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Westfalia Orphanage beach day

2012 February 13
by scott

On Friday 10 February 2012 we took the entire orphanage on a beach trip to Punta Hermosa (Point Beautiful), 50km to the south of Lima, Peru. The kids were loaded up on 2 buses and made the almost 2 hour journey from the dusty, dry hills of Cieneguilla to the Pacific Ocean.

In another simple act that we take for granted, it was the first time that most of the kids had even seen a beach or the Pacific Ocean. It was definitely the highlight of my 2 years working with the kids of Westfalia Orphanage to see their faces as they saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time! They were beyond excited, and ran back-and-forth as the waves rolled in in a cross between fear and joy!

Check out the embedded video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEqiKfAYdYk&feature=youtu.be

After some time most were at least up to their shins in the water and a few of the more daring boys went in up to their waists. For the younger ones especially it was a very scary sight to see all this water crashing in and rolling up the beach. At one stage I had 4 or 5 kids holding my hands and arms as we slowly advanced into the water meeting the incoming waves with shrieks and screams, and then laughter.

While the primary aim of sonrisasenperu is to educate the kids to try and break the cycle of poverty that sees many generations of rural poor simply following the same cycle that their parents and grandparents went through, it is also to give the children a sense of normality. For poor children that live in an orphanage on the edge of Lima, doing simple things we take for granted such as a trip to a museum, a bus ride, or a trip to the beach, raises their morale.

Check out the video of Estrella talking about her first time at the beach http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-syQ_GTPd8&context=C3cbe59dADOEgsToPDskLhTA98KR4O96HYA50zCZ20

A simple trip to the beach gives them a sense of normality, it gives them the sensations ‘normal’ kids would feel. And it shows them that people care about them. So thank you for those that have donated, spread the sonrisas word and made these things possible for these wonderful kids. If you are able to help us with our projects please send us a donation, and remember every dollar counts! Find us on facebook and tell your friends and family about us!

5 Responses Post a comment
  1. February 14, 2012

    Scott this is amazing!!!! What a delightful read on a Tuesday afternoon. Good onto you for doing really amazing things over there and being so committed to the cause.

    Bronwyn

  2. BEVS permalink
    February 14, 2012

    Great update and thanks for taking the time. Great to see the children experiencing something new and fun. It’s good for the mind. Maybe one of them will want to become a sailor now 🙂

  3. Suzy permalink
    February 15, 2012

    You are doing such amazing things over there and it seems the rewards and appreciation is plentiful in smiles galore. You must really be loving it to be so dedicated; good for you 🙂

  4. Patricia permalink
    February 18, 2012

    What a great idea and the pictures speak for themselves. I trully admire what you are doing. So much love and dedication. That’s so wonderful!!!! 🙂

  5. Nicole Phillips permalink
    February 19, 2012

    Amazing! What a wonderful job you are doing!

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