Empower Vulnerable Children in Peru and Cambodia

Schools are still closed in both Peru and Cambodia, so we are still unable to run this program at the moment. That said, things are looking up and we are hopeful that we will be able to pick up where we left off, soon!

Peru

Although our Picaflor House project in Peru is open at last, it is operating at reduced capacity and the focus is on helping the children catch up with schoolwork and giving them a chance to play. Cusco’s regional government extended the vaccination offering to 12 to 19 year-olds last month, based on the logic that the sooner children are vaccinated, the quicker they can go back to school. No official announcements have been made, but the last few weeks have seen many schools opening at least one day a week to students. Individual schools are making their own decisions at the moment, but we hope this indicates a move towards blanket reopening soon!

Cambodia

Cambodia has made giant leaps with their vaccination program, with 76% of the population now fully vaccinated. Certain areas – including Siem Reap province – have been on lockdown again for several weeks, so schools are still closed, as is our Helping Hands project. However, things are starting to open up again and there are rumors of schools reopening next month!

Even when schools do reopen, initial focus will need to be on helping children get back up to speed academically. We will continue to discuss safety with children and can’t wait to get the formal program back on track and expanded to schools and other villages, as well as our projects.

Links:

• Learn more on our website

Ongoing school closures in Peru and Cambodia continue to limit our access to students and postpone our Child Protection program. However, there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel in Peru at least!

Peru

While Covid-19 restrictions have eased somewhat over the last few months, schools remain closed. Activities that can take place outdoors are now allowed, so we are hoping to open the outdoor spaces of our Picaflor House after school center soon, including a covered outdoor area where children will be able to read and study. We are also starting a new Mobile Library, that will take books, learning materials and qualified teachers to rural communities on a regular basis, to try to stimulate children academically and stop them falling further behind; the mobile library will be a great new avenue for our Child Protection Project too.

Although delivery of the Child Safety module won’t be at the top of the agenda at either Picaflor House or the Mobile Library to begin with, we will be able to start having safety discussions with the children again. As activities progress and schools start to re-open, we will return to regular scheduling of the Child Safety lessons. The Mobile Library gives us a great opportunity to reach more children in the wider Cusco area, allowing us to deliver the lessons in a number of different communities, not just at Picaflor House!

Cambodia

Cambodia had been controlling the Covid-19 outbreak very well until the beginning of this year, but since the end of February, case numbers have been consistently on the rise. This has unfortunately meant more school closures and further postponement of this project.

Despite the slow progress caused by the pandemic, we’ll still need your help to deliver this program when things return to normal. Ensuring our children are safe will always be a main priority for us at Globalteer.

Thank you for your continued support of our work to empower children!

Links:

• Sign up to Globalteer's Newsletter for monthly updates
• Find out more about Child Protection on our website