MARCH 2009

Our latest blog spot is published in time to wish all our supporters of The Shared Table a very happy and holy Easter 2009. In recent months we have extended our assistance to two more communities in the Valley of Jicamarca: Pedregal Alto, and Lomas Altas. We are also in the process of establishing a multi purpose centre in the pueblo of Santa Rosa with the help of funds from Australia and Ireland. In a few months more, we will be assisting this community in the development of their Children's Kitchen also. As well as extending our heartfelt thanks to our friends in the Dioceses of Ballarat and Sandhurst, as well as from various Parishes and parts of Melbourne, and including Ireland, we wish also to acknowledge the tremendous commitment of Lucy Cuentas here in Lima and all the mothers who continue to work in the various Kitchens of our Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Paz (Our Lady of Peace).

Lucila, the two year old daughter of Trinidad from Cangallo, gratefully enjoys a nourishing lunch.

Enjoying lunch in Lomas Altas where the Shared Table project supports a Saturday lunch for children participating in the community library.

Not enough seats in this Kitchen yet, but the food is good all the same.

Sra. Ester Laynes, coordinator of the chapel "Luz de Cristo", Lomas Altas, and one of her helpers enjoy their well deserved lunch after serving the children.

Obviously the lunch was agreeable.

PEDREGAL ALTO

In recent blogs we have informed our supporters of the developments in Pedregal Alto, which bears the name Sacred Heart (Sagrado Corazon in Spanish), after the Parish of Sacred Heart Mildura from whence a great deal of support has arrived. The week after Easter we will officially inaugurate the Children's Kitchen there. We remain extremely grateful to Luke and Marion Guthrie and their supporters for the wonderful help which has been extended to this particular community.

Lucy Cuentas, the Parish Social Worker and over all coordinator of The Shared Table project here in Lima, prepares for the afternoon meeting of interested mothers with Maritza, the coordinator of the Community of Sagrado Corazon, Pedregal.

Mothers listen attentively as Lucy explains the rules and conditions for the running of the Children's Kitchen. Contributing to half the cost of their children's meals, active participation in the preparation of meals, regular cleaning, and a commitment to ongoing formation, are expectations of The Shared Table project in all of the communities.

Maritza, registers the mothers who wish to participate in the Children's Kitchen.

SANTA ROSA

We are currently in the middle of the construction of a multi purpose room and kitchen in the Pueblo of Santa Rosa in the valley of Jicamarca with the help of the Diocese of Ballarat and the Irish Mission Fund. Santa Rosa is a community that began in 2004, and is home to over 500 young families. There are many children under the age of ten, and so through The Shared Table project, we have decided to accompany these families in their struggle to establish a better life and future for themselves.

Although we faced a couple of challenges initially with regard to accessing the site for construction, the view in the future will be great.

Felix, in charge of construction, checks the preparation for the pouring of cement for the roof.

Although the building looks precariously perched, the foundations are secure. The influence of the Incas still prevails!

BURIAL IN JICAMARCA

Recently one of the parents of some children participating in the kitchen of El trebol died. The following photos show something of the local landscape of Jicamarca and the harsh reality of a normal day's existence in this area. The bodies of the dead are taken directly from the house to the cemetery with little ceremony. Because this family participated in the Children's Kitchen, someone thought to inform the priest in time, so that a simple rite of burial could be performed for the deceased and his family.

A view of the local cemetery in Jicamarca. A land so harsh and mean, that it barely gives up its rocks for the dead.

Final goodbyes by the graveside.

Filling in the grave - with dust and rocks.

A final drink to the memory of the deceased.

SOCCER COMP IN THE VALLEY

With the assistance of friends, including the Children's Liturgy Group from All Saints Parish, Portland, and the Parish School of St. Therese's Kennington, recently we were able to organise a Soccer Competition for children living up in the Valley of Jicamarca. We currently support two Children's Kitchens in Jicamarca, and are in the process of organising two more. Life in the valley is very basic, so this competition during the school holidays provided much needed activity and entertainment among the various communities. A Columban lay missionary from Chile, Jorge Ovalle, has been responsible for most of the organisation of the competition.

Play gets enthusiastically underway.

Jorge looks on, in the background is Xavier McKinnon from Terang, who takes in the spectacle.

Showing style - the conditions take nothing away from the serious commitment of the players.

A happy group after their first win.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

The Vegetable Garden in Cangallo continues to operate and develop successfully. This year we have a had a number of successful tomato crops, cabbages, cauliflowers, carrots, beetroot, silver beet, corn, zucchinis, broad beans, lettuce and celery. A number of herbs also flourish in the garden all year round, sweet basil being particularly good this year. We were extremely happy with our first effort at cultivating sweet potato ("camote" to the locals) - a very popular vegetable among the Peruvians.

View of the biohuerto (vegetable garden).

An abundance of sweet potato - one of the terraces shows part of the very successful crop this year.

Planting lettuce seedlings.

A young mother plants new seedlings accompanied by her daughter. Most Thursday afternoons the women take time to visit the biohuerto to weed, work the soil, or plant and harvest new vegetables.

Healthy vegies contributing to a healthier diet for the children of our communities.

A young Peruvian sings with gusto his national anthem at an end of year gathering of the Comedores. We hope our supporters can appreciate that their contribution towards our project does much in assisting our communities' growth in self esteem, especially among their youngest members.

Once again, thanks to all our generous supporters.