LAFF’s work in Peru has always focused on educating, empowering and enabling its partner organizations, allowing them to function sustainably by offering on-the-ground support that is tailored to each partner’s needs. One component that plays a major part in this is capacity building.

There is an expression often used in the world of International Development that goes “Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.” With this in mind, generally speaking, we can define capacity building as the efforts made to strengthen the abilities of either individuals or institutions in developing societies so that they themselves can overcome problems they are faced with, in a sustainable manner.

Some have described capacity building as a conceptual approach to development; a trend in the field that complements the idea of empowerment by imparting knowledge and skills onto those with more direct involvement and that crucially, shares out the responsibility for the problems that need to be addressed. Deborah Eade summarises it as “an approach to people-centred development”, taking into account the belief that “awareness, learning, self-esteem and the capacity for political action are mutually reinforcing”. The term can then really be used to describe any way in which an organisation can become more competent in order to improve its future prospects. Some of the ways LAFF do this are through the provision of vocational training, income generation support and cost-reduction initiatives.

Considering the emphasis this approach has on people, effective capacity building can really only result from identifying specific individual needs and offering assistance in developing skills where there is a proven requirement. One example of how LAFF has recently put this into action is in providing technical assistance to our partner organisations. The director of Azul Wasi recently requested LAFF’s help in becoming more computer literate, and was delighted with the skills he acquired after we organised for him to attend an intensive computer course at a local university here in Cusco. As well as positively affecting his own understanding and self-esteem, according to LAFF’s International Partnerships Manager, “having access to better technologies is not only an incentive but increases his capacity of communicating and providing accurate accounts,” improving the long-term sustainability of his organisation.

Recently, capacity building has been a particular point of interest within LAFF, after our International Partnerships Manager and Social Enterprise Programme Coordinator produced their own training workshop in December 2012, entitled ‘Starting and planning your Social Enterprise’. This was successfully delivered to one of our partners, Sacred Valley Project, with the objective that in the future they would be able to launch a social enterprise whose profits will be reinvested into the project itself.

However, as well as this, LAFF delivered the same workshop to its staff and volunteers, the idea being that we apply the concept of capacity building not only to our partners but also internally (see YouTube link below). If anyone can be an agent of change, then it is important to build potential within the LAFF team and deliver the same training sessions to ourselves, and in this case, also to the staff of another partner NGO, GirlSportsWorks. The training session was immensely interesting and useful to all in attendance, and since it is likely that many of the LAFF and GSW representatives will continue to pursue careers in development, the skills and knowledge acquired will remain relevant for their future involvement in various programmes and contexts.

In all shapes and forms, capacity building for development is undoubtedly a continual process rather than an immediate solution. One example given by Eade is that delivering a single workshop on racial awareness to the staff of an organisation will not necessarily prevent any discrimination from occurring in the future. As always in the sphere of development, creating tangible, sustainable change takes time and effort, but LAFFs results are showing that capacity building can certainly be an effective way for NGOs to encourage participation and accountability among those whose interests they seek to serve.

Maria Cunningham, January 2013

Filed under: Blog, Fundraising News by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »

During my first visit to one of LAFF’s partnership organisations, children’s home Azul Wasi, which is located just outside of the city of Cusco, I was really struck by two things. One was how the children that lived there all looked after each other. It was late in the afternoon and everyone was home from school, the teenagers were taking it in turns to carefully hold the new baby and keep an eye on the slightly younger children, who in turn watched out for the very young children, while they were playing or doing their homework. They are a family just like any other, I realised, and while no family is certainly ever perfect or happy all of the time, a good family does provide a constant network of support. And whether they are conscious of it or not, I saw that this is what the kids there give to each other. The second thing that struck me was just how little the children had materially, but how their basic living conditions didn’t prevent them from being a family either. These were the first of many ‘food for thought’ moments I have experienced since joining LAFF and getting to know the partnership organisations. In particular, working for the foundation has made me think often about what defines a ‘good start in life,’and what it is that we really need as children to help us develop the tools required as adults to live successful, happy, healthy and independent lives.

I joined the LAFF team in November 2012, and my first job was to coordinate the renovation of a room at Azul Wasi and turn it into a new library/ study space for the children. I had five weeks to complete the project and looking back on that time it was an emotional roller-coaster; initially it seemed very straight forward, then there was a period of time where it felt totally impossible, and then it all came together in the end and was a complete success! We had the time frame of five weeks because the LAFF team had the brilliant idea of combining the induction of the new library with a Christmas party for the children in December.

