Friday April 16, 2021
Kallpachay’s 1st year anniversary!
Approximately one year ago the idea of the Kallpachay Project emerged, with the mission to aid, motivate and bring joy to low-income hospitalized children of Peru so that they can face their illnesses with optimism and courage. We are happy to celebrate our 1st year anniversary. Let’s remember our past year!
Reflecting on our first year
COVID-19 has turned everyone’s lives upside down, but it has affected hospitalized children’s lives even more. Besides the danger that this virus presents for immunosuppressed children, volunteers can’t visit the shelters and hospitals to make activities with them due to the risk it implies. Kallpachay managed to overcome the virus’ barrier to help and motivate the children by sending them books and donations and organizing activities to provide them a good time.
After months of work, in July 2020, we first introduced the project and our book “Paquita the alpaca” to the public. We made a campaign to fund the book printing and managed to print the first 200 books. We delivered the books to children who have cancer and stay at the “Frieda Heller” and “Casa Magia” shelters, and at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN).
Meanwhile, we were also working on the second book, “Bongo the otorongo”, which was released earlier this year. The new books were delivered to the same shelters and our new partner: “Mi Nuevo Hogar” shelter. Currently, we are organizing a virtual activity to make with the children, which includes their favorite things: story-telling, singing, experimenting, and magic!
Now, the third book is being developed. It will be a more emotional book about bravery: “Someone brave isn't a person that isn't afraid, but a person that can overcome fear to achieve their dreams and goals…”
New year, new team members!
After a few months of coaching, training and integration into the project, we are pleased to announce that Mauricio Rodríguez, Micaela Toso and Sofia Montjoy have joined the Kallpachay team. They will help with the development of upcoming books and activities from their corresponding areas of expertise.
Mauricio will be in charge of marketing and communications for the project while Micaela will organize the activities to be carried out in the shelters. Sofia will design, draw, and illustrate pictures for upcoming books. We look forward to working hand in hand with the new members of the Kallpachay family!
Looking forward to our second year
It’s been an amazing year, and with a new team and lots of ideas to be realized, we have even bigger plans for 2021: Developing more books, realizing more activities, helping more shelters and hospitals, providing donations to the children and families, and much more.
We’ve learned a lot, heard great feedback from the children, and continue to work hard every day to accomplish the mission of helping, motivating, and inspiring the hospitalized children in Peru. Let’s make this year even better than the last one!