Project review
Casita de Madera supports children and youth in the Villa Los Angeles community through kindergarten and afterschool programs. This project helps youth develop social and educational skills before entering primary school. This project provides a positive and healthy environment for children during and after school and serves as a strong foundation for the children’s future.
Most of the families living in Villa Los Angeles have moved down to the coast from the sierra (the highlands) some years ago, in hope of a better life. But poverty rates are still high and full-time jobs are hardly seen. Most of the people work in the nearby fields or in construction on a daily basis. This makes it very hard for the families to pay for and make time for their children’s education.
In 2010, Casita de Madera was built as a kindergarten in Villa Los Angeles. They started off with a little wooden cottage (hence the name meaning “little wooden house”) and about eight children from ages 3 to 5. There is a person from the village in charge of the supervision of the children and recently a teacher. They are utilizing the kindergarten to help the children develop their skills before entering primary school. The parents are not charged any fees since the idea of Casita de Madera is to provide free education!
This year the project was expanded and another wooden cottage with a playground and bathrooms for the kids was built. We are working in cooperation with the local municipality of Huanchaco to make the project more sustainable and to get some support in the quest for financing. Since the project now has more space to offer, there are many ideas and vacancies where a volunteer would fit in and could really help children in need!
