We Must Act Now!

We approach the month of December and without a doubt there are great expectations, children expect gifts, clothes, and even more importantly food. Unfortunately, millions of people are unable to meet their children's need especially at this time of the year.

In Peru more than the 50% of the population is living below the poverty line and many do not have access to the basic food, clothing, and a place to live, although these three elements are considered as fundamental rights. Essentially what this mean is that one out of two Peruvians are going to bed hungry and do not have much to look forward to even on Christmas.

What can we do?

And what should we do?

We Must Act Now!

Currently, we know that our world is in desperate need and there are resources to FIGHT hunger and prevent malnutrition. We CAN FIGHT against preventable diseases, and WE CAN WORK to be Peacemakers in the world, WE CAN CHANGE attitudes of racism and exclusion, and WE CAN HELP all to receive primary education, and WE CAN ALL GIVE hug, smile, and share in the blessings we have recieved.

It is the time to WORK and to CHANGE our history and to REDUCE poverty in Peru and in the world.

We at Kushis Winaykan BELIEVE together WE CAN!

Do you believe the same?

We are writing to you because we know that you are part of this initiative to CHANGE the world, and we believe that ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE.

Yenny Delgado
Coord. de Kushis Winaykan

Contact with us:

E mail: kushis.winaykan@gmail.com
01-999-138587

Cuenta en soles :Banco de Crédito del Perú:
365-16385185-0-38

Cuenta en dólares : Banco Interbank
023-301974632 - 9

What will you do?

Another Saturday afternoon in Humano Leoncio Prado and we are welcomed back by a procession of happy children to the small adobe house where the classes take place. The volunteer teachers wait for their happy children in order to share another time of games, songs, lessons, and a delicious lunch prepared with a lot of love.

Definitely this a a new time for the entire Kushis Winaykan team as we reunite again in Huanuco and this time we are joined by Renán Orozco. Renán decided a few months back to come and joined the team of Kushis to bring smiles and the message of love to all the children of Leoncio Prado. Below is what Renán wrote in describing his time helping out with the kids.

"I saw boys and girls happy and playing in the middle of a difficult time, but also I could know mostly cruel backgrounds, experiences that same cannot count and that alone is aforesaid in a face of lacking fearful look of smile. Also I saw the effort of a tireless team (Kushis Winaykan) continuing to struggle and share their time and forces without waiting for things to change but working for that change.

Upon thinking about the team and the children of Leoncio Prado, I recalled of a biblical history that tells about four friends that carried a paralytic to Jesus. In spite of the fact that the house where Jesus taught was full of people and the paralytic could not enter, those 4 men did not quit, they opened the ceiling, with cords and descended the paralytic and Jesus healed and forgave the man of his sins. (Mark 2:1-12).

If your were there, what would you have done? Would you be on the sideline with arm crossed and just looking at what happens or would be part of the group of people that with the hope of carrying the paralytic to Jesus?


It is impossible to try to deny the comfortable thing and remain behind a desk, looking at computer screen and ignore the reality that affects a lot of children in Peru and everyone, but is of brave to say: "My God, here am I, and I am yours, your are my force and everything that I have."


What will you do?

Really my visit to Huanuco was time in which God showed me his love and gave new mission to my life.

"Paschi"….Our little Rudi

His tender but penetrating look leaves us all breathless. Though he does not always come together like all the other boys and girls on the Saturday morning classes he appears to have found his favorite corner in which to color. What we first thought of as timidity now is clarified instantly when we heard him say in Quechua "paschi," that signifies "thanks" in English.

Rudi is only five years and is the youngest in his family. His family migrated from the heights of Pachabamamba to Huanuco less than a year ago in order to seek better opportunities in the city. Since then they have been living in the small community of Leoncio Field.

Before the sunrise his entire family life is arranged around the sale of vegetables in the central market. By no means is their life an easy existence and from early on the children are taught to both help in domestic chores but also in the vending of vegetables. With the worldwide rise in fuel cost and other necessary items times have become much tougher and the income does not always cover all the families' expense.

