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