Background and Project Outline of the shanty town school
The C.E.P. is actually a private school, but not as you would imagine one with rich kids and fancy infrastructure. This school is actually set up and run by the very poor inhabitants of the Ramon Castilla shanty town because the Peruvian state can’t offer them anything better. That’s why together with the help of the priest Padre Tumba they took destiny in their own hands and with VERY LITTLE resources are building their dream school.
In 2005 they started with an empty dusty terrain. In 2015 they hope to have realized around the school an ecological and intercultural town and an agro industrial co-op which is sustainable and runs itself. A far away dream if you see where the school is at in the beginning of 2008. The 4000 square meter area is now fenced and they have partly finished the construction of 10 schoolrooms and a comedor (canteen to serve free food for the kids). Despite the fact that a lot is still missing the education of their kids couldn’t wait so in March 2007 they started teaching in the half finished classrooms.
Currently they have over 250 students from 3 to 10 years old. They get free education, school materials and a meal a day while at school. In the beginning the school noticed the kids falling a sleep during classes because they didn’t get breakfast at home. With school meals the kids at least have enough energy to learn something, and with free meals provided, some who were'nt attending school at all are now attending regularly. Despite the very active help of catholic priest father Tumba the school is not oriented towards any religion. Anyone is welcome and there is no discrimination. The parents are actively involved in running and building the school
The volunteers can help in a number of areas.
Firstly in the educational area - the school needs help with assistant teachers who can give extra attention to some children in the classrooms and keep an eye on all of them during their breaks.
Also they need volunteers who can help lead or help with English teaching , art lessons, and organizing theatre workshops and sporting activities.
In the area of human development they need help in the canteen to help prepare and improve the nutritional value of the meals that are given for free to the children.
From time to time they also need a helping hand in construction, painting and carpentry work to improve the schools facilities.
If you can be flexible and help out in one or more of these, help is always welcome here. In fact we just have to be careful not to have too many volunteers there at once.
