By Blanca Figueroa | Project Leader
Dear Supporters,
Like every march, boys and girls are back to school after the summer break. As they prepare to face a new academic cycle, we are getting ready to resume Sunday sessions at La Casa de Panchita. We want to help them make the most of this year. We are going to provide them with school support and help them cope with being child domestic workers, while sensitizing their families on the risks they are exposed to. However, we also want to make sure they get to enjoy themselves, like every young girl should! We were able to secure some funds that will allow us to carry on these weekly educative and playful Sundays for at least a few months!
The most concerning issue is the expensive rent of our current venue. We will not be able to afford such a high monthly fee for much longer now. This is why we are still hoping to keep raising funds in order to be able to buy our own venue…even a tiny one. We recently discovered we are quite good adapting to changing circumstances!
It is very important that La casa de Panchita remains open, not only because we directly support girls in child domestic labor, but also because we work to solve this problem from different angles. At La casa de Panchita we offer training and educate adult domestic workers about their labor rights, so that our free employment agency can help them find better jobs. Qualified domestic workers can improve their household’s livelihood and their children will be less exposed to child labor, having a better chance to stay in school!
The following story, about a domestic worker we will call “E.” shows how you can help us help girls and young women facing exploitation and abuse:
E. came to Lima from Apurimac, on the Andes. During several months she worked as a domestic worker, under severe exploitative conditions. Her employer did not pay her the (very low) salary they had agreed upon and the payments were always late. When she found out about La Casa de Panchita, she started attending training workshops and arts therapy sessions. She learned how to deal with the though situation she faced in the house where she was working (and living). She stood up for herself and her employer allowed her to attend night school, where she is doing very well!
Thank you! Best regards,
Blanca Figueroa
By Blanca Figueroa | Project Leader
By Blanca Figueroa | Project Leader
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