Newsletter August 2022
What do you do if the bus driver for the youth weekend cancels two hours before the start? What happens to the 40 young people who have registered and there is no bus? Or what to do if the electricity suddenly goes out during children’s week? Especially at the moment when all the children arrive at the project house and the joint start with music and dance should promote joy?
Take a few deep breaths and say to yourself: «There is certainly a solution. A solution has always been found in the past.” If Plan A doesn’t work in Peru, Plan B is invented, or otherwise Plan C. I always try to find a way so that I don’t strain my nerves too much in such situations. The above examples are just two that shape our everyday lives. In the past few years I have been able to learn a lot from the Peruvians, especially in terms of improvisation.
youth weekend
At the end of July we organized a youth weekend in a camp complex. We expected 20 registrations. Based on experience from previous years, not all of them appear. Unexpectedly, many young people registered two days before the start of the camp: there were 40 participants in total. Even Lia was able to persuade her father to give her the permit. It was the first time that the 18-year-old was allowed to sleep away. Her violent father has never consented to this. On the day of departure he signed the registration form. Due to the large number of registrations, we had to spontaneously expand the kitchen and management team. And as far as the bus is concerned: After x phone calls and pure stress, we found a new bus driver with a larger bus.
Finally, we spent two and a half unforgettable, happy days in Cieneguilla, a town outside of Lima. The diverse program included games, time in the pool, as well as chocolate banana and marshmallow roasting around the campfire. Worship times and profound moments were not missing. God was really palpable. Many of our young people do not get any recognition at home, do not feel loved and were often born as an “accident”. Some take on parenting roles for their little siblings, don’t have the money to go to college after they graduate and don’t know what to do with their lives. In the conversations this weekend, many young people discovered a surprising and helpful connection between their everyday life and their faith. Alex said: «A year ago my father died in a car accident. Since that incident I have hardly left the house. I blamed God for my father’s death and totally closed myself off. Visiting this camp is a first step. I feel that I need God.” The mother has no money to enable her 19-year-old son to get an education. Now the boy has started the mobile phone repair course in our project house Pachacutec (more on that later).
So we tried to show the young people that God loves them and has a good plan for their lives. It is often a long, sometimes painful process before this certainty can be anchored in their hearts. We hope that we will continue to support these young people intensively in the years to come. At the end of the program everyone received a medal. Each had a skill or strength written on it. These were qualities that small group leaders had observed. Examples: patient, helpful, being able to motivate others to listen carefully, etc. The aim was to strengthen the young people’s self-esteem and to convey to them that we see the positive in them and appreciate them.
children week
Immediately following the youth weekend, there were three-day children’s programs in the project house Kouri Hanna and in the project house Pachacutec. The same program was carried out at both sites, which enabled time resources (preparation) to be saved. We were very pleased that many young people wanted to help actively during the children’s week. They supported us with handicrafts, games, choreographies, preparing snacks, tidying up and cleaning. First, during the youth weekend, they were participants and now in the children’s week, they have already been assigned as co-leaders. A new experience for many, which helped boost self-esteem.
School connection solutions
Many young people have no opportunity to continue their education after school. If you were able to complete secondary school, you have the following options:
private university
Costs of up to two-thirds of the minimum wage excluding bus costs for the trip to the city center and back.
private institute
Learn professions that you learn in Switzerland in an apprenticeship. The costs vary, but are also too expensive for many.
State University
Free. However, many young people from the slums do not pass the entrance test because of the low level in state schools. Many cannot afford the costly preparation for the exam.
Due to this initial situation, only very few slum youth complete further education. Although some start in an institute, they often have to stop prematurely due to financial problems.
New perspectives: au pair year / mobile phone repair course
We are looking for ways to give young people prospects. One option is an au pair year – an unknown possibility for Peruvians. As mentioned in the last newsletter, our oldest is in the USA for a year as an au pair. In addition to learning English and gaining experience, the year abroad offers the opportunity to save money. Au pairs receive free board and lodging and earn $800 a month wages (almost four times the monthly minimum wage in Peru).
In order for young women from the slums to be able and want to take advantage of this opportunity, various things have to be overcome: lack of consistency in learning English, lack of commitment, pursuing goals with little perseverance, mentality that you can’t leave the family for a whole year. The imprints and role models of their parents have a strong influence. Estación Esperanza would like to help more young women to complete such a year. Prerequisites: driver’s license, basic knowledge of English or the ability to conduct simple conversations (interviews). At the moment three young women are very interested in it. In addition to their English course, they come to the Project House for English Communication.
A few weeks ago we also started a mobile phone repair course in Pachacutec. Young people without training can learn from us how to repair cell phones. The idea is that thanks to the newly acquired knowledge, they will soon be able to generate a small income. Since practically all Peruvians have a mobile phone and it breaks down often enough, we have high hopes for this new branch of work.
goodbye
Me, Miriam, and Mael look forward to seeing you again on September 18th. Carlos will stay in Peru this time. The project as well as Angie and Flor need his support.
Unfortunately, only very few cakes have been promised for the buffet so far. We would be very grateful if there were some dear people who could bring something with them. If this is possible for you, please write to Irina Reichmuth:
irina.reichmuth@outlook.com
We wish you all the best and God’s blessings.
Best regards Lima, Miriam und Carlos Bernales-Kühni
prayer requests (German)
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