The journey started 15 years ago when I (Monika) went to Peru - a small village in the Sacred Valley -Urubamba, for 3 months of volunteering… I didn’t know what to expect, except a great adventure read in books.

At the end, the project was life/heart changing experience, leaving a little fire in my head that has never been put down!... one day I must come back there...

I was surrounded by children with all kind of disabilities, most of them hungry, some not having a home at all or home like a stable shared with animals; having hard-working presents or absent parents their never met; children who every day came in a clean “school uniform” to “school” (well, a special centre set up by Kiya – actually amazing place!) smiling, appreciating every little kind gesture from us, volunteers. They never seemed to be sad, opposite they were curios, happy, willing to learn, explore! I didn’t understand- why?

I knew, I will have to get back there one day… And now, being fortunate and having my own lovely family, the best what I can offer them, is an eyes opening experience about the world we are living in, about the discrepancies in life. But the most – that we can do things, change, improve, help, bring hope and smile… make a difference! Not only consume the life but give, share, work together.

So, on 20th July as a whole family, we are off to north coast Peru - Mancora where together with 4 our friends ( another family), where we will be changing the world… someone’s small world.

Our project is to help to re-open a small therapy space for the MAMA COCHA, a project to operate in Mancora, for Kiyas patients and Mamas to receive therapy and support.

At the moment the charity provides a home visit, which are extremely beneficial, but they lack materials and equipment that the patients need to reach their full potential.

The space will provide individual and group therapy sessions; workshops and be the base for the MAMAMIA virtual shop!

Our donations aspect of the programme will contribute towards:

• Purchasing therapy materials and apparatus

• Purchasing MAMAMIA materials

• The running of the new space for the first year

The project work will include:

• Painting the walls

• Designing and painting a mural

• Building the new equipment

• Going to the market to collect materials

• Painting a sign with the Mamas and kids!

• Helping to launch the space with an opening party

• Preparing the MAMAMIA VIRTUAL SHOP set up!

We will be working with the Mamas that take care of their disabled children, running the household (without having a clean water!), serving their husbands… life’s that our grandmothers had 100 yrs ago!

We want to teach them how to take care of themselves, run a family little business, use internet, a bit of marketing & financial skills.

We will have workshops together to learn how important is to share the experience with others; how to be brave to ask for help and to find the sense of their life’s.

Our boys mission, on top of the above, will be to witness and find the way to “make-bring a difference” to other kids, less fortunate than them.

At the end, we have invited to Cambridge for three weeks, two children ( they never met their parents, being cared all their life by Kiya & volunteers), I met in Urubamba in 2007 Matilde & Juan– now young lovely human, to give them opportunity to explore the world, learn English and make new friendships.

To be able to accomplish our projects, we need to fundraise a bit of money…and here we need your support.

We have been organising different fundraising events which we would love to see you around, participate and donate 

We ran a board game clubs, a baking bread classes are scheduled for the next 3 months, a car washing team is ready for action in spring, let the room to students, and more.

Also, if you could help with sponsoring the 2 weeks long, language school in Cambrige for Matilde & Juan – please contact me directly.

THANK YOU.

Monika, Clement, Philippe & Patrick