Would You Like to Help Peruvian Kids Get an Education While Having Fun?

After living in Lima for a few years I felt the need to a) find an English-speaking community, and b) contribute something positive to my new, adopted country. I found the AWLC.

The AWLC— The American Women’s Literary Club (the club’s name is a bit of a mouthful, but it was founded by rather formidable American ladies in 1922!) is a great place to get together and work for the good of the children of Peru.

I talked to some of the members in order to find out more.

They told me that (almost) everything they do is geared towards creating funds to help Peruvian children/organizations in the area of education. They said ‘almost’ because they assured me that they are definitely having fun as well.

Professional, prolific, talented and dedicated women of all age groups are getting together at least once a month to have a good natter, renew friendships, plan lunches, and listen to very interesting speakers on various subjects. They told me, “We had a presentation on Happiness, on The Birds of Peru, on the complications of the American Voting System, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, and even on the Peruvian Paso Horse. Beat that! “

There are break-away groups who read books together, cook together, eat together, write together, sing together, and if someone has a brilliant idea and willing co-conspirators, they can create their own group and do their own thing together with like-minded friends.

But what gets members most excited is fundraising for some of those who otherwise might miss out on one of the most important things in a young life: education. Again one of the members: “Our accounts are totally transparent, our fundraisers terrific occasions for everyone to get together and chip in. Not so much in money terms as in offering their time and energy to help with the common effort.”

Well, their efforts are not only paying off, but are growing in importance (their flagship fundraiser is the much lauded Noche de Música y Arte, a once-a-year night of music, art, and champagne for members and non-members alike). There are AWLC members only events: raffles, great fun lunches and much more. The AWLC fundraising benefits many institutions—larger and very much smaller—and has provided many important educational projects with significant contributions.

This is their website.

Then there is the ‘fan page’ in Facebook highlighting recent activities:

https://www.facebook.com/AWLCfanpage/Guests are welcome to attend every first Monday of the month (there is a S 35 guest fee—for more details and directions write to [email protected]). And, yes, they do serve tea, delicious sandwiches and fabulous coffee too.