LAFF’s motto ‘Independence not Dependence’ is at the centre of everything the foundation does, and all the work done on the ground here in Cusco is focused on making our partner organisations more self-sufficient, and setting the children we support on the path for independent futures. Education is undoubtedly a key factor in this, as it opens up opportunities that might not otherwise have existed, particularly when it comes to employment. For international development charities worldwide, education, (as well as vocational training, which we discussed in our last blog) is a main focal point of our work, as it is the fundamental tool for lifting people out of poverty and allowing them to live freely. After coordinating with a business woman in Cusco who had close ties with Azul Wasi and knew the staff and children well, having been involved in fundraising for them for three years, it was agreed that she would organise the repairs needed for the room and I would source all the materials to decorate and furnish it. What followed for me was a baptism of fire into shopping in Cusco; an interesting and enjoyable if exhausting, and at times confusing, process.

The children that LAFF support through its partnerships with local organisations here in Peru are certainly beginning life in a disadvantaged position, as they are from poor and vulnerable backgrounds which means they are part of the population that is incredibly unlikely to get a formal education. Although the literacy rate in Peru as a whole is almost 93%, that figure falls to 18% in and around Cusco, according to a 2010 report by Amnesty International. Although education is legally compulsory and there are free state-run schools for children to attend, many families cannot afford the uniforms, transport and food required to send their children to school. The same Amnesty report found that 75% of Cusqueñans were living below the ‘extreme poverty line’ and the unemployment rate of the region was 74%. With children who work in the streets, usually selling trinkets to tourists, being able to bring money home, it is easy to understand why school attendance rates are so low. With LAFF’s help, all of our beneficiaries attend school and the idea of the new library for the children at Azul Wasi was to help provide extra educational support in the form of a comfortable, colourful and warm space for the children to study and do their homework in while at home.

The day of the party was an absolutely wonderful. As we arrived with the furniture, books and art supplies, the children helped unload the cars, assemble the furniture, decorate the new room and everything came together beautifully. The first moment I had to stop and look around was really inspiring; the place was a hive of activity with LAFF volunteers, as well as some of our boyfriends and family members working alongside the Azul Wasi staff and children to help get the library ready, prepare the food in the kitchen and re-dig the rainwater drainage ditch. Once all was ready we had the inauguration ceremony and presented the new space to the children, who then came up with a list of rules for keeping the space organised and nominated their first ‘library manager’ who is in charge to ensure the rules are kept. After the presentation and a beautiful speech from Azul Wasi’s director Alcides, we all sat down to eat together and enjoyed a Christmas feast of roasted chicken. It was great for us LAFF volunteers to spend so much quality time with the children we work to support, it was such a great day precisely because we could engage with and get to know the children a little better.

Somebody observed that day that often in international development the work you do is on-going and, although it has an aim, it doesn’t always have a clear, defined end-point. The LAFF team had been working so hard all summer, implementing new programmes and projects to support our beneficiaries, that I was especially pleased that this project and the Christmas party came together so well. I felt it gave the team a chance to reflect on the previous few months work and celebrate all they had achieved, ending the year on a high note. It was great to be able to do something for the whole team, as they had done so much for the children that LAFF support.

Claire Knowles, January 2013

Before:

After…

Before:

After…

The rules! As self imposed by the Azul Wasi children…

Filed under: Blog, Ways to Support LAFF by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »

In LAFF’s last blog we spoke about social entrepreneurship as a global trend within the International Development sector, and how NGOs are placing more emphasis on empowerment and self-sustainability. One of LAFF’s main aims is to offer opportunities to our beneficiaries that they wouldn’t otherwise have, believing that a child needs more than food, shelter and safety – they need knowledge and space to grow.

The kids we support come from high-risk backgrounds and have often been subject to stigma and discrimination, which can crush their confidence and suppress any future ambitions they may have once had.  In recent months we’ve been working to combat this through our Vocational Training and Career Guidance Programme, with our beneficiaries attending workshops or training sessions that offer technical knowledge, life skills and guidance for the future. This year LAFF was awarded a ‘Be the Change Awards’ Grant by Peace Child International, as well as funds from other trusts in order to implement this programme.

WHO (The World Health Organisation) identifies ‘life skills’ as a key need amongst vulnerable children and defines them as “abilities that help us adapt and behave positively so that we can deal effectively with the challenges of everyday life.” This is the philosophy behind our vocational training programme – LAFF supplements the formal education that the children are already receiving, not only to equip them with new technical skills such as cooking or compost use, but also to promote social, personal and emotional development.

