Donation of Medicines and Sanitation Materials to Preschools

April 24, 2008

Recently our charity met the coordinator of the Wawa Wasi service in the region of Chivay. Wawa Wasis are preschools for children under the age of five. These government-funded schools often operate in areas of extreme poverty, such as Chivay near the Colca Canyon, a three-hour drive from Arequipa. The Wawa Wasi coordinator informed us that he is unable to perform his duty as a nutritionist due to unsanitary conditions in the schools. Garbage accumulates in the kitchens, attracting flies which spread disease. And a lack of clean cups means that the children have to share contaminated drinks.

We purchased fifteen sealed plastic garbage cans to help with the schools' waste-disposal problem. There are five Wawa Wasis in the region, meaning that each school's kitchen will be equipped with three garbage cans. We also provided plastic drinking cups for each of the 120 students.

Our volunteers traveled to Chivay and the surrounding villages on April 24 to distribute these supplies and meet the students. In addition to the garbage containers and cups, we stocked each school's infirmary with medicine including ibuprofen, amoxicilin, and erithromycin. We also donated blankets and board games to each school. The smiling children happily greeted our volunteers and devoured the chocolate candies we brought. Our hope is that these donations will contribute to a safe and sanitary learning environment for the babies and children in this impoverished region.