Why not become an Educateperu “Godparent”?  – an opportunity for individuals, schools or parishes to give ongoing support to the children who  Educateperu helps when the Diocesan project is over …….

The Diocesan Project is a one off appeal to provide money to build classrooms and other facilities for the Saxlingham St Mary’s School in Pachacutec, Peru as it enrols new children. At least 2 more classrooms will be needed each year, to accommodate the progressing class of oldest children, whilst at the same time, bringing in some more of the waiting list until the School becomes a full secondary school.

However there are other ongoing needs:

Some schools in this country have realised that children who arrive at school without a proper breakfast aren’t learning very well - hence breakfast provision here.
Imagine the situation where children live in extreme poverty and never eat properly. An ongoing aspect of  Educateperu’s work is to provide nutritious meals for the poorest students – the godparenting scheme.
So far 22 people pay £10 a month, which in turn pays for their child to have a hot breakfast each day. This consists of “thick” milk – a wheat and milk mix that is very nutritional – or hot chocolate, rolls and an omelette or sausages etc.. Jill and the teachers decided that a breakfast for now, would be more beneficial than them waiting till lunchtime........as they had their heads on the table by 10am, asleep. They have started with the poorest of the poor, so some of these children hadn’t eaten since the afternoon before. With economies of scale, when 30 godparents are helping, they can also have a free lunch too.

This is how Jill described the first day:
“The  hot breakfast provision for the godparented children (i.e. the poorest) began this last week. The children eat at 7.15am so that they can have plenty of time before school starts at 7.40. I arrived on a damp, misty, still-dark morning 5 minutes late, despite being on the first bus of the day at 5am (and I had to stand it was so full!)...but nevertheless, they had started on time and the silence was impressive. Like little piglets at the trough, they were all lined up on their chairs, nicely eating their 2 rolls filled with a spinach omelette and drinking their hot wheatgerm and cinnamon milk in a companionable silence. They were seated at tables, which is not so common in their own houses from what I have seen and behaving very well. They take food very seriously here – I was daft enough to observe that there was no bin....it wouldn’t be needed and it wasn’t. There was nothing left and the little ones who couldn’t finish both their rolls, had the leftovers wrapped up to eat at break time, when usually they are the ones who have nothing then either. Each day the breakfast is different; one day it was milk spiced differently and ham in the rolls, another day it was hot chocolate + cheese in the rolls, another day, fruit and so on.
If you are thinking of being a godparent but don’t know how your money would be spent, then please look at the photos carefully and see the children’s faces. They loved it – it had the air of a club about it all. I can’t think when I have enjoyed myself so much.”

If you want to become a “Godparent”, please contact Graham Steel.

Read an update here for those considering becoming a Godparent (Word document)

"On behalf of Educateperu and all the parents of the pupils in the school, thank you for considering being a “godparent” to a child in Saxlingham St Mary’s school in Pachacutec, Lima, Peru...."