If you'd like to know more, please click here to read a detailed account of the places we visited, the children we were blessed to meet and the challenges we faced (word doc).

There was the possibility of going back to Peru this summer to help SU with a two week working project in Ica and Kawai, but unfortunately, the trip was cancelled. I therefore, then started looking into alternatives and spotted an advert in "Scottish Hosteller", a magazine for the Scottish YHA, asking for people to trek to the Everest Base Camp to raise money in aid of ChildHope for street kids around the World.

Did you know...?
There are 1.3 billion people in the World today who live in desperate poverty. These families live on less than US$1 a day. There are 3 billion more people - the majority of the World's population - who live on less than US$2 a day. This is not enough to survive. Every single day 34000 children die of hunger and preventable diseases. As the poor are getting poorer, the rich are getting richer.  In Peru, for example, almost half the population live in poverty. As a result, Peru's poverty victim's endure a low condition of living which includes serious health problems, malnutrition, child labour, premature school dropout and family dysfunction which manifests in extreme tension and abuse. Sadly, it is the children who suffer.

UNICEF estimates there are over 100 million (maybe as many as 200 million!) street children worldwide, many of whom lead a harsh existence in urban areas. That's the entire population of France and Britain combined!

In Peru alone, the number of orphaned children is painfully high - 27,000 have been orphaned by both father and mother; 261,000 have been orphaned by their father only; 207,000 by their mother only. On the streets of Lima alone, it is estimated there are approx 300,000 children living homeless! 75% resort to stealing to get food to just survive from one day to the next, 23% beg, 8% prostitute themselves and 99% are addicted to inhaling glue, as a way of escaping the nightmare they find themselves in.

The only way to resolve the situation, is to somehow break this never ending cycle of poverty. This is the aim of ChildHope, SU and other organisations like them. In providing basics like a roof over the child's head, food to eat and education, it is hoped that the children will have some sort future to look forward to.

Every penny you donate will help give a child hope and put a smile back on their face...thanks.

Pete J

& for those for you who don't know me?

I went to Forest Row primary school, then onto Sackville secondary school in East Grinstead, before doing a course in Business and Finance at Crawley College.

I started my working life at TSB Bank. I managed to escape to their arch rivals Lloyds Bank, after four years of branch banking, only for the two banks to merge a couple of years later...just an excuse for TSB to get me back I reckon! I've been there ever since working in software testing, the helpdesk and then technical support, where I reside now.

I'm a committed Christian and have been going to New Life Church in East Grinstead for 30 years now...wow...is it that long?! I used to help run the children's club for many years, but have been having a "sabbatical" recently.

I have too many interests to mention - mainly travelling (been to every continent now except Antarctica!), music, the outdoors, many sports (footie, cycling, swimming, running, skiing etc...) which is a good job, as I'll need to train hard for the challenge that lies ahead and generally just enjoying life :-)

Anyway, that's way too much about me. Thanks again for your much needed support.