This development could come in the form of critical thinking, problem solving or decision making skills, but the latter is particularly important for many of the kids who are housed by our partner organisations. The nature of living in a children’s home means having one’s life and schedule almost completely structured by someone else, and in actual fact it is rare for LAFF’s beneficiaries to have to make decisions for themselves. This could potentially create difficulty when the time comes to facing the future and making the transition to the workplace. Our programme aims to practically demonstrate some of the options available and give children the confidence to really participate in decisions that affect them. In November, three of our older beneficiaries (aged 17 and above) started attending professional training programmes lasting six months to a year, in administration, hairdressing and international gastronomy. When asked for their future aspirations, so many of our beneficiaries just say, “to be a professional”. These three cases prove that with the necessary support and guidance it is perfectly possible for children to choose to pursue a range of professions, in spite of their pasts. LAFF recognises that this should depend not only on what they enjoy but also be relevant to market structure needs in order to ensure future employment.

To date, 88 children have received vocational training from LAFF and the plan is to enrol dozens more in the coming months. One of the most inspiring success stories from our partners is that of an 18-year-old who recently left a Casa Mantay, a home for teenage mothers and their babies. She is now being trained as an apprentice chef at a bakery here in Cusco and will take over the running of the kitchen in January, as well as caring for her 18-month-old baby. LAFF have established a partnership with this very same bakery in order to provide short cooking workshops to our beneficiaries, and this girl can without a doubt act as an amazing role model for the kids that are attending these classes.

Sarah, our Vocational Training and Career Guidance Programme Co-ordinator, asked the children their reactions and opinions of the baking workshops after a busy session learning to make recipes such as brownies, cookies and traditional Peruvian alfajores. One of the most positive responses came from Hernan, who is 15. Sarah noted that Hernan was especially engaged with what he was being taught, and he later explained that he loves learning new things and that it is his dream to be a chef. Identifying and nurturing ambition such as that of Hernan is so important to LAFF’s ultimate goal of “independence, not dependence”, a motto that applies not only to our partner organisations but to each of our beneficiaries, for whom it is so important to go on and lead independent lives in the future. Just being given the opportunity to participate and learn new things presents a head start to any young person and for LAFF it is amazing to see kids developing the confidence to take control of their own futures.

As well as looking further ahead and preparing our beneficiaries for living independently we’ve been able to offer training sessions that benefit their day-to-day lives within LAFF’s partner organisations.  Over the coming months, our agricultural consultant will return to help staff and kids build on their knowledge from previous training sessions in greenhouse management. This time the focus will be on training in compost use and growing vegetables, supporting the home in the development and improvement of their greenhouse. Increasing the productivity of their greenhouse will reduce costs and could potentially become an income generating activity in the future, promoting further self-sustainability.

The Vocational Training and Career Guidance Programme is progressing more and more each month, and having dedicated a volunteer post here in Cusco to manage its design and implementation we are expecting even more great results in the future, with the hope of empowering and inspiring as many youth as possible as the programme develops.

Maria Cunningham, December 2013

Filed under: Blog, Project News by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »

LAFF are pleased to announce that we’ve been nominated for a 2012 LUKAS award for Human Rights Organisation of the Year!

This is great news for us and an honour to be recognised, alongside many other well-respected charities, for our work helping at-risk and vulnerable children in Latin America.

The LUKAS (Latin UK Awards) launched in 2011 and this year’s event is sponsored by AirEuropa. There will be 2 months voting in a primary round then the top 5 most voted for candidates in each category will enter a final month after which the winner will be decided. The Live event is planned to take place in March 2013, in what is proving to be, in ballet dancer Carlos Acosta’s words, “the most anticipated and prestigious event of the year for Latinos and Latin culture lovers in the UK.” The awards are done by popular vote and open on 15th November 2012.

Please take 2 minutes to vote for LAFF at the link below, you can do it as many times as you want with a 24 hour gap between each vote. http://www.thelukas.co.uk/community/human-rights-organization-or-campaign-of-the-year.aspx

Filed under: Blog, Fundraising News by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »

LAFF staff and volunteers on the ground in Cusco have recently found that one of the most prevalent social issues affecting Peru is la indocumentación, that is, the fact that thousands of Peruvians, particularly in rural or indigenous communities still do not possess the national identification card, the DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad). This prevents participation in civil society, creating social exclusion to the extent that even the state authority responsible for this, RENIEC (Registro Nacional de Identificacion y Estado Civil), describes such citizens as “invisible to Peruvian society” and the term ‘civil death’ is often used to refer to having one’s DNI removed.

