Peru is one of the poorest nations in South America. Peruvians are looking for their identity after almost five centuries of exploitation by foreigners in a culturally and linguistically diverse nation, regionally isolated into coastal, mountain, and jungle communities. Populations in the major cities have been increasing at alarming rates due to urban migration from rural areas. Today, nearly half of Peru’s disproportionately youthful population lives in poverty. This culturally catholic nation is religiously divided between Catholic and non-Catholic. Among the most pressing social issues are rampant poverty, corruption at all levels of organization and government, drug trafficking, local terrorist groups and the breakdown of traditional families.
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Mission Statement
- Our calling is to practice and proclaim the Kingdom of God to children, adolescents and young adults who have lived on, are currently living on or are at immediate risk for the streets. Our focus area is the historic district of Lima. The WMF community in Lima labors holistically in the following integrated areas: Street Outreach, Bible Studies, Family Network Care and Social Development.
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Street Outreach
- The Street Outreach Program, in conjunction with a partner organization, organized a weekly program offering workshops, bible study, recreation and breakfast to 60 at-risk young people. The weekly programming is enriched by relationship building through recreational day trips, regular street visits and shared meals.
Highlight: The Street Outreach Program is beginning to implement creative ways to develop musical talent among the youth who currently play on street corners and buses. Our vision for 2011 is to encourage their artist giftings in ways that are life-giving and open new doors of opportunity for vocational development.
- The Street Outreach Program, in conjunction with a partner organization, organized a weekly program offering workshops, bible study, recreation and breakfast to 60 at-risk young people. The weekly programming is enriched by relationship building through recreational day trips, regular street visits and shared meals.
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Bible Studies
- In the Women’s Bible Study 15 women and their children have been exploring the characteristics of God, Christian disciplines, and maturing in the face of failure. After a brief hiatus, the Men’s Bible Study reinitiated with a group of 6 young men who have left life on the streets and are now committed to their relationship with God and their families.
Highlight: It has been a joy to accompany the men and women through home visits where we have been able to experience how they are enthusiastically applying the principles discussed during the studies into their daily lives.
- In the Women’s Bible Study 15 women and their children have been exploring the characteristics of God, Christian disciplines, and maturing in the face of failure. After a brief hiatus, the Men’s Bible Study reinitiated with a group of 6 young men who have left life on the streets and are now committed to their relationship with God and their families.
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Family Network Care
- On the first Saturday of every month the Family Bible Study Program welcomed 28 different young adult participants and their 34 children to the WMF Peru Ministry Center to study the Word of God, share a community meal and enjoy each our friendship. This program is deepened and made more effective through over 45 home visits made to 20 different families throughout the year.
Highlight: This year the Family Bible Study added a highly interactive and dynamic children’s program which reinforces the material studied by their parents and encourages spiritual development in the home.
- On the first Saturday of every month the Family Bible Study Program welcomed 28 different young adult participants and their 34 children to the WMF Peru Ministry Center to study the Word of God, share a community meal and enjoy each our friendship. This program is deepened and made more effective through over 45 home visits made to 20 different families throughout the year.
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Social Development
- This program continues to offer whole person support for every participant in the programs of WMF Peru; from the newborn babies to the young adults. This support includes legal documentation, medical assistance, home improvement and employment support plus offering educational assistance to 32 children and 2 adults.
Highlight: The Social Development Program offered extensive workshops throughout the year to all of WMF Peru’s programs, focusing on themes such as body image & sexuality, conflict resolution, resilience to trauma and personal life plan.
- This program continues to offer whole person support for every participant in the programs of WMF Peru; from the newborn babies to the young adults. This support includes legal documentation, medical assistance, home improvement and employment support plus offering educational assistance to 32 children and 2 adults.