Ofcourse to come back to Peru and see you all again is one of my greatest wishes. On the 31st of December i will run a marathon with a t-shirt of Tankarpata and CooperarPerú. Big kiss and many thanks!”

After a long trip, i am finally at home, but i still have so clearly in my mind the face of Raquel, a girl who suffers from such a poverty. I’ve got to know hew story a few months before my volunteering, that being only 8 years old, she was already working on the market, helping other people to pack groceries. Thanks to CooperarPerú, i’ve got to meet their wonderful family. Few weeks before my arrival, the Volunteer Coordinator told me that she was waiting for me, asking about me, wanted to know how i was, where i was coming from… After many days of waiting came a great moment to meet a girl, who i already saw on the picture, which was sent earlier. The girl, who had in her smile all the enthusiasm to get her family from poverty. Her father couldn’t do a lot of work, recovering from illness that was discovered few months before. Her mother has died during the childbirth of the smallest brother, who now has 3 years. We went to meet this beautiful girl, who, unfortunately, carries the heavy burden of taking care of the family, because she is the oldest of 3 brothers, and most of all, she works and study, because she wants to become a doctor. When we got to the place she lived, i saw how kids were waiving to me, what a great welcome, while the smallest ones starting to run and hugs the legs of coordinator, screaming “Hello, Edu…”. He just smiled and waved, and i was impressed how the kids were so loving, how they needed affection. At the moment i heard my name in one of the little voices around, Raquel has recognized me and run to me smiling. She gave me a strong hug and i felt how amazing it is to help, and told her that she would never be alone, that she has me to help, that i travelled so far just to get to know her, and she started to smile. Later we went to her house with an NGO, which was helping her father to make medical tests. The house is made of mud, nothing secure for the kids. When the father met me and saw that i brought a lot of things for his kids, he thanked me crying and asked that i would look for his sister Maria, who was staying far, to take care of the children in case something happens to him. 

The NGO and i decided to look in every corner of Peru possible for the aunt, if it was possible, whom they didn’t see since 5 years. I devoted all my time to help this girl and her family: in the morning working with teachers and helping children to make their homework, and in the afternoons helping Raquel in any way i could, until we finally found an aunt, who could take care of the kids. Sometimes Raquel would turn sad and said that she wouldn’t like anything bad to happen to her father. And even though this would leave me sometimes very weak, with desire to cry, i would keep strong for her (this girl is extraordinary) and tell her that it would never happen, that i would be always here to help her. Now the situation is already better, since the ankles are around her. Thanks to organization and the volunteers, who are improving the conditions of living of Peruvian children. Just like Raquel there are many kids who suffer from hunger and have many problems. CooperarPerú is working since a few time, and it needs our help to keep fulfilling its dreams. Since few days i heard that they want to improve the kitchen and create one in the school, so the kids could eat there, because many children don’t eat well. They are saving the bread, which government gives in the morning, so they could south the hunger during the day.

I know that we can help to fulfill the dream for this community, so i’m leaving here web address www.coooperarperu.com. I’m witness of an important work, that has been done by this organization in Tankarpata.

I leave you my email if you want to know more about this NGO fabi_ana_cortez@hotmail.com and still sadly saying goodbye to Rachel and all the wonderful people, with whom i worked in the NGO  and promised to return with more help this time …

The help, which gives anyone of you is very important, and gives us strength to keep working, keep helping, sharing our dreams, concerns, sorrows, happiness and courage. 

I know that we can do more. Even though sometimes we feel desperate, we keep going, because at the end of the road there is a smile and the hug of the child, which is the best remedy from anguish and despair, which we might have in front of obstacles… Keep dreaming, keep doing everything possible to improve from day to day, keep fulfilling our dreams. 

We will never forget the value that brings every one of the volunteers, the strength to say “enough” and make the impossible possible. The courage to avoid fear and walk the path never taken, with the only objective to rescue the dreams of our kids.

Every one of you was really needed to make things real and achieve what we are doing now. Even though there is still a lot to be done, we keep working and hoping that you won’t forget about us and keep growing with us…. Let’s keep in touch. 

We are bringing this message of solidarity and hope to every corner of the earth…. And we should know that we can do everything we want, only if we want. I’m gifting you my song… I will never forget all with whom i’ve lived this volunteer experience.

Edu.”