A DNI is required to exercise a multitude of social, legal and civil rights including the right to vote, receive social security benefits, open a bank account, access the national healthcare system, marry, own or inherit property or find formal work. All things that many of us might take for granted. For at-risk or street children, (such as those supported by LAFF’s partner organisations) it is especially important to be state-registered in order to prevent trafficking or kidnapping. If children don’t exist in the eyes of the state then it is, of course, easy for them to enter circles of forced labour or sex trade without detection or suspicion.

According to El Comercio, 200,000 Peruvians over the age of 18 remain ‘anonymous’ to the State. This is largely due to economic reasons and the majority of the undocumented population lives in extreme poverty, unable to afford the 24 soles (under £6) for registration. Although RENIEC launched a scheme in 2011 providing free DNI inscription to those from the lowest economic backgrounds, it’s fairly shocking that for years the Peruvian authorities have been able to treat the country’s poorest as though they do not exist, and for many this continues to be a reality. From an outsider’s perspective there is a cruel irony in the fact that those most in need of state support are often not entitled to claim it. Currently 20,000 people over the age of 65  and living in extreme poverty cannot access their pension programme because they are unregistered.

Institutional and administrative flaws are partly to blame for this situation, namely, the lack of available registry centres. For this reason RENIEC have recently committed to visiting remote communities twice a year to register those not yet identified. But there must be reasons why Peruvians from poor rural areas don’t feel the need to travel to redeem their citizenship. Social and cultural differences play a part, such as the difficulty of registering for the illiterate or those without Spanish as their first language. But we must also consider the possibility that those without DNIs and living in remote areas simply haven’t received enough education as to why registration is necessary and what benefits can be claimed just by possessing this document.

It is often NGOs such as LAFF’s partner organisations that are forced to pick up the pieces of this issue, spending time and money tracking the families and registering the identities of children who arrive at the homes without DNIs. Not only does this use up valuable resources, but also reflects the failure of the Peruvian authorities to act upon this issue. To make things worse, it is by court order that children are sent to homes such as Casa Mantay or Azul Wasi, with the condition that they find or obtain their DNI; a service that the state itself should be providing but in many cases is not, instead shifting the responsibility elsewhere.

In 2011, Human Rights Watch created a petition against the discrimination of Peruvian citizens with disabilities. Under Peru’s Civil Code, those with certain intellectual or multiple sensory disabilities are subject to judicial interdiction, the process in which a judge declares whether or not a person is competent to take care of him/herself and property. To such citizens placed under interdiction, RENIEC are not permitted to issue DNIs or voting rights on the grounds that they are ‘relatively or absolutely incapable’. Human Rights Watch argues that this is a violation of the basic human right to a name and an identity, and even cites cases in which patients have entered psychological institutions without a DNI and remain known as ‘N.N’ (No Name) for several years. Unfortunately, LAFF have heard stories from organisations in Cusco that have tried and failed several times to obtain DNIs for children with Down’s Syndrome, for the very reasons mentioned above.

So how can this vicious circle of inequality within Peruvian society be broken? In recent years several campaigns have been launched in attempts to tackle the problem. Awareness of indocumentación is increasingly greater and progress is being made, with 90% of Peruvian minors now in possession of a DNI compared to only 5% in 2004. Just this week the Red Semilla Nueva, the network of Cusco organisations that work with at-risk children, received approval from RENIEC for free DNI registration of abandoned and vulnerable children in local homes or institutions.

But it cannot be denied that there is still some way to go. In the ‘Plan Nacional Peru Contra la Indocumentación 2011-2015’, RENIEC references the following quote by Maria Batch:

“An illiterate person is one who cannot write his name and an illiterate state is one that cannot write the names of its citizens”

Clearly the issue starts and ends with the actions of the state. With the intention of combating discrimination and allowing Peruvians to exercise their human and civil rights, providing DNIs should continue to be a priority for the government and perhaps this could start with infants and children, in order to set a good example for future generations. The department responsible for tackling indocumentación, GRIAS (Gerencia de Restitución de la Identidad y Apoyo Social) believes “the DNI is considered an indicator of social inclusion and a fundamental requisite for Peruvians to benefit from social development programs implemented by the state”. Therefore, as an organisation that works to empower and create opportunities for children, with the aim of contributing to the wider development of Peruvian society, LAFF certainly hopes that RENIEC can meet their goal of eliminating indocumentación completely by 2015. With any hope, bringing ‘invisible’ citizens into focus can lessen the gap between the state and the people, and represent further steps towards social equality in Peru.

