Your Travel Team Made A Great Trip To Peru
By David Hodgkins
The Travel Team had a great trip to Alto Cayma, Arequipa, Peru from January 20th to January 29th! Team Members Included- John Barringer, David Hodgkins, Ed King, Alicia Morris, Sally Morris, Joe Morris, Kelly Morris (Gastonia East Club), Karen Vagianos and Van Vagianos.
The country in beautiful, the people are great and extremely appreciative of the visit and support we are giving them and the poverty is unbelievable!
One of the projects we support is the Home Improvement Initiative. Charlotte Dilworth South End started a program with $3,000.00 initial seed money whereby a family that wants to make an improvement to their living conditions- such as putting walls around them, etc., comes up with the project. They work to earn as much as they can and apply to our program for matching funds- it could take a year or more to make $500.00- and then get the additional $500.00 from us if they have serious enough need and are accepted by our people in Alto Cayma that monitor the program - Gloria & Jim Hintz of the University City Club and Father Alex whom we all met a few months ago and who has done great things to this area in the 7 years he has been there!
When we got there, $2,000.00 had been spent on (3) home projects- all of which we visited and the families were so extremely appreciative- it is really hard to share their feelings without everyone actually visiting there! It is amazing what a small amount of money can do to change the lives of these people!
The final project that was approved while we were there was a home for Lidia, a 24 year old, cute and energetic girl that has worked hard to become the Treasurer of the Greeting Card making project which we had a presentation on late last year. She and her family- (2) parents and (4) brothers and sisters now live in a ONE ROOM Stone house- smaller that most of the bedrooms in our homes! Her project was to build a brick home with tin roof for around $2,000.00 US. She has worked months to raise $615.00 and has bought as many bricks as she can and the walls are half up. Now the problem- she needs around $400.00 to get the one half to then get the match and build the house.
On our last meeting before the trip, a basket was passed around to members and guests- we raised $382.00! Someone was evidently watching over us as that amount was EXACTLY what Lidia needed for the project. We all went to her home project and awarded her with YOUR money of $382.00- this made the amount she needed- she was selected for the match grant and now Lidia and her family will be able to build the home they have dreamed about for years! Thank you Dilworthians and Friends!
Attached are photos of exactly the time when Lidia and her Dad were told of the award and a photo of your fellow members with them in front of the project. The Board will be voting on continuing this project at their meeting on Monday night and we all encourage each club member to think about whether this is something you might individually want to support as a few of our members already have- If you have any questions- Please ask any of us!
