Over half of Lima's population live in shantytowns like the one pictured above. One of the most educational trips was the morning we spent visiting a few of these neighborhoods. Tagging along with the PPA social worker, we made 'house calls.' These are done to evaluate the homes/environment of children at PPA or the homes/families of potential PPA children. Not all the children at PPA are orphans. Many have families. Families that don't have the resources to raise a child.
The first visit was to Alex's home. Alex is a 9 year old boy who has been at PPA for about one month. He lived with his father and two other siblings (older sister and brother) in a small house just up the hill from his grandmother. Alex's mother is MIA. Rumor has it she ran off with another man from one of the neighboring shantytowns. Since Alex's father was at work, we were greeted by his grandmother. I can not tell you the welcome we got from the grandmother and her neighbors. I thought we would be greeted with animosity. The residents wondering why we "slum it" by visiting there little shacks. Just the opposite. The grandmother kissed each of us on the cheek and offered her profuse thanks and praise for visiting their neighborhood. She, and the other residents, were quite honored to have us visit. Amazing, isn't it? Here we are, foreigners who probably earn more in one month than these people will earn in their lifetime, yet there is no disgruntled feelings. No jealousy, envy or socioeconomic inferiority towards us. And, they don't expect you to have pity for them. We were greeted one human being to another. Which leads me to Lima Lesson #3: We should treat each other as humans regardless of appearance, status, income or color.
The second picture is the blue house where Alex's dad and siblings live. The third picture? One of the neighborhood's communal toilets. Just a hole with a concrete rim around the opening.
Our next visit was to a family whose four children were in the PPA admission process. Some background: PPA will accepts children age 9 months to 17 years. Depending on current enrollment, some age groups may not have available space. Each child goes through a three part screening process; (1)family/home evaluation (to determine level of poverty), (2) physical and (3) mental evaluation of the child. There were four children, but not all will be accepted. There is a belief that accepting all the children from one family might promote the parents to (irresponsibly) have more children. Thus, PPA's policy is to not accept all the children from one family. If all the family's children pass the screening process, and there is available space in each age group, then PPA leaves it up to the parents to decide which child (or children) to send to PPA. Has sort of a 'Sophie's Choice' feel, doesn't it?
What was amazing about this family is their acceptance. They had accepted that 'this' is where they would live out their lives, but they knew they wanted more for their children. When you talked to the children, they never asked for anything. Didn't want toys, candy or food. They were quite content to eat what was given and play with what they had. This entire family was missing one of America's biggest desires . . . . MORE. Which, in a roundabout way, brings me to Lima Lesson #4: Be thankful for what you have and remember that the Universe has a way of providing you with just what you need.
3 comments:
. . .and to think, in our country, suspicion is probably the #1 attitude wth which one would be met in the ghetto neighborhoods, with hostility running a close second. I'm sure this has given you a new perspective on the value and worth of every individual as well as an appreciation of another culture.
Sounds like lessons we all need to remember more often.
Both of these lessons are so true & we all should live by them each & every day. We get so wrapped up in our lives that we quickly forget what is important in life.
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