Maria Cunningham, November 2013

Filed under: Blog, Ways to Support LAFF by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »

In LAFF’s previous blog entry we talked about the issues that can arise from intervention, more specifically, how charitable donations can be counterproductive despite good intentions. Of course, one of the main problems is that donating money and goods to global communities quickly creates dependency on international aid whilst preventing long-term sustainability or self-determination.

Many of our partner organisations here in Cusco receive no funding from the Peruvian government, relying instead on donations from foreign sources. But this is always going to put the partners in a position of risk if such funding streams ever stop, a threat that has become all the more real in recent years in light of the economic recession. Within the international development sector, focus has therefore shifted to finding alternative sources of financial support. For LAFF, who aim to create independence rather than dependence, this comes in the form of social enterprise.

The concept of social enterprise has existed since the late 1990s, becoming increasingly prominent as a trend within the third sector as businesses and consumers place more and more emphasis on operating ethically and sustainably, for social benefit. Well known examples include The Big Issue, Divine chocolate and Jamie Oliver’s branch of restaurants, Fifteen. The drive for businesses that measure success by social rather than economic impact was arguably further inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammed Yunus. Since its inception, Yunus’ Grameen Bank has delivered microcredit loans to over 8 million people in developing countries, allowing them to launch self-employment projects and break out of poverty. Yunus coined the term ‘Social Consciousness Driven Companies’, claiming traditional economic theory did not take into account the human element of business, that is, the fact that “real people are multi-dimensional. They enjoy making money, but that is not the only dimension in their lives.”

Nowadays, the definition of ‘social enterprise’ is the subject of much debate and can be (wrongly or rightly) applied to several varying business models. The first of these is the most controversial, as it refers to existing businesses whose trade is not socially motivated but who invest their surpluses into public interests, for example, The Coca-Cola Company and its charitable counterpart, The Coca-Cola Foundation. Needless to say, many people would argue that Coca-Cola is not an example of a company that “exists to change the world for the better” (Social Enterprise UK), but by donating 1% of its profits to charitable causes it can claim to be socially responsible.

Another model that perhaps better fulfils the description of a business that prioritises ethics and social objectives is a co-operative, whereby businesses or organisations adopt a pluralist attitude and work together towards economic democracy and social inclusion. A successful commercial example being The Co-operative Group in the UK, although according to the UN, smaller scale co-operatives are currently the fastest growing form of enterprise with 1 billion members globally and 40% of households in Africa belonging to a co-operative.

But LAFF and its partners are most interested in the third model of social entrepreneurship, in which organisations and charities set up trading arms and reinvest the profits into their own running costs, reducing reliance on external funding. In recent months our Social Entrepreneurship Programme Coordinator, Jenni, has been working incredibly hard on an exciting project, composing a social enterprise business plan for one of our partners, Casa Mantay. Casa Mantay is home to 14 young mothers and their children and with our support, hopes to open a restaurant here in Cusco, motivated by the prospect of the profits providing financial security for the home. LAFF sees social enterprise as a means of income generation, but also of professional growth. In this particular case, the programme is an appealing for social as well as economic reasons because if implemented, the project will offer capacity building to staff and potential employment prospects for the at-risk youth who leave the home at age 18.

The results so far have been promising. Our market study has confirmed the viability of our business plan and revealed that potential customers are both interested in ethical business and aware of how their spending choices affect others. At this stage, technical support is being provided entirely by volunteers such as Jenni and crucially, the business model she has chosen would require no financial assistance beyond the enterprise’s start up. Therefore with the belief that social enterprise is a huge step towards sustainability, in the next few weeks Jenni and Maria Paula, the International Partnerships Manager, will be developing a Social Entrepreneurship handbook summarising LAFF’s experiences and the lessons learned in order to transfer this business plan to our other partner organisations in the future.

Though the concept of social enterprise is still relatively unknown in Latin America, already functioning programmes can implement ideas that have proved successful internationally and reduce their time to market. In the grand scheme of international development, the trend itself is reflective of a global movement towards empowerment; an attitude that sees more benefit in offering opportunities to those in poverty or at-risk than doing things for them. In Peru, where the poverty level stands at 31%, social entrepreneurship can serve particularly where private or government funding is limited. LAFF recognises that though volunteering and fundraising programmes are worthwhile, in this day and age what really matters is how such resources can be exploited to achieve sustainability. In the words of Yunus:

“The charity dollar has only one life: you give it and it never comes back… If you can transform it into a social business, your money will be recycled again and again. It becomes more transparent and powerful because it becomes an institution. Rather than disappearing, it remains.”

