The First Few Days in Peru

If there was such a thing as an angel on earth, I think I met her. Lucy, the director of Genericion (check out the international projects on www.notforsalecampaign.org under Peru to learn more) a home for street children of Peru is an amazing woman. These first few days so took me to the home, told me about her work, and personally showed me some of the terrible areas of the city.

The first day at Genericion was a lot of fun, I spent the day getting to know and playing with the children. We played cards for most of the morning, and I was very proud of myself because I taught them four card games by speaking in Spanish. They were very eager to learn, after we played one for a while they would ask, nuevo juego! (new game!) After playing cards, we walked around the city and went to the ocean. A few of the brave ones and myself walked to the edge of the bluffs overlooking the water. We were in the perfect spot to be drenched in the waves as they hit. As we saw them approaching we would all hug eachother close, shut our eyes, and scream waiting for the water. After every big wave they would yell uno mas! (one more) Which they said at least five times! Even though we have language barriers, it was an experince that we were all able to understand without words. When we got back to the house, Lucy just laughed and laughed. I don't think she expected us to come back soaking wet from our walk.

After we dried off, I gave the children the donations that I brought from famalies that I work with in Eau Claire, and friends that contributed. I wish you were all there to see that because it was amazing. They were all so happy and greatful for what we were able to provide.

Lucy than introduced me to a young girl, Carmen* (not her real name) who just arrived to Genercion because she was escaping her life on the streets as a prostitue. She just had her 14th birthday and she has been working the streets since se was 12. When you ask her why she was doing it, she will tell you that she was helping her mother. Actually, this is Carmen's second time to Genericion, the first time her mother came and took her and put her back onto the streets so that she could make money. This time I think she is there to stay because Lucy is there to protect her. I got to meet Carmen's mother yesterday and she seems like a nice enough women. I am just in the begin of understanding this problem, I need to know more about Carmen's situation and other families like her in order to learn how it starts and how to end it.

Carmen is a beauitful little girl, who came right up to me and embraced me the moment I walked into the door. She loves to dance and play with the other children. She is a child just like the children we meet in the U.S., it's unfair that she has been put through all that she has seen and been a part of.

Later that day, Lucy took me to Veronica's House, an old house that she has invested a lot of money into to fix up for girls that are recovering from being trafficking victims. There is a lot of work to do, and she still needs to put a lot of money into the building, (money that is mainly out of her own pocket). When it's done, it will be able to comfortably fit 12 girls to help them transition from their lives of working on the street to a better life.

The night of the first day has been my favorite so far. Lucy drove me around Lima to see the areas where the problems lie. When I'm with Lucy, there's no need to be afarid of these areas. I swear everyone in this city knows this women. She has built so much trust and community with the people on the streets that it is well known that you don't mess with Lucy, or there will be gangs of people behind her to protect her. The reason why is because it is evident that she loves and cares for everyone she meets unconditianally, without judgement. I have a lot to learn from people like Lucy.

As we drove around people would run to her car yelling "Lucy!! Lucy!!" We even had a group of five people surround the car and pound on the windows like she was a celebertity. At first Lucy and I both jumped and scream, we were not prepared for that. We would pick people up, and drop people off, give people money, buy people food, give out hugs and kisses on the cheek. Whatever people needed, we would do it. No questions asked. It was amazing. Then we drove around the streets where there are high rates of prostitution, because it was early there weren't that many girls working the streets yet, but I got to meet and talk to a few of them. One of the girls I met was 16 years old, 6 months pregnant, and still working. Lucy is building Veronica's house for girls like her, she realizes that she will have no place to go once her baby is born.

I have so much respect for Lucy and other people who work with her that I am so motivated to do a good job on this report so that I can inform others on the issue that she cares so deeply about. I don't want to let her down.