Help the Children of Huaycan
I first met Lara at a bus stop in Lima, after a short and enthusiastic greeting we were inundated by small buses which were really more like vans typically driven by soccer moms. Except here in Lima they’re operated by Peruvians with an innate sense of spacial awareness. Along with the driver, these buses have a man on board who’s job is to loudly announce the destinations upon each stop, slapping the van while he hangs out of the open door. Once on board I immediately begin asking Lara what motivated her to take on such a project all by herself- oh and she was 23 years old when she first opened the facility. After each change of buses it was plain to see we were heading closer to the poverty stricken areas of Lima. The roads were dusty and I began to notice the shacks built right into the hillsides.
Lara’s story:
She began volunteering in high school and after a few trips to Peru she developed a close relationship with a family living in one of the many slums that encircle Peru’s capital city. It was that experience that motivated her to get involved with the community and work towards providing a long-term solution for the poverty found there. She admitted to me that once when she was 19 she considered entering the Peace Corps but after some contemplating and maybe a bit of fear, she decided against it. Only 4 years later she’d be on her way to Peru, to a city where she knew no one. On her own she began what is now the Light and Leadership Initiative of Huaycan.
(youtube video)I was immediately struck by the stark contrast of the colorful rooms of the youth and teen centers compared to the bleak situation that the city of Huaycan is currently in. The LLI centers are such a source of hope and happiness for these children and teens.
LLI began as an after school program for young children ages 7-12. It has now grown to include other programs for teens and women. Lara chose to focus on education because (and I think we can all agree) that is what will give the kids the best chance at breaking out of the cycle of poverty.
As you may or may not know, Peru has consistently been rated last or second to last when it comes to the quality education provided. Lara aims to supplement the children’s schooling with an after school program that provides reading and English classes among a ton of other classes like math, art and sports. They even provide classes for the children to begin to learn how to code! I thought that was just amazing. English coupled with a knowledge of coding I think will help the children have a much better chance to get good paying jobs and be able to better provide for their families.
LLI has been open since 2009 and has seen many of the children grow up into teens. Two years ago Lara was able to get a grant to help fund their teen center. It’s a great space for the local teens to come in and read, play music, use computers and just socialize.
The teen center is so important because it also provides the teens with resources for learning about college opportunities and truly advancing their prospects for a secure career in the future. Unfortunately the grant they had initially received is no longer a guarantee and now the teen center may be at risk if further funding isn’t being provided.
Here’s where us at Steemit come into play!
This is a price breakdown of how Light and Leadership will be able to utilize the funds raised for them with this post. Please spread the word about this post so we can provide an amazing gift to these incredibly hard working and giving volunteers and to the very deserving children, teens and women that they help.
If this post reaches $1,000: New books for kids
If this post reaches $2,500: Fund a female artisan to learn a new craft- screen printing
If this post reaches $5,000: Provide the Teen center with funds for special events- field trips, leadership training for at least a year
If this post reaches $20,000: Provide a part time salary for TWO YEARS for a local Peruvian to run LLI’s career counseling and higher education services to teens- THEY REALLY NEED THIS ONE!
Ultimately Lara wants these facitilties to be run by more Peruvians, thus keeping this whole idea totally beneficial to the community. Lara and her volunteers want the city of Huaycan to be able to lift itself up out of it’s current situation. It’s going to take time, but the best way is to invest in the children by giving them the time and resources to best prepare them for success in the future. Lara has spent the past 7 years working to make this a reality and I believe she’s on the right track. We can help solidify the success of these children. All you need to do is UPVOTE!
If you’re interested in becoming involved with this initiative by volunteering or if you want to donate directly to them here is their website
Here is more information on their philosophy of ethical volunteering
You can also help support LLI by purchasing merchandise offered on their newly launched online store. The clothing, bags and accessories are handmade by a local women.
Here is the link to the artisan project
USE THE PROMO CODE STEEM15 TO RECEIVE A 15% DISCOUNT!
I will upvote posts like this all day long!
This is all win.
Thank you for helping those kids.
