The Trust speaks regularly online with the local Committee in Piura. On our last call, we were briefed on conditions in the city, which have not been easy. Piura was affected early in the year by the political upheaval that followed the removal from office of the President of the country. Supporters of the deposed President closed of parts of the city and for a short time it was impossible for the Committee members safely to visit the Home. The political situation is now calmer, but the standoff between Congress and Government does not help and it is a constant threat to economic stability.

Another recent challenge has been the weather conditions and the threat of cyclones. Weather events caused by the La Niña phenomenon in the Pacific, brought heavy rain and caused flooding in parts of the city. Fortunately, the Home is outside the area most at risk of flooding and was not affected but, again, visiting the Home was impossible for a period.

The Chair of the Committee thanked the Trust for the extra donation we had sent last December to help pay for the Christmas celebrations with the children and the staff. The Committee had had some difficulty in providing us with the usual financial information on the Home since the person in charge had been ill with dengue fever but is now catching up.

Currently they have 14 residents. This is one fewer that when we last spoke, as one resident was taken out by his family, who are able to look after him themselves thanks to the financial assistance provided by the government in such cases. The Committee believes that the quality of treatment offered by the Home is far superior and that eventually the family will come back and ask for their help again.

Despite the rather difficult context, the Home has continued receiving donations in kind, although less than before, due in part to the flooding that affected a good part of the country’s road network of motorways. They did receive monetary donations to acquire a much-needed washing machine, and a solar energy generator, which allows them to reduce electricity consumption and therefore save on running costs. They are currently negotiating the import of a hoist to lift the most disabled children from their beds, but unfortunately the economic situation and custom controls are creating unwanted bureaucracy and delaying completion of the paperwork required. The Trust had offered to pay for these investments, but it is very pleasing to see that the Committee has been to fund them from local sources.