By Rodrigo Pereyra | Fundraising Officer
The Heart of Our Mission: Breaking the Silence
In the Andean community of Oropesa, empowerment isn’t just about providing tools; it’s about creating a safe space for the voices that have long been suppressed. This month, we focused on the emotional foundations of the families at Picaflor House, recognizing that for a girl to thrive, the women in her life must also feel seen, heard, and empowered.
A Major Breakthrough with Mothers in Oropesa
We are proud to share that in November we launched our first Emotional Reflection Session for the mothers of our students. This session was designed to strengthen their soft skills and emotional resilience, the core of personal empowerment. The session was led by Lena Saavedra, our Operations Manager in Peru. With a background in psychology and over nine years of experience working with trauma and resilience in vulnerable populations, Lena brought the professional sensitivity needed for this delicate task.
Initially, many of the 12 mothers in attendance showed resistance to speaking about their feelings. In many rural communities, discussing emotions can be seen as a sign of vulnerability or is culturally discouraged. Despite the initial hesitation, Lena successfully navigated these barriers. By the end of the session, we had established a foundational bond of trust. This was a critical first step in helping these women recognize their own value and emotional strength.
Children: Identifying, Communicating, and Emizing
While the mothers were working on their resilience, our students were doing the same. Our volunteer, Mia from Germany, led a vital series of conversations about emotional intelligence.
In contexts where children often face "emotional suppression", feeling they must hide their struggles, Mia’s workshops provided a revolutionary outlet.
Building Self-Concept and Confidence
We aren't stopping here. We are excited to announce our next activity: a specialized workshop on Self-Concept and Self-Esteem specifically for the girls of Picaflor House. We expect to reach more than 25 girls, providing them with the psychological tools to define themselves not by their circumstances, but by their potential and worth.
By bridging the emotional growth of both mothers and daughters, we are creating a "resilience loop" that ensures the progress made today lasts for generations.
Ending year ceremony:
To celebrate the close of the academic year, we held a special ceremony where both boys and girls were awarded Certificates of Achievement. These awards served as a meaningful recognition of their consistent effort, personal discipline, and the remarkable self-confidence they have developed throughout 2025. The closing session was a festive occasion, filled with joy as the children shared a traditional Peruvian chocolatada and panettone. Beyond the celebration, this event highlighted our core philosophy: at Picaflor House, equitable treatment and equal opportunities are practiced every single day. By ensuring that every child is valued equally, we are nurturing a new generation that understands female empowerment and positive masculinity from an early age. We believe that fostering these values in childhood is the foundation for building a fairer, more inclusive, and respectful society for the future
Your Impact
Your continued support allows us to bring in experts like Lena and dedicated volunteers like Mia to work on the "invisible" but essential aspects of poverty alleviation: the mind and the heart. Thank you for believing in the power of Peruvian women and girls.
By Rodrigo Pereyra Jemio | Fundraising Officer
By Jim Elliott | Project Leader
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