Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Unlike other Latin American countries, each year Peru celebrates its "Día del Niño" on the third Sunday of August (20th).

Its objectives are to ensure children their right to childhood and to develop in the best possible sphere of confidence and safety that we as adults are able to offer them.

Argentina and Chile commemorated the day of the child on the first and second Sunday of August, Uruguay on Wednesday, August 9th, and Brazil will celebrate on October 12th. Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, and Venezuela already honored their children earlier this year: on April 3rd and 30th, May 31st and June 17th, respectively.

Since its formation in 1993, Peru's Pro Infantile Development Association (APRODIN) develops various social programs for the benefit of Peruvian children. Together with other institutions, APRODIN works for improving the life conditions of every kid and the "Dia del Niño" is supposed to be a day of reflection, strengthening the unity of the family, rescuing children's values, respecting their rights, and offering special attention, protection and affection.

Especially here in Peru there is still a lot that needs to be done and it is the responsibility of every adult to improve the upbringing of our most precious ones, our next generation. Every adult should commit to help children in any way they can to make a kid's face smile.

We hear, see and read it every day: Peru's children are facing many obstacles during their process of growing up such as child labor, mistreatment, sexual abuse, gangs, drug addiction, poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, etc... just to name a few. All these issues are intimately linked to the violence in our society.

To make a difference we all should engage in a dialogue and invoke necessary action  in order to find a solution to these many problems.

The following is an essay written by Augustinian Missionary Priest Christopher Steinle. After ministering in Morropón for three years, he relocated in 2002 to Progreso, an isolated town high in the Andes Mountains. He reports on the working child in Peru. (link)

Before coming to Peru, the idea of children working conjured up for me an image of a child mowing a lawn or having a newspaper route. Here in Peru, children working has a whole different meaning. In our territory most children work to help their family survive. I will share with you some experiences of some of our young Peruvian workers.

After he attends classes in the moring in Morropón, one little boy, Orlando, sells a type of sweet bread. He lives with his family along the highway running from Morropón to Piura.

There is a lot of traffic on this road. Orlando's job is to run out into the road whenever a bus or car stops and try to sell a package or two of bread to the driver or other travelers. It is dangerous work because other cars and buses drive by as Orlando and other vendors are making their deals. Orlando does this work to help pay his school expenses. He has several brothers and sisters. The whole family works in this bread-making business.

There are many young girls and boys who have a small box of candy or cigarettes which they sell in the streets. The luckier of these children work only after their classes, but many of then do not attend school at all. They spend their whole day walking about and selling.

I met a young man who works as a cobrador (conductor) on a bus in the city of Lima. He told me that he works six days a week from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. For this he earns 40 or 50 soles a week, which is less than $20. His job is difficult. He must call out the destinations of his route and also collect fares of the passengers. I am amazed that he has any voice left, as he is almost constantly calling out the destinations.

Another part of his job is hanging outside of the bus to try to get the attention of potential passengers waiting on corners. There are many different competing buses on each route. Competition is intense. Each cobrador must try very hard to get more passengers on his bus.

One important requirement of a good cobrador is that he or she must be small, so that when the bus is very crowded, the cobrador will not take up much valuable space, but will leave more room for paying passengers. Because of this requirement, many of the cobradores appear to be young teenagers. I have seen both boys and girls working as cobradores.

Here in Peru the young people are very resourceful and often create jobs for themselves. They will watch your car while you are shopping, polish your shoes or help you carry your packages.
At stop lights in large cities like Lima, almost anything is for sale: chewing gum, soda, nuts, flowers, a new mirror for your car.

All of the sellers are children.

The working child is the norm in Peru. For some, working makes school possible. For others, working is a way to help their family. For still others, the very survival of their family depends upon their work.

Tiny shoulders bear heavy burdens.

 

tags : Peru diadelnino children child labor abuse family education society violence

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1 Comments

# Maria Missimer says :
24 January, 2008 [ 07:55 ]

I read  how the Peruvian Community work for safe many kids and give to them new  opportunities.  I am really recommend  teach parents prevent child  abuse and neglect , encourage parents positive parenting and teach newly skills , change negative to positive attitude , motivate positive discipline and consistency,  use rules and  rewards .  I understand too the limitations is a factor by the parents made a lot of mistakes but all is possible if the parents change corrections and teach love and respect each other.
Sincerely
Maria Missimer
Counselor of Child Abuse Prevention and Neglect
mariamz27@msn.com

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