Unfortunately we do not know all about little Rudi's hopes, dreams and passion because of the language barrier. However, from his sweet gestures and tender looks he allows us to understand a small bit of his world. Now he happily attends every Saturday morning, learning new words in Spanish, meeting new friends and playing, but above all the power to learn about Jesus Christ due in large part to your generous donations.

Today more than ever Raquel, Yuly, and the group of volunteers that work with passion and energy with the children in Kushis Winaykan encourage you continue to helping and also to share with your friends the work that goes on here.

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If you want to be a sponsor of one of the little girls or boys of Leoncio Prado we encourage you to contact us:

E-mail: kushis.winaykan@gmail.com

Coordinator: Yenny Delgado

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*The monthly cost of bread for every child for the Saturday programs is only $4.00.

+ Life in Leoncio Prado in Huanuco

A day in the life of our Saturday programs…. In the little mountain located right above Leoncio Prado eager boys and girls await the Saturday lunch. This was a change from initially scheduling our activities in the morning. However, with the coming of summer the boy s and girls of Leoncio Prado have begun to work more in the Alamed Central market selling bags, bottles, flowers, and vegatables in order to help their families make ends meat. Thus, we have changed our schedule to accommodate the needs and realities of the community.

Beyond a change of time with have also having been receiving more help from kind residents in the community to help with Kushis. Oscar is one of our new young volunteers, who since late April has willingly provided his house as the staging and meeting location for our Saturday work. From his house nearly 80 children attend each Saturday morning for the classes and lunch. Mrs. Shila has alos recently joined as a volunteer, and along with Yuly helps to gather the wood for cooking and prepares the soy milk and bread to go along with the egg roles. Meanwhile Raquel, the coordinator of Kushis Winaykan in Hunauco, prepares the materials for the classes and acquires the chairs graciously donated by "Ministry Assisi."
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Almost everything is prepared and ready to go for the day, however we cannot ignore how the fluctuations in global food prices have adversely affected this community. Before our very own eyes the prices in Huánuco have rose dramatically, anecdotally the cost of bread here has not risen. However, the size of bread has been reduced to half of its original size. It is worrying to know that this change will have a dramatically negative effect on the Saturday gatherings unless we seriously do something to ensure that boys and girls continue to receive this small blessing every Saturday.
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Finally we start the meeting, and the children's voices resonate far beyond the adobe walls and amid the chants and games the joy has no limits. Boys and girls are grouped based on age: with 3 and 4 year olds going with Raquel and learn through painting, 5 through 9 years old are led by Judith and 10 through 14 are led by Yuly, who helps them in reading comprehension and general grammar.

After the fun of painting, learning, singing and sharing it is finally time for lunch. The tiny hands are joined together and a prayer is given in appreciation for the food that we are all about to receive. The soy milk jugs are broken and we must seek to maintain order in a space so small with so many children inside it. Though the food is not plentiful and nearly not enough for their growing bodies they still fill us with their gratitude as expressed with hugs and kisses.

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Though the aid they receive from the program is minimal the boys and girls still show their great affection and joy from what they have received. Though we lack in the material and food items we desire to give, we do share all of our love, time and affection we have. Moreover, we share something even more valuable the Word of God who instructs us that everything is possible if we trust in Him.

After the boys and girls have all left Raquel, Yuly, Oscar, Judith, Shila, Yenny, and I (Cathia) are all tired after the hard work but filled with joy for helping in some small part. However, we know that we cannot rest on our laurels, but we must find additional resources to extend the work. We have taken some good first steps but there is still more we must all do.
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We have set targets leading to the end of this year with a budget that ensures food for 100 children. As for the upcoming year we are looking to raise $1000.00 in order to buy much needed land in the area and in time begin to construct a facility which is capable of hosting the Saturday events and hopefully extend the work. We know that we are all being affected by the unstable world economy, but we share the conviction that even the tiniest amount of aid helps.
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If you want to be a sponsor of one of the little girls or boys of Leoncio Prado we encourage you to contact us:
E-mail: kushis.winaykan@gmail.com
Coordinator: Yenny Delgado
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*The monthly cost of bread for every child for the Saturday programs is only $4.00.