I’ve been wrestling with writing this blog post. Wrestling because the last thing I ever want to do is misrepresent a child or harm their dignity. I am very sensitive to objectifying the lives of the children we are called to serve. This, however, is a story that must be told.
In many parts of the developing and middle income world, the impact from the pandemic has been completely devastating. It has prematurely ended lives, disrupted economies and forever altered societies. This is particularly true for families who – even before the great challenges of COVID – were barely finding the services and supports they needed.
Families living in the experience of poverty with a substance use disorder or mental health condition. Families living day-to-day with limited access to opportunity. Families without support. Many of these families now find themselves thrust into home schooling, scrapping together a meager income through day labor work, and struggling to feed and care for their children.
Through this breakdown – we are witnessing an increase in the number of abandoned children. We’re receiving increased requests to place children in our two Casa Girasoles homes. We’re seeing an increase in children experiencing abuse and violence. We are witnessing an unraveling of the social safety nets.
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Learning from and Leading with Nico
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneNico (not his real name) was ten years old when he realized he could no longer take care of his little brother. At four years old, his little brother was more than he could handle.
For as long as Nico could recall, he was the sole parent for his little brother. Taking care of him was like taking care of his own son. And, for most of that time – Nico knew what to do. Now, at four years old – Nico didn’t know what to do.
A kind neighbor had always been there for Nico and his brother. She would feed them when his mother left for long periods and did not provide any money for food. She would check-in on them, making sure they were safe and warm in the cold rainy months. Now, she noticed something very different – and she went to the local judiciary to file a report of child endangerment.
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It’s all about the people
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneWe’re in the midst of a fall fundraiser campaign. Believe it or not, that is not the reason for this blog post.
Fundraising campaigns show me something in a very tangible way – how fortunate we are to have a group of people who keep showing up for us and the work we are doing in this complicated world we are living. I can honestly say that every time we have a campaign, event or fundraiser – you all rally to help.
This is such a huge blessing – on a number of levels. Yes, your generosity helps us to do the work we are called to do in the world; but beyond that – your commitment and belief in our work is such a blessing. Time and time again, the many people who support HBI show me that we are a big family.
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That Train a Comin’
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneThere is a strange feeling in the air. It’s more than just the change of seasons. It feels ominous – like a train barreling down the tracks.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a dramatization. Perhaps. However, we are looking toward a change in seasons that will bring change on a number of levels, not just the global pandemic. For many underserved and under-resourced communities, this change will bring more challenges.
All of this means we have gone into planning mode. We’re planning for several scenarios and considering a variety of options. In Perú, spring has arrived and summer is not far in the future – and with the government moving into Phase IV of the reopening, more people will be out and about.
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Day of Peace
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone“Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Today is the United Nations International Day of Peace. Strangely enough, the world doesn’t feel very peaceful. It feels upended and disrupted.
Just four days ago, UNICEF and Save the Children published a report. It is the first of what will be many reports analyzing the economic and social impacts of the global pandemic. The report noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed 150 million children into the experience of multidimensional poverty. This multidimensional poverty is about not having access to adequate water, food, education, healthcare, housing, and sanitation. The 150 million represents a 15% increase in the number of children living in a deep experience of poverty. The UNICEF report is a call to action. It is a clarion to everyone.
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A Deep Breath
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneOverstating the obvious a bit here – things have been stressful lately. No one is immune to that stress. Some are just better at working with, and through, the stressful events that mark our day-to-day life in the time of COVID.
We’ve been receiving messages from around the world asking how we are doing in the Portland area? Thank you for your kind consideration. As I am sure you are now aware, things are otherworldly in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The wildfires are creating pure havoc. We, the HBI staff that live in the Portland-area, live in the downtown area of the city – so we are pretty safe. However, so many people in our area are suffering. The thick sepia-toned smoke that fills the sky frames an eerily end-of-times feeling.
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Fall Fundraiser Campaign
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneYesterday we officially launched our fall fundraiser campaign Our goal is to raise $100,000 by October 30. Certainly, this is an ambitious campaign – we get it. We also know we’ve got some of the best supporters. We have so many dedicated people that have helped us grow our impact from periodic short-term outreach campaigns, to a full fledged NGO with almost 50 staff and a number of ongoing programs and projects.
It is with the memory of the hundreds of people who have supported our work with donations of time, energy and money over these past 20-plus years – that I feel confident in our goal of reaching $100K by October 30. I don’t think anyone would have imagined we’d be where we are today when we started almost three decades ago.
Check out our campaign, and consider getting involved in one of our simple activities. If you’ve got a few minutes or a few hours, we’ve got options on how you can help HBI. Thank you. Thank you for all the ongoing support and trust.
A Great Family of Servants
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneFrom our program directors to our coordinators to the staff working directly in the Ines Project and Casa Girasoles homes, everyone – I mean that – everyone is going above and beyond to ensure we are doing everything we can to support the people and communities we serve. This has meant delivering food and medication to a families in the Ines Project. Its meant spending hours upon hours fielding calls from concerned families and helping them sort through their fears around COVID-19 and the safety of their children. Its meant coordinating online trainings for hundreds of participants – and delicately completing a research study from a computer screen thousands of miles away.
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The Long Winding Road
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneThis is a sound public health decision. It is a decision that puts the health and welfare of the Peruvian people above politics. It is, however, a decision that will have continued devastating impacts in the lives of people living in the experience of poverty.
It has been over four months since the first declaration of a national state of emergency and corresponding lockdown measures. The pandemic has had profound impacts in the developing and middle-income world. This is especially true in the Peruvian economy and society. People who were vulnerable before the pandemic, are literally falling through the cracks of the social safety nets in Latin America.
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Suffering in the Shadows
/0 Comments/in Blog, COVID-19 /by Wayne CentroneI’ve been wrestling with writing this blog post. Wrestling because the last thing I ever want to do is misrepresent a child or harm their dignity. I am very sensitive to objectifying the lives of the children we are called to serve. This, however, is a story that must be told.
Families living in the experience of poverty with a substance use disorder or mental health condition. Families living day-to-day with limited access to opportunity. Families without support. Many of these families now find themselves thrust into home schooling, scrapping together a meager income through day labor work, and struggling to feed and care for their children.
Through this breakdown – we are witnessing an increase in the number of abandoned children. We’re receiving increased requests to place children in our two Casa Girasoles homes. We’re seeing an increase in children experiencing abuse and violence. We are witnessing an unraveling of the social safety nets.
Read more
Celebrations
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneToday is Peru’s Independence Day, Fiestas Patrias. It’s a big deal. In any other time, under “normal” circumstances – the entire country is a celebration. A celebration that lasts for days. It’s awesome.
Times are tough enough without having a little celebration. That is why we had a Fiestas Patrias celebration – virtual – for the Casa Girasoles yesterday. It was a chance to celebrate the culture and passion of the boys – and allow them to connect with one another in a fun, safe manner. Through the power of Zoom (how many of us thought Zoom would be so important in our lives and work just 6-months ago?) we set up cameras at the homes in Urubamba and Ica and held friendly competitions for dance and games. We invited a few of our supporters and staff to join and had our own Fiestas Patrias – COVID-style. It was great. Check it out at: Fiestas Patrias Casa Girasoles
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