Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The first Milan Junior Camp held in Lima during February congregated more than 500 children and teenagers, who took part in classes and workshops given by club AC Milan.

The Milan Junior Camp, a round of official vacation camps, merges high quality soccer and safe entertainment, and this time it was sponsored by Gloria, leader in packed fruit juices and dairy products.

Gloria looks forward to promote values, good nutrition habits and a healthy lifestyle for young people; but especially, to promote a culture of success, discipline and professionalism, as well as positive thinking amongst Peruvian people, through soccer practice.

The camp was staged in four weeks with Italian coaches at Asia, Miguel Grau stadium at Callao and Monumental stadium in Ate.

Two boys aged from 6 to 16 were selected each week, and will be attending the Milan Daily Camp in September at Miranello.

The camps were conducted following the exigencies of the European model, taking care of details, from the uniforms of the club to the aptitude and sporting spirit tests.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

In the midst of a magical show, Coca Cola's Santa Claus arrived in Peru, landing at the Magic Circuit of Water (at Lima's “Parque de la Reserva”).

Coca-Cola's Santa Claus, with 78 years of existence, lighted the most spectacular Christmas tree in Peru, which is also largest Coca-Cola tree in South America, kicking off the company's Christmas campaign which aims to collect used toys in good conditions.

The Coca-Cola Christmas Tree is 35 meters high and its base is 19 meters in diameter: it is decorated with more than two million colorful lights and many Coca-Cola brand decorations.

To participate in this campaign, families have to pay the usual fees for entering the Parque de la Reserva and carry a used toy in good conditions, that will be donated to other children.

Visiting hours are from Monday to Sunday from 10 am. to 11 pm.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The traditional annual “Teletón,” a fundraising event to help children getting treatment at the Clinica San Juan de Dios, will take place this year on December 4th and 5th, and will be held at the Plaza Mayor of Lima, with the participation of national and international artists.

According to organizers, a team of over 300 TV professionals will be in charge of the transmission, and the host will be Monica Zevallos, who is already in Lima.

Telethon will begin on Friday December 4th at 8:00 pm and will last until midnight of Saturday December 5th. Some of the Peruvian artists who have confirmed their participation are Hermanos Yaipen Orchestra, Adammo, Nosequien y Nosecuantos, Marcelo Motta, Oscar Aviles, Tommy Portugal, Deyvis Orozco, among others.

So far it is already confirmed the participation of international artists such as Fonseca, Trebol Clan, and Kudai, among others.

The Telethon 2009 is led by Brother Isidro, from the Hospitaller Order of St John of God.

In addition, Telefonica del Peru has just setup the Number 106, reachable from any telephone; dialing it between December 4th and 31st will donate five new soles per call, which will be deducted through the telephone bill.

Donations will be possible through the sending of text messages to the “2009” number, but only for post-paid cell phone plans.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

When the economic crisis fully hits Peru, some 200,000 will have lost their jobs, which will undoubtedly have a far greater impact on their children, as the latter may not have any other way to afford their basic needs.

According to Jorge Oroza, an expert on children's issues from Save the Children (Sweden), now it is the time for Peru's government to establish a high-rank commission intended to at the highest level in order to monitor this crisis and take mitigating measures since now.

Some of Oroza's suggestions are to increase the resources allocated to ProJoven (a program which offers work training to youngsters between 16 and 24 years old) and increasing also the schools' budgets, to develop strategies to prevent the students from dropping out.

Oroza said another alternative could be to allocate more resources to the Office of Scholarships and Loans (INABEC).

The expert asked the authorities to remember that the lack of investment in children will be “unrecoverable,” since a child who suffers from chronic malnutrition will have a permanent disability and thus will have limitations as an adult.

“We have to stop the cycle of poverty now," he said.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

A baby who was born very prematurely (at 23rd week of pregnancy), weighing only 470 grams (almost 17 ounces), and measuring 25cm., was discharged from hospital and sent home today.

Little Berselia Milagros de los Angeles was born on April 20th at the Hospital Docente de Trujillo (La Libertad region), Peru, and since she was so small the doctors told Paola Chavarry, her mother, that she might not survive.

