“Luis has been turning heads in the Chiclayo site since he could barely walk. Now 10 years old, Luis has been sponsored through Chalice since he was three “and has shown great effort to stand out,” site staff write.
Luis lives with his parents: Katherin and Jose, and three younger siblings. Their community in Peru’s northern city struggles with polluted water and food insecurity. Children often come down with waterborne illnesses and show signs of anemia and other nutritional issues. This year, the site started a lunch program for 50 children with the greatest need. Luis and his peers gather for a nutritious meal four days a week. “I did not eat at home like this before,” Luis says. “Now I eat my lunch, my salad, and my fruit. “It gives me a lot of joy to enjoy my delicious lunches.”
The program isn’t only for the 50 children in the dining hall. Site staff are training parents to cook similar meals at home. “This program has not only changed the eating habits of the children who participate, but also of the families who have improved the preparation of nutritious food in their homes,” site staff writes. “And the children share these teachings with their siblings, generating a chain of community change.”
Luis confirms that Katherin has taken up the challenge. “In my house now, my mom prepares food like this,” he says.
Luis also takes part in the site’s Chalice-supported Little Neighborhood School program. At the Little Neighbourhood School, teachers and staff provide extra help with schoolwork. But the children are really there for the fun stuff — art, crafts, sports, and community volunteer projects.
Luis and his friends don’t realize that they’re improving their academic performance and growing in confidence while they play. “All these programs have allowed children like Luis to improve their capabilities in an integrated way, not only taking care of their physical health, but also their mental health and relationships with others,” site staff say.
Luis’s enthusiastic participation has improved his attitude, and Katherin says he’s always eager to help her in his free time. Luis says he is grateful to all those who supported the dining hall and Little Neighbourhood School programs. “I thank you for the support you give me and all my friends in my community.”
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