Maria Cunningham, November 2012

Filed under: Blog, Project News by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »

When LAFF recently attended the Social Enterprise Workshop at la Universidad del Pacifico, TOMS shoes was offered as an example of a thriving model of social entrepreneurship. The idea behind the brand is simple but clearly effective – whenever a pair of TOMS is sold, its non-profit partner organisation, Friends of Toms donates another pair to a person in need around the globe. When living in London, I became aware of this ‘one for one’ concept and of the brand itself as its trademark espadrille style began to be seen in most high-street shoe shops and even on the feet of many celebrities. TOMS seems to owe its increasing success to the fact that it combines fashion and philanthropy, offering an effortless means of charitable giving for the consumerist world.

My first encounter with TOMS here in Peru was on a visit to Azul Wasi, a home just outside of Cusco for vulnerable boys who have previously lived or worked on the streets. The founder of the home had recently been on the receiving end of the scheme, yet his response was not entirely positive. The process of receiving the shoes had been drawn out over several months and was subject to difficult terms and conditions, such as having to provide each child’s DNI number (Documento Nacional de Identidad, the identification number provided by the Peruvian state), which many ex-street children simply don’t have or don’t know. One can assume that the children most in need of basics like shoes are often those that go unrecognised by the state system, so this seems especially ironic.

A further stipulation was that upon delivering the shoes, every boy should be present in order for representatives to witness and document the children receiving them. Presumably a photo of underprivileged Peruvian children joyfully opening their new gifts does wonders for the TOMS PR campaign. But for the boys at the home, it was understandably patronising. The organisation has always provided shelter, food and care for its residents and more recently, with LAFF’s help, it has become more sustainable through the installation of a water tower and pump, bread oven and greenhouse. Due to the particular Andean location and climate, practical trainers have always been provided for the boys. No one at the home had realised that the donated shoes would comprise of canvas slippers and the situation was put somewhat into perspective when the owner claimed he could buy an identical pair for five soles (about £1.20) at the local market. Any visitor to the house would vouch that this is not a case of ingratitude – wearing espadrilles in such conditions is just downright impractical.

In certain communities and for those living in extreme poverty, the TOMS campaign does wonders in providing a fundamental resource for children and making a huge difference to many lives. Success stories found on the TOMS official blog illustrate how the donated shoes have allowed children to adhere to school uniform regulations and therefore receive an education, or have prevented at-risk children from playing bare foot, protecting them from soil-transmitted diseases or cuts and sores which could become infected. But in this instance, LAFF’s partner organisation was wrongly identified as a project that “will benefit most from TOMS shoes due to economic, health and educational needs” (www.toms.com). This provides a valuable lesson from which everyone can learn, including LAFF, who encouraged our partner to participate in the scheme. TOMS has to put some trust in organisations on the ground and communicate clearly with them so that they will understand what they are actually receiving and are in a position to decide whether or not this will be of benefit.

This entire situation offers a smaller scale example of what will always happen in the bigger picture of ‘International Development’. In The No Nonsense Guide to International Development, Maggie Black blames campaigns like ‘Make Poverty History’ and their celebrity patrons for fostering the popular humanitarian idea that there can be a universal prescription for development and that the privileged world “can fix up other people’s lives in ways they have not envisaged or asked for”, subsequently turning much of the poverty-stricken world into mere players in “the drama of socio-economic progress as written by ourselves”. But of course NGOs can’t always successfully deliver a single programme of aid to every one of their beneficiaries. What proves effective in some areas, as with the TOMS situation, fails in others and charity for the sake of charity can often do more harm than good. Just last year, World Vision was widely criticised for donating 100,000 articles of misprinted NFL Super Bowl clothing to Zambia, Nicaragua, Armenia and Romania. A controversial move, principally because the NFL merchandisers were eligible for tax deductions after donating unwanted goods and hence accused of having ulterior (selfish) motives. But also because workers on the ground argued that t-shirt donation was both unnecessary and counterproductive. Laura Freschi of Aid Watch claims that giving t-shirts “can perpetuate local community’s dependence on free handouts and stifle-home grown economic initiatives, not to mention putting out of business local shirt sellers.”

Most organisations, LAFF and TOMS included, work with local partners, but there is still always going to be a risk of miscommunication or misunderstanding when intervention is concerned, despite good intentions. LAFF’s intention is not to throw money at organisations or to force them to function in a certain way, but to identify the individual needs of the children and offer specific support to help each partner become sustainable. The fact that staff and volunteers work at a local level offers us the opportunity to gain a genuine understanding of the contexts of our partner organizations and their beneficiaries.

