By Simon Hare | Development Director, Globalteer, parent charity
It seems a little late to be wishing everyone a happy New Year but we have been so busy at Picaflor House since our last update that time has just run away with itself and we can hardly believe it’s already February.
We are in the height of summer here in Peru which means that it’s the middle of the rainy season and to be honest, not very warm! The rain turns many of Oropesa’s minor streets into rivers of mud and at night the village families have to keep open fires well stoked just to keep their traditional adobe (mud brick) houses warm. Which is why the long term aims of the Picaflor programme are so important and why we are pleased to be reporting on great progress since we last wrote!
English programme Update:
Our wonderful English Language coordinator has somehow managed to find time not only to teach English to the children at Picaflor House but also to put together a really comprehensive English curriculum. It is designed to make learning English more fun and engaging as the more the children enjoy classes the more they will learn.
Currently the children are learning about a different English speaking country each week, increasing their awareness of English speaking culture and geography as well as improving their language skills. All of this will give them a real advantage at school, college and in the work place when they are older.
We are also thrilled to announce that the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) Foundation have very kindly agreed to fund our English programme for at least another six months. This is wonderful news for all the children at Picaflor House so huge thanks to the LATA Foundation for their continued generosity. Our English Language coordinator at Picaflor House explains what a big difference investment in the programme is having on our children:
“In the last six months I have noticed dramatic improvements in our students’ English. They have gone from being nervous or even scared of speaking English to being comfortable and excited to have grasped the new language and are now proud of themselves. Also, comparing test results from last June to this January, there have been significant jumps in grades among many of our children.”
And in other academic news our reading and writing teacher has been busy creating a special work book for the children who find Spanish language challenging. This is especially important for children whose parents’ first language is Quechua (the indigenous Andean language) as often they are unable to help them with Spanish language school work which puts them at a real disadvantage.
We will be able to see how successful this initiative has been when they return to state school in just a few weeks!
Healthy Lunch programme:
You will remember our excitement when we launched our new healthy lunch programme at the end of last year to provide balanced meals to some of the children most in need. With over 60 children on the programme there is still work to be done with the community to ensure that there is a longer term solution to the children’s nutritional needs, but in the short term we are delighted that so many children are now benefitting from wholesome and healthy lunch every day.
The benefits of a healthy diet are not always obvious, and they go way beyond the physical. Poor nutrition can impede cognitive development; hungry children find it difficult to concentrate in class and poor concentration leads to behaviour issue in class too. And finally the knowledge that they will get a good meal at Picaflor House has done wonders for our attendance figures with up to 80 children coming to Picaflor every day now!
Looking Ahead.
As the scope and impact of our work at Picaflor grows, inevitably so do our costs so we are forever grateful for all out generous supporters. Just to give you an idea of how far your donations go, here’s what we estimate some of our expenses will be this coming year:
If you would like to help us cover these essential costs, don’t forget that donations through Global Giving are tax deductible for US tax payers and valid for gift aid if you are a U.K tax payer.
Thank you again and Happy New Year!
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