Proof of Compassion: Peru
Children of poverty helped by students
Veronica Lamb, Staff writer
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
Poverty as we know it in the United States often does not compare to the poverty felt in many developing countries. For children in these countries, the effects can be especially devastating. This is why Dr. John Matthews, assistant professor of social work, decided to take a group of 17 students with him to Peru over spring break.
Matthews, who has always had a passion for giving back and being of service to the community, has traveled to Peru several times and has seen first-hand the meaning of poverty and more importantly, of hope.
The hope the Peruvians have is that things will get better because they have to. In other countries such as Peru, poverty is not viewed as the individual problem that it is in the United States, Matthews explained. "People's fates are tied together."
The trip to Lima, Peru, was a social work elective course that extended from March 22-29. Their goal was to be of service to the children who lived at Puericultorio Perez Aranibar (PPA), the largest children's home in South America. This center serves and houses over 600 children from infancy to young adulthood.
The PPA works with Global Volunteers, a nonprofit international organization. Global Volunteers coordinates teams every two years to contribute to long-term human and economic development projects, such as Matthews's trip to Lima.
In Lima, foster homes do not exist as they do here in the United States, which may increase the likelihood of abandonment and abuse. Siblings get separated. This is where the center steps in and takes in these forgotten children.
Some kids have special needs, and taking these kids to get extra care such as physical therapy was one of Matthews's most rewarding experiences while serving in Lima.
Some children Matthews remembers from an earlier trip have made great strides thanks to physical therapy. One child was not able to hold her head up on her own when Matthews first met her; now she's doing great. Moments like that make the work Matthews is doing all the more memorable.
Matthews, who has always had a passion for giving back and being of service to the community, has traveled to Peru several times and has seen first-hand the meaning of poverty and more importantly, of hope.
The hope the Peruvians have is that things will get better because they have to. In other countries such as Peru, poverty is not viewed as the individual problem that it is in the United States, Matthews explained. "People's fates are tied together."
The trip to Lima, Peru, was a social work elective course that extended from March 22-29. Their goal was to be of service to the children who lived at Puericultorio Perez Aranibar (PPA), the largest children's home in South America. This center serves and houses over 600 children from infancy to young adulthood.
The PPA works with Global Volunteers, a nonprofit international organization. Global Volunteers coordinates teams every two years to contribute to long-term human and economic development projects, such as Matthews's trip to Lima.
In Lima, foster homes do not exist as they do here in the United States, which may increase the likelihood of abandonment and abuse. Siblings get separated. This is where the center steps in and takes in these forgotten children.
Some kids have special needs, and taking these kids to get extra care such as physical therapy was one of Matthews's most rewarding experiences while serving in Lima.
Some children Matthews remembers from an earlier trip have made great strides thanks to physical therapy. One child was not able to hold her head up on her own when Matthews first met her; now she's doing great. Moments like that make the work Matthews is doing all the more memorable.
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