As LAFF’s newest volunteer, this is my first experience working in international development and therefore it has been eye-opening for me to witness directly how an intervention can fail at a local level. It seems that the moral of these examples is that good intentions can only translate into success stories through conducting thorough research, obtaining accurate information and learning from our mistakes. Though it is sometimes tempting to lose faith, in the grand scheme of international development we have to believe that some interventions do work and that it is possible to make a tangible difference in the long run.

Maria Cunningham, October 2012

Filed under: Blog, Ways to Support LAFF by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »

TV star Gok Wan is launching the Vodafone World of Difference 2012 programme today, giving 500 people from across the UK the opportunity to donate their time to a local charity of their choice and get paid. As well as providing support to often-understaffed charities like LAFF, the programme has so far helped 1500 people bring valuable skills and experience to charitable organisations across the UK. A recent report from The Vodafone Foundation reveals that over a third of those selected for the programme take up paid work in the charity sector following their placement. Eight in ten winners remain engaged with their World of Difference charity; a third of which work full-time for their charity.

LAFF Founder Sarah has nothing but positive words to say about the World of Difference programme:

“As a small charity which relies almost entirely on volunteers to keep things running both in the UK and Peru, we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from the World of Difference programme over the last few years. We’ve now had 4 World of Difference winners working for LAFF – one in Peru and three in the UK, working on projects as varied as establishing a Development Education pack to help UK schools learn more about street kids; to setting up an International Volunteer Programme to expand our impact in Peru. We would love others to apply to work with us on a specific project, and are particularly keen for anyone with marketing experience, schools experience, Spanish skills, or website-building experience to get in touch to discuss our needs in more detail and make an application”. 

For the first time, the Vodafone World of Difference UK 2012 programme, delivered by the Vodafone Foundation, will be open to all previous winners. The programme offers both full and part-time placements, making it easier to suit everyone’s lifestyle demands.
Once winners are selected, the Vodafone Foundation will pay £2,500 to their charities, to cover salary costs, once tax and National Insurance have been paid. Charities will also receive £250 towards expenses associated with enrolling and employing the winner.
Gok comments: “The Vodafone World of Difference programme really does make a difference to the winners and charities involved. It’s amazing – eight out of 10 of those who took part last year planned to continue their work with their chosen charity after the
programme finished” continued Gok. “I am honoured to be asked to work with World of Difference again and proud to make it my mission to let as many people, and charities, as possible know about this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Charities and individuals wanting to take part in the Vodafone World of Difference programme should visit vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference.  Entries close 13 November 2012, with placements starting in March 2013.

In the meantime, keep up-to-date with all the latest news and read about charities’ and volunteers’ experiences at vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference. Follow @wod_uk on Twitter and make friends with the Vodafone Foundation on facebook.com/worldofdifference

Filed under: Blog, Project News by sarah.oakes
No Comments »

King Edwards High School for Girls in Birmingham, the school of Hannah Barrett, the LAFF Trustee who sadly lost her battle to cancer at the age of 26 in July 2010, has set up the ‘Hannah Barrett International Development Award‘ to encourage and reward students fundraising for LAFF. The award will be made annually to student(s) doing most to contribute to LAFF’s cause.

Although the award has no monetary value to the student(s), Merilyn and Paul Barrett, Hannah’s parents, will donate £200 to LAFF each time an award is made. The award will be presented at KEHS’s Speech Day in November, will figure in the Speech Day programme, and hopefully will be worth the recipient putting on her CV.

This year’s award goes to KEHS student  Rebecca Evans. Becky, who was inspired by LAFF’s International Projects Manager’s visit to the school explaining about LAFF’s work, went on to contribute a great deal to help raise funds, including planning and running a salsa evening. Becky left school this summer and hopes to read Spanish and Portuguese at university and we hope that she continues her link with LAFF, volunteering whilst at university and beyond. Congratulations Becky and thank you to all at KEHS for your fundraising this year!

Filed under: Blog, Fundraising News by sarah.oakes
No Comments »

As I sit and watch the floods of travellers donned head-to-toe in Alpaca shuffling around the streets of Cusco, clutching their cameras, politely offering a ‘no gracias’ to the countless (and rather dubious) ‘massage’ offers, admiring the impressive surrounding Inca architecture, I think about how differently Peru must appear through the eyes of a tourist. The city of Cusco is unarguably impressive. Boasting some of the most incredible buildings, the small and narrow streets speak wonders about the history of the place. The bustling markets are swarming with people; the colourful stalls and smiling locals inviting tourists in to ‘try! Try!’ On top of all that, the restaurants, with western food proving to be a recurring theme at the top of many menus, are not easily missed and leave tourists feeling full and wholly satisfied. However, choosing to live and work in Peru has given me an entirely different viewpoint.

