Día de la Mama!

On Thursday the tenth of May, Jardín de los Niños de San Gabriel celebrated Mother’s Day. The day was a great chance for the children of the Jardín to celebrate with each other and with their parents to give thanks to their mothers.

The children had prepared dances, poems, sentiments and cards for their mother and teachers. The three and four year old class performed a dance medley of ‘Machu Machu’ which is a traditional folk dance portraying old agricultural workers with modern ‘Reggaeton’ dances. The five year old class performed the ‘Emelia’ dance all dressed in traditional national outfits. The children danced beautifully and every thoroughly enjoyed their performances, including volunteers Rhodri and Lucas who both got involved and participated in these traditional dances (outfits included). The parents were then invited to dance with the children and everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Alvaro and Anggie recited poems for their mothers. Here is an excerpt of Anggie’s poem (along with an English translation):

Querida mamita,                           Dear Mom,

Tú sonrisa es mí alegría,              Your smile is my happiness,

Tú mirada mí luz,                          Your face is my light,

Me enseñas hacer feliz.                You teach me to be happy,

Te amo mami.                               I love you mommy.

Rosa and volunteer Rhodri in a slightly improvised 'traditional' old farmer outfit

Lucas and Anggie enjoying in their traditional outfits

Alvaro reciting a poem for his mother

Mothers and children enjoy a dance together

Cutting up the roast hog ready for serving

This celebration was a lovely opportunity for everyone to gather and take a break from their usual work simply to relax. The morning was finished with a delicious roast hog which was prepared by the teacher Aurelia and some of the mothers from the area. The day was a great success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you for the teachers and Rosita for organising the day!

Health Checks for the Children of the Jardín

In recent weeks one of our volunteers, Rhodri has been in charge of checking the health of the children of the Jardín for malnutrition and parasites. Over the course of the week parents brought in faecal samples which were taken to the doctor to be tested. The children also got their blood tested to sample the level of minerals and nutrients in their blood.

Although having these tests done is a good way to prevent illness – it is always disheartening to see the level of infections between the children. The children proved positive for the parasite Giardia Lamblia, the ringworm Ascaris Lumbricoides, tapeworm Enterobius Vermicularis and high levels of the mycobacterium E.Coli. 80% of the children tested proved positive for at least one of the parasites, an astonishing level.

Luckily previous volunteer Connor Dwyer raised US$450 to fund this project, and we were able to test and treat all of the children of the Jardín with the required course of treatment.

Due to the recurring nature of these parasites, it is essential that we test the children at least every four months.

 To donate to Helping Hands Cusco, visit our Omprakash page at:

  https://omprakash.org/DonationForm?go=DonationForm&p=49

Medical Campaign in Paradiso de Guadalupe!

On Sunday the first of April, Helping Hands Cusco along with the help of Farmacia Amistad held a medical campaign in the impoverished area of Paradiso de Guadalupe in Cusco. The aim of the campaign was to provide free medical checkups and general medicine prescriptions for the people of the area who otherwise can’t afford to see a doctor let alone pay for their medication.

With the equipment, Rosa, the doctor and volunteers readily packed into the car we headed to the area of Paradiso de Guadalupe, ready for the task at hand. Rhodri and Myra, two volunteers working for Helping Hands had been promoting the event the day before and had put fliers throughout the neighborhood and in local shops in order to raise awareness of the medical campaign.

After setting up the consultation tent, we waited for our patients to come; and they sure did come. Everybody was assigned a different role for the campaign: Myra was in charge of taking patients’ details such as; name, age and weight; Rhodri was in charge of taking the blood pressure of the patients; whilst Rosa played nurse for the day as she assisted the doctor with his appointments.

The medical campaign was a great success as the doctor was able to see more than a hundred and ten people during the duration of the morning. Each visitor to the portable clinic was given attention, suitable medication and refreshments. Team spirit was high and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their day at the campaign.

Unfortunately we didn’t have the time or the resources to provide everyone who came with an appointment – this is where we need YOUR help! Each medical campaign costs up to 750 nuevo soles (US$ 290), this price includes payment of a doctor, medication and transport to and from the campaign. Helping Hands Cusco would love to run even more medical campaigns and see every last person that comes to the campaigns.

Although you might take medical care for granted, these free campaigns are a chance for some of the poorest people in Cusco to treat a problem that would otherwise have to be ignored due to lack of funds to see a doctor.

To donate: visit the Helping Hands Pharmacy Donation form

Or 

For more information visit the Helping Hands Pharmacy website

All work at the Jardin!

Once again the Jardin has become a building site! Through the hard work of Mario and the volunteers we have constructed this two floor building, painted it a vibrant blue with silver windows on the outside and a colourful bright green and silver on the inside.  The bottom floor will be used as a kitchen for cooking lunch for the children and the top floor is being used as a bedroom for one of the teachers who is from the community of San Gabriel.  This extra building will be very useful in expanding the activities and projects within the Jardin of San Gabriel.  

English Classes with Ritti and Kwinten

During the months of January and February when the kids were on break from school, two volunteers named Ritti and Kwinten came to Helping Hands Cusco.  Because the regular school was not in session yet, they decided to start teaching English classes to any of the children in San Gabriel that were interested. 

