On the Monday the 1st of August 2005, the Comedor Infantil (Children's Kitchen) "Jesus de Nazaret" was officially opened (see blogspot: www.lamesacompartida.blogspot.com). The project began providing a midday meal for 25 children, a figure which has now increased to over 50. The success of this project to this point is due to the extraordinary generosity of many people from within the Diocese of Ballarat, Australia, also from Melbourne and Canberra, as well as our friends from the Primary School of Hollywood, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

Thanks to the work of our Parish Social Worker, Lucia Cuantas, the mothers of the children have been organised into working groups who are responsible for cooking, cleaning up, and the general supervision of the children while they are at the Kitchen. Those who cannot participate during the day because of work, are rostered to assist with supervision in the Library between 7:00pm and 9:00pm. This Library, which operates out of the same centre, provides an environment conducive to after school study for children whose homes are often little more than two roomed sheds with dirt floors and no electricity. There is a weekly meeting on a Thursday afternoon aimed at keeping everybody accountable, as well as discussing the general development of the Kitchen and Library.

Recently the community of Cangallo decided to hand over about 20 square meters of land to the Kitchen for the purpose of developing a vegetable garden. This will greatly assist with the cost of running the Kitchen. The final photos on this blogspot show the working bee organised by the women to begin the cleaning and clearing of the site of the garden. The terrain looks most uninviting, but the determination of these women will see the job done. I must add, that inbetween taking photos, I myself worked with pick in hand - I would have been ashamed not to.

Fr. Michael McKinnon

29th October 2005

Maria, Maricielo and Lisbet work together in the library at Cangallo, part of the same centre out of which the Children's Kitchen functions. The library operates week nights between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, offering a conducive environment for after school study.

Gerry, one of the young people who volunteers to assist in the library each evening, helping to supervise and to direct students to relative material.

Roberto skims material in an effort to help direct one of the children to relevant material for their homework.

Taking time for a little bit of fun. Not all activities in the library are to do with books.

A special occasion demands some way of celebrating. Sometimes for special days, like "the Day of the Teacher" or "the Day of the Student", a light supper is provided.

Senora Trinidad, the coordinator of the Kitchen, works at her own kitchen preparing a meal for her family. Trini's house is four rooms - two bedrooms, a sitting room and this small kitchen. She is fortunate to have a conrete floor, and her walls are of wood panels rather than matting. She and her husband have two children, and have been living in Cangallo since the settlement began 8 years ago.

The traditional sandals of the "camposinos" the country people - made of car tyres, they are both cheap and enduring. They are the tell-tale sign that those who wear them have recently arrived from the Provinces to the city of Lima.

Percy (left) and his cousin Felix. The Peruvians have a tradition of choosing very unlatino names. Percy only recently arrrived from Ayacucho with his mother, three brothers and sister. His father had been living and working in Lima for two years, returning home each year to work the harvest, and bring home what he could for the family. Two weeks ago their father died, leaving them with very little to survive. Auria, their mother leaves the house at 5:00am when she is able, to buy and sell flowers in the markets in the city. On a good day she brings in 15:00 soles (about $7:00 Aus). Percy, his cousin, and his brother Julio share a meal each day from the Kitchen.

Viteliano, Percy's elder brother, is studying mechanics. His father had been providing something towards his study from his wages. That has now ceased. Viteliano tells me how many times during the days of terrorism in his Province of Ayacucho, his family had to leave the house in the dead of night and hide in the corn fields. When the terrorism ended, many of his people were then the victims of the military who, in an effort to irradicate terrorism, were often indiscriminate and brutal in their couter-offensive. He is not sure how they are going to survive at the present moment.

Percy's mother Auria and his sister Delia share the job of washing the clothes on the front step of their home. This is the normal way of washing in Cangallo. Recently the Parish was able to help with the construction of a water tank, which has helped make water more immediately accessible.

Early arrivals at the Kitchen, and very satisfied with the menu today!

Another happy customer today. The menu varies, with some days providing a much more substantial plate than others, but the standard of food has been always very good. The Peruvian's have a great tradition of delicious recipes coming from the various Provinces around the Country.

Julia, one of the mothers who takes her turn in the Kitchen and her son.

A bit of stage fright, but the appetite returned as soon as the photo was taken!

This one is not stopping for anyone or anything!

Savouring the flavour.

The arrival of the children is staggered, as some have school in the afternoon, others in the morning. Those behind have finished school for the day, those in front are quickly eating their lunch before leaving for school in the afternoon.

Trinidad (left) and Eugenia, the coordinators of the Kitchen. Great Mums, great workers, and good organisers of the other 20 mothers. The Kitchen is in good hands.

Work begins in earnest at the site set aside for the vegetable garden. There are a few concerns about the feasibility of the project according to some, but the majority lost no time in getting into the job.

Eugenia takes a good look at the task at hand. There are plenty of willing helpers, but the job needed a little bit of co ordinating. In all we are looking at an area of about 20 square meters of, at the moment, very dusty and rocky terrain.

Into the work. Amid the dust, rocks and stones,

and the smoke from burning rubbish, the women set themselves to the task. Some of these boulders were quite heavy, as I can personally attest to, but the ladies were not perturbed in any way.

There is a strong belief among the group that this project is worthwhile, and the results are achievable. A great spirit of hope prevails.

Work is well underway, and though the task at first seems a little daunting, there is a very positive spirit among the group.

Nothing in life has ever come easy to these women, and so the challenge of attacking the side of a mountain with picks, crowbars and rakes poses no problem that is insurmountable.

This hill was dynamited a few years back, and so many of the larger rock have been split and shattered. With the help of pick and crowbars, they can be dislodged with enough human effort, then rolled out of the way.

The resillience of these women astounds me.

The cross of suffering - the cross of hope!

A strong symbol for these women who understand the meaning of hardship and struggle. Many of these families are political refugees from Ayacucho, home to the pueblo which originally owns the name "Cangallo".

Many came here in the years of terrorism to escape the Shining Path, and later to escape the indiscriminate counter-offensive of the military.

They believe in "life out of death", and they shall not allow injustice to crush their hopes.

The terrain is beginning to take shape, and there is a sense that we are getting on top of the job. This is very dry and parched soil, so it will be interesting to see the development from this point on.We are fortunate that the water project recently undertaken by the community with the help of the Parish is near completion. A water pipe runs not two meters from the edge of our garden site, so watering will not be a problem in the future.

How will this look? Maria sits and wonders how this patch of dirt will appear in a few months from now.

Carrying away some of the last of the rubbish to be burned. Some "put their back into it" more
than others. Some put their "whole heart and soul into it"!

As the day's job nears it's completion, there's a definate sense of achievement in the air, and a deeper sense of solidarity which is at the heart of a strong community.

Lucy, the Parish Social Worker, will invite the women to reflect together on this experience next Friday in our weekly meeting.