Protect 300 girls from Child domestic work in Peru

In the month of February 2023, we started a new initiative: TITA, a space for you.

This is a theatrical improvisation and expressive arts workshop for women domestic workers (TITA) whose general objective is to contribute to the emotional well-being of domestic workers and help empowerment and resilience to cope with the adversities they have suffered throughout of their lives within work and family.

The use of theatrical games and expressive arts such as painting, singing and free writing help them enter in a creative state and connect with themselves and the group.

In Peru, one of the most marginalized human groups is that of domestic workers. They are women who generally carry out their work without respecting the rights that the law grants them. (Law 31047). They often suffer discrimination, exploitation and abuse on a daily basis, from which it is difficult to escape. The mistreatment of employers and the lack of appreciation of their work by their employers and themselves often leads them to labor conflicts that they do not know how to resolve.

At TITA they go through a unique experience that invites them to take a journey through the expressive arts and where theatrical improvisation is the main technique used.

With TITA we seek to encourage self-acceptance, not judging and accepting mistakes as something normal and not something bad that should scare them. This acceptance of being wrong and moving on is a very important life lesson of impro.

TITA seeks to inspire them to tell their life stories and raise their voices.

Currently the capacity of the workshop is for 12 people due to the size of the space that is provided for free. This is a safe space for them. A place where they meet other friends, they relax and share experiences.

We want to do a presentation at the end of the process. We will continue to inform you.

“MENTAL HEALTH REQUIRES US TO BE CREATIVE” (David Bohm)

In the month of January we had our first face-to-face meeting with our dear domestic worker friends.

We had the honor of receiving the visit of Auria Paz Aguilar, Peruvian, musician and storyteller. Auria has traveled to different countries exploring nature and meeting people in their cultures. She learned from her grandmothers and aunts to observe dreams, to use plants and other elements to alleviate physical or emotional ailments. The different forms of work and meditation that Auria promotes are focused on raising the level of personal and collective consciousness. On this occasion, Auria is visiting Peru after living in Denmark for years and connected with AGTR - La casa de Panchita thanks to Pilar Cama, our volunteer. The will to invite this ceremony for free, is to recognize the dedication that domestic workers put into their work and collaborate to nurture the mutual support network. The mother and aunt who raised Auria were also domestic workers.

She suggested that we do a cacao ceremony with medicine music. The cacao ceremony is the gathering of people in a circle. We hold a circle of women to drink cocoa in its simplest and 100% concentrated form (without additives such as sugar or milk). The taking was done slowly and ritually, honoring the essence of the plant and that of ourselves.

Music and sound then guided the experience through song lyrics that evoked peace and hope, while honoring the cycles of life. In the ceremony we were able to focus on feeling, healing and connecting with our intuition.

The space was decorated with flowers and a beautiful altar was made that was our center. A safe and containment space was created for all those participants.

The domestic workers arrived early. They were very excited about the meeting. As they arrived, they settled into the beautiful space that we had prepared for them.

While Auria and Pilar heated the cocoa prepared with much love by Auria, Belén, Auria's life partner, began the journey guiding us through a few breaths.

We all drank the cacao together, slowly, and while we did, Auria and Belén accompanied us with the music of the charango, the flute, and their songs.

Music can alter our mood, in particular medicine music has therapeutic purposes.

At the end of the trip we made a circle of words where each one of us shared her experience:

“My childhood has been bitter, I have many family problems. At first I felt the bitterness of the cocoa and I felt that it was the bitterness that my family makes me feel, but then I spoke to the cocoa and it sweetened.” (Estela)

 “Cocoa did the process in my body. I came tense and the music relaxed me and reminded me of my dad and my mom.” (Elizabeth)

"I traveled with the smells and sounds, I liked talking nicely, sharing with you, I leave with a good vibe, relieved." “Me siento liberada, libre, sin esa pena que traje, he recordado el campo donde crecí, gracias.” (Nora)

We all want more and have other meetings like this.

At the end we gave each other a big group hug with lots of love, it was a magical meeting.