Azul Wasi

"Azul Wasi is active in Cuzco, Peru. Cuzco was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Today it is the tourist centre of Peru. Hundreds of tourists can be seen on the streets every day; they come to visit the fantastic Inca sights, above all Macchu Picchu. Only a few take note of the street children's misery. The children are disliked by the police, who often beat them away from the public places so that the image of a beautiful city is preserved. The helping organization Azul Wasi is located in Oropesa, a village about 20 minutes from Cuzco, where the former policeman Alcides Jordan Serda takes care of harassed children. They can take refuge at Azul Wasi, where they get food and an education. The program for street children was founded in 1998. Most children at Azul Wasi had been working on the street and were therefore at high risk, being exposed to violence and discrimination by the public and the police. Azul Wasi provides them with a visible place in society where they can develop. 21 children from the street are living at Azul Wasi and over 40 more street children are cared for during the day and evening. The children are between 6 and 18 years old, but most of them are under 10. Up to now the organization has helped more than 180 boys and girls. Azul Wasi provides education, food, clothes, extracurricular activities, health education, and it advocates for human rights. The organization works for the reintegration of the children into their families, and foster parents are found for those who have no father or mother. Seven tutors and coordinators are working at Azul Wasi: four are former policemen and three are volunteers. Alcides is the head of the organization. All staff work voluntarily and invest their time and private resources in the project. Nearby friends help by giving  clothes, food and other items for the project. Apart from the lack of money, which makes the work very difficult, Alcides says another problem is the lack of assistance from government and the authorities. We want to support the organization financially in order to put Azul Wasi's work for street children on an independent and sustainable basis. For example the teenager Angel was helped to turn his life around. He was living on the street of Cuzco, but Azul Wasi assisted him and now he is a successful  musician. Or Reynaldo, who does not have any parents and was on drugs, was able to overcome his drug problems and learn to bake bread. Today, with the help of Azul Wasi, he is working at a bakery. The most important goal of Azul Wasi's work is to give the children a secure place in society and to ensure that their human rights are respected." (Taken from:://www.childdignity.org/partners.php)

Update from Generations Humanitarian:
New Home Azul Wasi
"Genhu recently took over a new home in Lucre, Cusco, Peru.  Azul Wasi or "Blue House" is a home for street boys (pictured to the left).  The rainbow in the photo below captures the hope we have for this new home. There are 17 boys and 2 girls, rich humble treasures at the end of the rainbow. One girl is the cook's daughter, and the other is a little sister of one of the boys, whom we don't want to split up.  We hope to bring hope and happiness to these boys, like the rainbow symbolizes in this photo. The Trekking for Kids nonprofit will donate over $10,000 for the construction of new bathrooms and dorm room this June."