Through talking to kids and families, they were able to team teach a large class of students of varying ages English every day of the week.  In addition to English classes Ritti and Kwinten also provided free acrobatics and football classes to the children.

English classes often used creative methods to excite and interest the children (they deserve a break from school as well!), such role play, singing songs and having the children have conversations in English using the phrases they had learnt. 

Valentine’s day was celebrated in classes as Ritti and Kwinten taught phrases such as ‘I love you’, ‘Will you be my boyfriend/ girlfriend?’ and ‘Do you want to go out for a date sometime?’. The children enjoyed acting these scenes and had a lot of fun whilst learning English.

The children became very fond of Ritti and Kwinten and were very sad to see them leave – we celebrated their departure by inviting all of the children over to the volunteer apartment for food and a party.

The Mountain of Solidarity

The names of our sponsors on big flags. We get up at 5 in the morning and walk along the 
Machu Picchu railway tracks in Los Nogales, to Vicky’s shop. This is the starting point. Point Number 2 are the Inca ruins of Wayna Tauqaray, halfway up the mountain. Point Number 3 is the mountain peak.

Our students meet us at 5:30 in the morning at Vicky’s shop. They decided they want to support us and climb up and down as often as they can, too. We distribute them among the Points and give them cameras to take our picture and film us.

In the beginning, it goes very well. Myra, Kwinten and I climb up proudly in the company of children who chatter away happily. We look out for each other and always find each other thanks to the bright, large flags.  

Around 10 in the morning, a horrible accident happens: the children mess around with one of the cameras just a little too much and delete! everything! This is unfortunately the camera that recorded us getting up at 5 and that took the morning pictures. We lose it, we tell them off severely, and they take it with great dignity. I take my hat off to them respectfully for that.

After a break to cool the anger and disappointment off, one by one we pick up our flags and continue the climb.

As I climbed, I thought a lot about motivation. Climbs like these make you wonder: why the hell am I doing this? I asked Kwinten and he said: “I’m trying to raise money for the children of Los Nogales.” Yes, that’s why I agreed to this mad plan, that’s why I began this incredible trial. But it takes one hour to climb up and down, and after 5 hours of climbing, dragging yourself over rocks and fighting through cacti, you’re really asking yourself why why why.

What I am doing is going to help them. I know the money I raise will be in honest and competent hands. But that is the outcome, so what is it that is getting me up this mountain? Is it to find out if I can? Am I trying to prove something to someone?

As the hours dragged on, we went through so many emotions: elation, exhilaration, fury, desperation, disillusion, patience, rebuilding of confidence, regaining motivation . . . All in one day. That kind of emotional roller coaster is painful. That mountain really tested us. So often I thought: “This is my last time, I’m not going up again. I’m too exhausted from my anger.” And a little voice replied quietly: Doesn’t that make it the perfect reason to continue? To overcome yourself?

Everytime I went back down, somewhere, I found I had the strength to go back up. So I did. And deep down, I knew I loved it. I loved throwing the flag up and climbing up the rocks after it. I loved losing the path and finding it again. I love knowing I was almost at the top and fighting everything inside me to just keep going. One more step, you can do it, breathe and keep going.

Perhaps I loved it because these are limits you don’t always experience – and on top of it, it’s for a good cause, for children I know I love.

So epic: the sun had set and Myra, Kwinten and I walked up together for the last time. For some reason, Kwinten had his iPod strapped to his head and we listened to Mana as we climbed victoriously. By the light of his torch, he led the way and by now, we knew the route by heart.

We planted our flags and sat on the peak in quiet victory to look over Cusco glistening in the night, and I thought: what a perfect, perfect goodbye. 

In the end we raised over €1,000 - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. This was because of you! In the name of Myra, Kwinten, Helping Hands and myself: thank you. 

Regalos para Navidad

As everybody knows, Christmas is coming closer and closer and while some of you might already have the first Christmas presents others might still be looking for the perfect gift.
Why not give a present to a kid in Peru?
This year we are trying to get 600 Christmas presents for all of the children in our Patron. That´s a big goal, please help us accomplishing it by donating to our organization.
In behalf of all the kids and helping hands, thank you very much in advance and ¡Feliz Navidad!

Our Volunteer Papa Noel (Santa Claus) with Sneider, Henry and Aldair

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

On Wednesday was the birthday of on of our kids, Rocio. As a surprise we had a cake, inca kola (peru´s favorite soda) and a puppet show. The kids had a great time and definitly enjoyed the party.

Rocio our birthday princess

Carrera

This year is almost over and still there is a great event to come. We are planning a race for all of the kids from Patron San Sebastián. If everything works out as we hope, hundreds of kids will participate and run as fast as they can to get one of our great prices.

Now we just hope for good weather, a fun day and many participants!

Flyer for our race

Dia de los hermanos mayores

Our girls jumping around at the trampoline

Every Friday our volunteers take one kid each and spend the day with them being their big brother/sister. Usually all of the children want to go to "parque Urpitcha", a little amusement park in Cusco with big slides and tons of swings etc. After that everybody eats lunch at the Polleria, where the kids burn all of the calories immediately as they play in the kids-section.

It's a great day and especially the volunteers love to spend some time with the kids outside of the classroom.

Vounteers Jaime and Chris playing
with the kids at the park

Aldair and Grume

Anggy and Miriam