Proof of Compassion: Peru

Poverty as we know it in the United States often does not compare to the poverty felt in many developing countries. For children in these countries, the effects can be especially devastating. This is why Dr. John Matthews, assistant professor of social work, decided to take a group of 17 students with him to Peru over spring break.

Matthews, who has always had a passion for giving back and being of service to the community, has traveled to Peru several times and has seen first-hand the meaning of poverty and more importantly, of hope.

The hope the Peruvians have is that things will get better because they have to. In other countries such as Peru, poverty is not viewed as the individual problem that it is in the United States, Matthews explained. "People's fates are tied together."

The trip to Lima, Peru, was a social work elective course that extended from March 22-29. Their goal was to be of service to the children who lived at Puericultorio Perez Aranibar (PPA), the largest children's home in South America. This center serves and houses over 600 children from infancy to young adulthood.

The PPA works with Global Volunteers, a nonprofit international organization. Global Volunteers coordinates teams every two years to contribute to long-term human and economic development projects, such as Matthews's trip to Lima.

In Lima, foster homes do not exist as they do here in the United States, which may increase the likelihood of abandonment and abuse. Siblings get separated. This is where the center steps in and takes in these forgotten children.

Some kids have special needs, and taking these kids to get extra care such as physical therapy was one of Matthews's most rewarding experiences while serving in Lima. Some children Matthews remembers from an earlier trip have made great strides thanks to physical therapy. One child was not able to hold her head up on her own when Matthews first met her; now she's doing great. Moments like that make the work Matthews is doing all the more memorable.

Students were able to have one-on-one time with the children at the PPA. This special time with the kids is something EWU student Ashley Dawson misses the most. She said she didn't realize just how much she would miss them. She says the trip to Peru has taught her to be grateful for the things she has. Dawson explained that although her group was only there for a week, the kids were very much a part of her life. "Seeing how happy they were, the smiles on their faces made it all worthwhile," Dawson said.

Matthews was stunned by the complete generosity of the Peruvian people. Even the poor seemed to have a helping hand. In one instance, two poor women ran a makeshift soup kitchen that consisted of nothing more than two large pots over a fire on the desert floor. The women served more than 70 people each day. Matthews said the students were able to see first hand the importance of community and taking care of other people.

Living conditions in the poorest parts of Lima are a far cry from the country's other more popular destinations like Machu Pichu and further east into the lush jungles.

The landscape is desert-like and dry, with shacks of houses lining the dirt streets. Houses are made with anything the people can find and usually house more than seems possible. One woman, who graciously invited the group into her one-room home stuffed with four beds, offered to buy water for Matthews's group. There was a chicken in her house that she apologized for, because the chicken had chickenpox.

Matthews said he tried to get students prepared for culture shock. He remembers the group's wide eyes as they were surprised to see such a huge wall of people at the airport in Lima.

To measure success for the poorest of many of Lima's residents, is to see just how far away they could get from their village in Lima, and the airport is where all the action is. Loved ones who have made it out of the poor villages come back to Lima to see family members. The airport always seems crowded with hugs, kisses and welcoming balloons.

The streets are dizzying with traffic going every which way, vehicles ignoring stoplights and pedestrians. The group hung on for dear life in a less-than-stable bus ride through the city. In stark contrast, on days when the group was able to tour the richer parts of the city, they saw beautiful buildings and rich histories of the Incan people.

Volunteers are always welcomed and needed. "It doesn't get done without volunteers doing it," Matthews said.

For more information on the International Electives offered in the School of Social Work, contact Matthews at (509) 359-7339 (for information about Peru) and Dr. Lisa Avery at (509) 359-2277 (for information about Jamaica). 

For information about the PPA and other development projects across the globe, contact Global Volunteers at www.globalvolunteers.org.