Newsletter 16: April, 2007
Thoughts from Anita: "Reflections after comforting 24 small orphaned children following the tragic death of little Lucho: We know tears and loss but they reinforced us. People who have never known tears have never known warmth of peace and the comforting strength of God."
Message From the Chairman
Roger Brown: 'On the road again' - Regular readers will remember that towards the end of 2005 the Anita Goulden Home moved from the old La Sendita building into a newly rented house with better facilities.
The local management committee had hoped that the Home could remain there for some years, but in a new development the owners of the house, a family living in Lima, have now returned to Piura and, quite naturally, want it back. So once again the Hogar Anita Goulden is on the move. Another house (in the Miraflores district) has been found to rent, and the move is taking place as I write, over the weekend of 24/25 March.
This latest development has convinced the local committee, and your trustees, that the only real, long-term solution to the problem of providing the best surroundings and opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged children and young people in Piura is to purchase a plot of land there, and put up a new building designed and constructed for the purpose. This will be a major undertaking, and of course the main burden of planning and execution will fall on the excellent local committee. But they are well up to that task, and the trustees in the UK will give them every possible support, including, if it should turn out to be needed, advice from experts specialising in designing for children with disabilities.
We will keep you fully informed as plans proceed. In the meantime the local committee is also embarking on a scheme to help those residents of the Home who are now young adults to live independently or semi-independently, so that, with support from the Home, they can continue to develop and fulfil their potential. The committee is also looking at the possibilities for co-operation with other local charitable organisations, while still preserving the individual character of the Home. All these activities depend entirely on your support, and I, and the other trustees, once again want to express our appreciation and gratitude for your encouragement and donations. It is quite literally, thanks to you that Anita Goulden's work can be continued. Please continue to help us.
Regular readers will also know of the tremendous contribution made to the redevelopment and reorganisation of the Home in 2005 and 2006 by Leonora Borg (Leo to all who know her) who spent many months in Piura working with the local committee and ensuring a smooth transition to an altogether better Home, where the needs of the children could be properly met. All the children adored Leo, and they were not the only ones, for we now learn with delight that she and Victor Riega, the young lawyer from Piura who was until recently Vice-Chairman of the local committee, are to be married in May. After their wedding Leo (who will shortly become a Trustee of The Anita Goulden Trust) and Victor will live in London, and we are very glad that they will both keep up their close connection with the Home. Congratulations and every happiness to them both.