Spending a Christmas helping the children in Cuzco: Silvia Malheiro from Portugal
Silvia Malheiro at the kindergarten in Cusco
Silvia Malheiro Portugal in helping the children in Cusco Peru
Sílvia Malheiro, from Portugal, chose to spend her Christmas helping children in Cuzco, and she is loving it.
I recently lived an unforgettable experience, but very difficult to translate into words … In fact, maybe I can summarize all my feelings in one: gratitude! I spent part of the months of December 2018 and January in Cusco, Peru, in a volunteer project at Kusi Wasi (Happy House in Quechua), a home for children with special needs and in situations of
Silvia Malheiros will always remember the children in Peru
neglect and ill-treatment.
If I could have chosen healthy children? I could.
Would it have been easier? In the early days, for sure.
However, I would not have lived what I lived, learned what I learned, felt what I felt, nor received the love and love I received.
These are children with mental and / or physical problems, who have experienced situations of immoderation, physical abuse, sexual abuse, among others. Boys with stories of life so difficult, they went through unthinkable situations, so ugly … Boys suffered, needy, sick, with several needs. And, incredible as it may seem, boys so tender, so sweet, so … everything. Children who, unconsciously, demanded so much of me, but who gave so much more of themselves!
I came back with a tight heart and already full of longing for my “babies”, with the feeling that time passed even faster than normal and with an immeasurable desire to return. I came back a better person (I hope) and with a very different view of life. – Silvia Malheiro, Portugal
Find Silvia’s full article on her Blog. You can join our volunteer program at a Peruvian Kindergarten here!
How to help the Children in Cuzco as a Childcare Volunteer
If you are looking for a truly inspiring workaway volunteer opportunity, try out our childcare program at a Kindergarten in Cuzco.
These daycares sometimes are called Wawa Wasi in Quechua as well.
The Quechua words means house of the kids. The Wawa Wasi National Peruvian Program provides comprehensive early childhood care to cover the need for day care for children under 4, children of working mothers or parents.
Moreover you can help children in Cuzco who are vulnerable, because they are living in conditions of extreme poverty.
Since the work with the children is so rewarding, you will begin to see life in a different way. With you voluntary work, you will give the chidren the chance to socialize, play and learn new skills in a safe area.
These day care centers desperately need volunteers because each of the team’s educators has to care for at least 8 children from 1 month to 4 years. So, you can fill in the gap and give the children more attention! Your role includes also to organize short indoor activities such as art & craft, reading fairytale stories, coloring, playing games, serving food, cleaning and tidying, etc.
Volunteers must have a lot of love and energy to give to these children, and can expect to receive the same in kind. A flexible attitude is also vital to making the most rewarding experience.
