Lima Part 2 - Agape

As well as visiting Paz y Esperanza in Lima, we also visited another tearfund project on the Monday and Tuesday - Asociacion Agape who are based in Huaycan in Lima.

Who or what is Asociacion Agape - well they are a Christian non profit organisation that works  with and supports Peruvian families  - helping them spiritually, emotionally and financially. They help run programmes which teach women and children craft skills so they can make things and sell them. The aim to is help reduce poverty, material and spiritual of those families who are disadvantaged,

The area we visited was called Huaycan and this area was an area of political violence of the 80's and 90's by the Shining Path and was very much suppressed by the armed forces and police. Political violence was removed from this area but instead came persistent poverty due to new migrants and apathy towards the future. They are many gangs in this area and domestic and sexual violence are high as it alcohol and drug abuse. This area also has one of the highest rates of TB in Peru as well. 

The families in this area have welcome the work and support of Agape as they all have aspirations but without Agape they would not have the access to the development opportunities which they now have. 

On the Monday we visited a workshop were women were being taught how to make Christmas decorations which they could then sell and we also visited on of the families which the organisation work with hearing their story and seeing where they live. 

Women in the craft workshop

Mum with one of the Agape workers and a mother she supports

To see photos more of the workshop and the family please click here. 

On the Tuesday we started with a visit to a church to meet with the Pastor's wife and here about the work she does in the area. One of the things she does is help women cook meals for kids - every day two women come into the church kitchen and cook meals for children in the area who then come to the church to get it. 

After this we visited another place were women were also cooking  - this time they were cooking for people in and around the pueblo joven in which they lived - they cooked soup and a main course all for 2 soles (50p). 

One of the women cooking 100 meals

Making Papa Rellana 

We were able to try some of the food which was made and it was very nice. 

In the afternoon we visited another workshop were the women were being taught how to make Christmas decorations again to sell. And we visited another family as well -this time a woman and her four children. She brought us in her home and gave us some of her food as well - which was very kind and heartbreaking  - the fact she who had not much money was sharing her food with complete strangers. 

The lady with her daughter.

All in all these two days were very interesting - seeing another organisation working in Peru, seeing what they do and how they help people as well as seeing another part and side of Peru. I think the work these guys and Paz y Esperanza do is fantastic. 

To see more of what we did on the second day with Agape please click here