However, against all odds, the baby made it, and she weighs now 1.45kg, and is 45cm long.

The doctor and nurses who took care of her are still surprised and impressed: “she sure is a fighter. She will grow up like any other girl,” said one of the doctors.

The local businessman Carlos Jose Chuman, who is also the father of two premature babies, has provided financial help to little Berselia and her mother, and he has also created a foundation called “Foundation for the premature children of Peru”.

Berselia will be christened on September 16th, in Guadalupe, her hometown.

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Andina

The Peruvian delegation that participated in the 50th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2009) held in Germany won four silver and two bronze medals after facing 104 countries from Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

In comparison with other Latin American countries, Peru came in second place for the good performance of students, including Raul Chavez Sarmiento, a 11-year-old kid, who won a bronze medal.

By winning this medal, the child matched the feat of Australian Terence Tao, who 22 years ago won a medal at the age of 11.

The team comprised Cesar Cuenca Lucero (17), who won a silver medal, as well as Tomas Angles Larico (17), Ricardo Jesus Ramos Castillo (17) and Julian Mejia Sarmiento.

Percy Guerra Rios (17) won another bronze medal.

Peru achieved the second highest score among Latin American countries after Brazil, and climbed to 24th place among 104 countries worldwide.

The 50th edition of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2009) was held in Bremen (Germany) between July 13 and 20.

Champions will return on Wednesday 22 at 16.00 hrs (20:00 GMT). They will be welcomed by a large delegation of friends, teachers and relatives at the international airport Jorge Chavez

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to Dan Collyns, BBC's correspondant in Peru, almost 250 children have died in the Peruvian southern Andean highlands, a figure that is 40% higher than the 2008's casualties.

Respiratory infections and pneumonia are not uncommon in the winter months, but this year's cold season began in March, three months earlier than usual (June).

Climate experts blame it on the global warmth, which might have modified the region's usual weather patterns and averages, with tempetatures dropping to -20°C (-4°F) in some regions.

Since many children in these regions are cronically malnourished, they are more vulnerable and prone to illnesses.

Thus, the extreme cold has killed more children this year than during the previous four years.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Raul Chavez Sarmiento, a young 11 years old Peruvian boy, will be the youngest kid participating in the 50th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2009) to be held in Bremen, Germany, from July 10 to July 22 this year.

The student, who lives in the northern Limean district of Comas and attends Bertolt Bretch school, competed against 80 young students to qualify for this, against other five Peruvian students between 16 and 17 years of age.

This is the second time in 22 years that a 11-year-old kid has participates in an International Mathematical Olympiad. The IMO 2009 intends to discover, encourage and challenge mathematically gifted young people in all countries.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

A group of children between ages 9 and 11, from the slum areas in the Limean district of Chorrillos, aired their first radio program yesterday, called "Voice of Children", aiming to create awareness about the importance of preserving the Pantanos de Villa, the only wetland in Lima.

About 20 children were trained for one month by some students from the School of Communication at the University of San Martin de Porres, who helped them to produce this weekly 30 minutes program.

The programs' guests were Peru's rock band Los Mojarras, who said they are working on ecological themes for an album that is to be called “Ecorock”, and Andres de la Cruz, Director of the NGO Prohumedales.

To support and to promote this initiative, the kids have created the blog Salvemoslavilla.blogspot.com.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru welcomed 15 American children between 9 and 14 years old, who, won a contest organized by National Geographic Kids.

“Peru is so diverse that seemed to be the perfect place for an exploring adventure. Peru has desserts, mountains, rainforest: that's why we thought it was a perfect destination for kids, who are naturally curious,” said Dana Deighton, Marketing Manager of “National Geographic Kids” magazine.

Once in Lima, the winners visited the Larco Museum, went shopping to Larcomar and had a tour to Mamacona, where they watched the Peruvian paso horses.

The kids also went to Cusco, where they toured Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu; the next destination was Puerto Maldonado, where Rainforest Expeditions led them through a 4 days tour.

The kids have been blogging and posting photographs about their trip in the webpage that the National Geographic Kids has setup for them.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.