About 3 months ago, I decided to apply for a position as an international volunteer with LAFF (Latin American Foundation for the Future), a small UK-registered charity. LAFF currently works with 6 partner organisations supporting marginalised children in Peru, with the approach of building independence, not dependence. I’ve realised now that there are so many things we take for granted when entering adulthood. An education. Basic life skills. Skills that make us employable. Most importantly a sense of self-worth, which many of these kids lack so visibly when they first become a part of the homes or refuges. LAFF believes in giving these children the start in life they deserve by equipping them with these assets. By ensuring partner organisations are self-sustainable, (through vocational training, capacity building and income generation plans) LAFF hopes that they’ll have more time to focus on the welfare and future of the children they care for. While this summer I’m only working specifically with 4 of these partners, (2 being based in Arequipa) I’m already so inspired by the work LAFF does. The projects I’ve visited have been really eye-opening, and I’ll admit that before coming I was quite naïve to the extent of issues affecting children in Peru.

Once you’re on a bus and out of the centre, it’s a completely different world. My first clue that this was the case was in the small and crowded local bus on the way to a project, when a small boy timidly pulled on his Mum’s sleeve and asked ‘why is she so white?’ (There I was, thinking I was catching the sun nicely…) The streets are dust-ridden, stray dogs fight on pavements, and boys as young as 4 are hauling carts piled high with crates and other goods to sell at the market. The smell of pork-kebabs being grilled by women dressed ornamentally in traditional Andean garments is enticing, rows of pig carcasses flung upon one another in the street seem to stare at you as you pass, and men chewing coca leaves on the side of the road look to be completely lost in thought. To me, it felt that this was the real part of Cusco; a part not bustling with tourists, a part not full to the brim with boys who want to shine your shoes, and a part not hiding the issue of street working and living children behind the mask of tourism.

One project we work with that has particularly captured my attention is Casa Mantay. This is a home for young mothers, ranging in ages from 12 to 18, who have been victims of abuse or child labour. In Peru, 2 out of 3 Peruvian women are victims of abuse. A woman is raped every 20 minutes, and that is with only 1 of 8 reported cases of rape being counted in statistics. One in four mothers is under the age of 18, and a staggering 90% of these pregnancies are the result of rape. It’s easy to gloss over those statistics. But they can’t be ignored. These statistics, overwhelming as they are, are the stark, cold reality for far too many women in Peru, and it’s places like Casa Mantay that give these women a second chance. A chance to raise their child in a loving and safe environment, for them to access both material and emotional support, and to assume responsibility in a way that will make them wholly prepared to lead a happy and fulfilling life. What captivated me most was the overwhelmingly warm and loving environment. The directors Raquel and Sergio are completely dedicated to giving the girls the skills they need, and while the girls attend school, undertake chores and care for their young ones, they are also given the opportunity to train in a leather workshop onsite that produces and sells beautiful traditional trinkets around Cusco. When I was at Casa Mantay the other day to make some short case-studies of the girls, I was completely taken aback by how welcoming and friendly they all were towards me. We laughed at my Spanish mistakes, (or perhaps they were laughing at me) joked about the awful Peruvian soap opera they were watching and chatted casually about what their plans were for the school holidays. It’s really difficult to imagine that these girls have the backgrounds they have.

Although I’ve only been here for a month, I’m already starting to see what a difference LAFF is making in the lives of these vulnerable children. Every project I’ve visited seems to be benefiting hugely from the help and support LAFF has offered them over the years. The children are so happy and optimistic and it’s clear to see how thankful they are to receive the on-going care and support they receive. For the next two months, I’ll be helping Casa Mantay launch a new campaign to promote their leather workshop, delivering workshops to the different partner organisations, and I’ll be heavily involved in communications for LAFF, to ensure the message gets back to those funding or donating towards the partner organisations that their support is so strongly appreciated. One of the best things about working with a small organisation (and being able to visit the partners so regularly) is the fact that tomorrow I may have an entirely new project to work on. It’s always exciting not to know what’s round the corner. If you’re feeling inspired, or just looking for something to do besides watching the Olympics, give the LAFF website a visit at http://www.laffcharity.org.uk, or watch one of their videos on YouTube by typing in ‘LAFF Charity Peru’. If that inspires you further, you can make a donation directly towards LAFF at my JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/Jessica-Bray0 to enhance the work I’m doing this summer and the work that will continue once I have returned to Durham in September.

Filed under: Blog, Ways to Support LAFF by LAFF Volunteer
No Comments »