Colegio San Antonio's Centro de Atención Externa (Youth Outreach Center or CAE) in Peru's Subtanjalla district operates within buildings made of provisional temporary materials. These structures have only limited access to electricity and entirely lack running water.

This project funds the equipment costs that are necessary for sustaining the CAE nutrition program. It will ensure CAE is equipped with three-burner industrial stoves, propane, cooking and serving utensils (such as spatulas, large spoons, kitchen and carving knives), pots and pans, a steamer, an industrial sink, a refrigerator, a freezer, storage cabinets, and shelving. These items are necessary to the operation of the CAE kitchen and to the health of the students it serves.

Children who receive the benefits of CAE's nutrition program will be better able to concentrate in school, focus while receiving psychosocial attention, and enjoy recreational activities. Nutritional services intended for the students' family members will also promote Coprodeli’s emphasis on community development and encourage beneficiaries to become committed participants in its programs.

Subtanjalla is a marginalized, urban community on the outskirts of Ica City, Peru. More than 90% of the Ica region was devastated in August 2007 by an earthquake of an 8.0 magnitude. This disaster left more than 80,000 families homeless and destroyed 120 educational centers. Coprodeli has built a Centro de Atención Externa (Youth Outreach Center) to provide extremely impoverished earthquake victims with dignified housing and access to education, health care and child development services.

CAE is dedicated to providing the impoverished with psychosocial and medical care, proper nutrition, and educational support. The center particularly works to identify children living in high risk situations and address their needs on an individual and group basis. During its first year of operation, it is projected that CAE served 50 high-risk children and 30 of their parents. Estimates indicate that CAE will double its capacity during its second year to reach 100 children and 60 parents.

Meet your partner community, and read their messages and profiles.

Rosely

14-year-old Rosely has attended the Youth Outreach Center for 3 years. When asked if she likes the Center, she answered, "Yes - the teacher is very good and brings us important daily news and information. He helps us work on our homework and also helps us in developing our personality." She also cites the "delicious and nutritious food" as a reason she loves the Center.

Abarca

9-year-old Abarca has been enrolled in the Youth Outreach Center for 2 years. Her father has temporary work in construction painting houses and as a fee collector on buses. Her mother cares for the home and her three younger siblings. Abarca likes religion class, singing, and jumping rope. She has a delicate voice and speaks softly, showing her shyness around people she does not know. During the Earthquake of 2007, the family´s home collapsed and they currently live in a provisional shack where there is no water, drainage or electricity. A plastic covering is in place to shield the home from rain. She enjoys her time at the Center, appreciating the help she receives with her homework and the delicious food.

Direct Impact of Your Project

Enable 50 children between the ages of 4 and 16 years to have nutritious, hot meals every day

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

• Ensure meals can be provided that will serve an incentive for student attendance
• Critically improve student health by fighting malnutrition
• Allow children to focus and reach their full potential academically and socially
• Provide parents and other family members of students with access to nutritious meals and their health benefits
• Encourage adults’ participation in child care and enable potentially destructive family dynamics to be identified and modified