancing requirement nor the one to remain isolated at home. Families living in extreme poverty did not have the ability to buy and store food in bulk. Most live in a small one room house with no running water, electricity or indoor toilet. https://pbase.com/tracyk/image/168877924

SUPC will continue to provide financial support to both IRID and the Cuna Jardin Corozon de Jesus although Ww will not be holding our fundraising Peruvian dinner this year. A decision on whether to hold the Latin Music Night in October depends on health guidelines and whether there’s a second outbreak of the virus. We are accepting donations through PayPal at: http://supcsociety.com/wordpress/donate/

With the Director of the Cuna Jardin, Marianela Amelia Fuentes Bustinza we visited several of the homes of the children; link to photos from the visits:
https://pbase.com/tracyk/2019_02_14_cuna_jardin_home_visits

We also visited IRID once again, the Director Dra. Mary Luz Barreda presented me (as Chair of SUPC) with a certificate of appreciation.

On our recent visit to the Instituto de rehabilitacion Integral para Discapacitados (IRID) we noticed some wonderful changes. However, like in Canada there’s funds for buildings, but not for ongoing expenses. Click each photo for detailed description.

https://pbase.com/tracyk/2019_01_21_irid_visit

Photo 9423 shows me, as Chair of SUPC, with a certificate of appreciation from the Director of IRID.

Our recent visit to the Cuna Jardin, Corazon de Jesus. Descriptions on each photo.

https://pbase.com/tracyk/2019_01_25_cuna_jardin_visit