• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • e-Catalog
  • Gift Catalog
  • Donate
  • Register Now
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy (Sicily)
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Aguadilla – Puerto Rico
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Española – New Mexico
      • Rio Grande Valley – Texas
  • Projects
    • Community Work Projects
      • Delivering Essential Services
      • Teaching Conversational English
      • Supporting Community Development
      • Supplementing School-Based Curricula
      • View All Community Work Projects
  • Dates & Fees
    • Seasonal
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Monthly
      • January
      • February
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • September
      • October
      • November
      • December
      • All Service Program Dates
  • Give
    • Giving Options:
      • Donate Now
      • Changemakers Club
      • Gift Catalog
      • Ways to Give
      • Philanthropy
  • Impact
  • News
  • Request Information
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Partners' Stories Peru

Children’s Community in Peru Looks Beyond The Pandemic

volunteer service program in Peru2019

At the height of the first wave of the pandemic, Peru had the highest mortality rate in the world, almost doubling the second place, and tripling the mortality rate of the U.S. The World Bank reports the strict and prolonged quarantine enforced to contain the virus then led to a decline in GDP of 11 percent in 2020 and an increase in the poverty rate of six percent, to 27%. In the midst of this unraveling, some say it’s a miracle that our community partner, Sagrada Familia, protected all 250 resident children from COVID-19 while sustaining the community’s main programming without private or public funding. Yet Founder and DirectorMiguel Rodríguez knows he can’t rely on miracles alone, and explains how Sagrada Familia has changed because of the pandemic and how they will prepare for future challenges.


How has the pandemic affected Sagrada Familia?

The community has changed a lot at the level of care and prevention in health and hygiene. Several handwashing stations have been built and greater emphasis has been placed on preventive health care. But we have also worked hard on education by having to do it remotely and not in person. Despite the challenges it presents, distance education has positively affected the children. We can see now that they are much closer together, helping each other, even more united.

“Despite the challenges it presents, distance education has positively affected the children. We can see now that they are much closer together, helping each other, even more united.”

Miguel Rodríguez

The children have felt the hit of COVID in not going out and being locked up, and that worries us a lot. So we try to give them the greatest number of possible distractions; sports, educational afternoons, and entertaining and learning activities. The children have also stepped up their care for the environment. We are now an ecologically active community, with a lot of work in our gardens as well as recycling.

peru daily volunteering schedule
The children who live and study at Sagrada Familia are the focus of Global Volunteer’s work in Peru.

How is the day-to-day schedule of the children this year?

Their day starts very early to take advantage of the daylight and to fall asleep early so as not to waste the electricity.

They do their chores at six in the morning, at seven they go to the dining room for breakfast, then they go to school until lunch at 1:00PM, and back to class after that. After school, they have workshops or various games, then homework, and their dinner at seven at night. They go to their respective houses for the house meeting and then at 8:00 or 9:00 at most, they go to bed. Saturday is for washing their clothes, as there is no school, and they have Sundays free.

How will you engage volunteers once they return?

We have so many things that we want to work on: repairing the homes where the children sleep, replacing our old blackboards, finishing the construction of the handwashing stations, changing the floor of the sports court, getting tools for the carpentry and bakery workshops, repairing the community’s electrical system, etc. We also have a new project in the jungle where we are planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables with the help of the children.

hundreds in the neighboring communities died due to COVID-19 oxygen plant
Miguel (left) would not sit idle while hundreds in the neighboring communities died due to COVID-19. He built an oxygen plant for them.

In general, how do you think Sagrada Familia will function after the pandemic?

Because we learned a lot, I think we will not be the same community. We will do things better, out of responsible love. Apart from our commitment to ecology, to education in values, I think it is very important to continue walking on the message of caring for life, and making the lives of others better every day.

“Our education should be based on the most fluid interrelation and sharing more with everyone, and not seek divisions but rather seek what unites us, which is solidarity, responsible love, and commitment to the well-being of all.”

Miguel Rodríguez

We will no longer see the world as a simple place where we live, it is our home and the only one we have. Our education should be based on the most fluid interrelation and sharing more with everyone, and not seek divisions but rather seek what unites us, which is solidarity, responsible love, and commitment to the well-being of all.


You may also like:

Building Local Capacity in Peru

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
August 18, 2021/by Global Volunteers
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Girls-from-Sagrada-Familia-1.jpg 844 1500 Global Volunteers https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Global Volunteers2021-08-18 12:28:282021-11-25 22:40:14Children’s Community in Peru Looks Beyond The Pandemic
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Partner Communities

  • China (62)
  • Cook Islands (44)
  • Cuba (112)
  • Ecuador (89)
  • Greece (70)
  • Italy (52)
  • Montana (50)
  • Nepal (20)
  • New Mexico (2)
  • Peru (110)
  • Poland (97)
  • Portugal (44)
  • Puerto Rico (2)
  • South Dakota (8)
  • St Lucia (56)
  • Tanzania (230)
  • Texas (5)
  • Vietnam (33)

Categories

  • Classroom Assistance (8)
  • Conversational English (94)
  • Cultures and Traditions (136)
  • Development Impact (121)
  • Family Volunteering (61)
  • Free Time Options (79)
  • Group Volunteering (19)
  • News and Updates (146)
  • Partners' Stories (16)
  • Projects for Professionals (23)
  • Reaching Children's Potential (237)
  • Ripple Effect (7)
  • Service-Learning (49)
  • Staff Worldwide (26)
  • Volunteer Voices (683)
  • Why I Give (18)

Tags

American Indian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people development impact Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee gender equality Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects retiree volunteers Spring break student volunteer summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact volunteer time off work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering

Get Global Volunteers News Here!

Enter your email address to receive fresh new posts in your inbox.

  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Covid-19 Policy
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org
Federal EIN: 36-3352680

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

Subscribe to receive updates, new blog posts, and inspiring stories from our work around the world.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 36-3352680. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
International Community Development Profile: Paskalina Niima FamilyInternational community developmentHappy Healthy Birthdays for These RCP Children in August 2021!
Scroll to top