I agree and feel the same way! Post like these are really worth voting for and what @heiditravels is doing is amazing. Most people just travel, but to give back to communities that are in need as she travels is a wonderful humanitarian thing to do. I hope we see more people like that anf help make this a better world. I support this 100%! Let's help @heiditravels help others in need! Thank you
^Couldn't have said it better myself! Keep up the good work Heidi you are literally changing lives with your posts!
Me too! What a good post and a better cause. Followed and upvoted.
Great job you are doing great work for the community good way to set a good example for everyone this is a great way to pay it forward!!! @heiditravels!!! Check out my Steemit Geofilter @heiditravels:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@acassity/snapchat-steemit-geofilter-live-in-salt-lake-city-at-the-city-creek-mall-1st-geofilter-of-many-planned-to-come-for-steemit
Hello @heiditravels. I hope things are going well for you en Perú! You have been pretty quiet lately.
i want to invite all people to upvote this post
nice work @heiditravels as always! 8]
Every penny counts! You have @miacats and @milestone upvotes!
Indeed "Every penny counts! "
Thank you for helping them out :)
Keep doing the great work...
Hi Heidi. Nice to see you continuing to do your great work using Steemit to help others. Best of luck:)
Amazing work. I love this community.
Good heart equals good rewards. This is the best form of marketing steemit can have, helping those who need help the most.
We do our best...
Great post for a great idea. I am having trouble with the links at the bottom of the post, though. I had to copy the link address and remove the steemit.com prefix to get through. I have added fixed links below in case you don't get a chance.
Link 1: "If you’re interested in becoming involved with this initiative by volunteering or if you want to donate directly to them here is their website"
Link 2: "Here is more information on their philosophy of ethical volunteering"
Link 3: "You can also help support LLI by purchasing merchandise offered on their newly launched online store. The clothing, bags and accessories are handmade by a local women."
:)
@heiditravels Great work
My vote is so small, but take it, sure!
Of course I am on board and best to you!
Great idea! thanks for giving! & thanks for being a great Steemit leader!!
rock on!
@heiditravels its a great initiative! Have you told Lara about #steemit and how to open an account? Even if they write in #spanish there is an audience for them. That would help them even more!
Yes I did tell her all about steemit, she is looking into starting an account and incorporating the artisan line with it. Hoping to bring a fresh facet to steemit!
Great! Thank you.
Come on whales!! Let those people in Peru hear about the power of Steemit!
Amazing travelling @heiditravels
Amazing stuff @heiditravels - thanks for doing good in this world!
Amazing what you're doing Heidi!
Thank you for thinking about other people, hope this post exceeds yoyr expectation so they can get a little help!
Hello, Heidi! I'm totally enamored with your post and your intentions! I decided to make something similar, as I too adore traveling. But most doesn't get enough attention. Maybe you could upvote it and tell to your friends or something? :) I know, it sounds weird, trust issues, but there will be proofs of my acitivity! As soon as I'm able to spread the wealth, like you said. Or at least, give me some reccomendations :) Steemers, please upvote my comment so that Heidi can see it. Thank you all!)
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@zakharsmirnoff/let-s-make-something-great-davaite-sdelaem-chto-nibud-klassnoe
And sorry for posting this again, I'm just again getting no attention:(
upvoted
Awesome article. Love the photos with the kids!
Great write up again Heidi and another great inititive - upvoted
Wow Heidi
Thid is a wonderful contribution and appreciate what you are doing. I have done similar in Brazil slums, on the hills.
Yes, the class rooms can be stark and bare. But isnt it amazing how there smiles and jo to be there, makes it so full. I bet that also drew you to them. The young appreciate so much. As for the teens, yes they need these places and the teaching. If they cant get jobs, or the better jobs you mention, then they will fall into the bad surroundsing, and gangs, Or just lose hope with themselves and life.
Thank you for the challenge levels you have hear. Lets shoot this post to the moon, and help these children. One child helped reachs so many more. Its a dominoe effect-
amazing story. keep going :)
This is a very nice post of yours !
@heiditravels really like this post. I think you should try something similar again. You are very creative. Keep trying. This is a great initiative in my opinion.
Thank you so much for using your influence on this new social media platform to support charity!
Of course i support such posts and you have my upvote! Really great work.
Interesting story, up voted. Did you get to Cusco / Machu? In Lima I enjoyed the catacombs of a Cathedral, and the Pyramids just out side of town.