Small blessings change the course of a family’s life in Peru
Natalia immediately asked to warm her feet with the brand new pair of socks in her backpack from Operation Blessing.
Natalia’s father, Juan (right), is learning four trade skills to help him secure a steady job to provide for his family.
HUAYCAN, Peru – For most Americans, “cold feet” is often more of a saying than a reality, but for little Natalia in Peru, it was an everyday battle—the four-year-old didn’t own any socks to warm her small feet.
Then Operation Blessing came to her class with brand new backpacks containing many of the items the children needed for school. As she examined what was inside her backpack, Natalia excitedly pulled out a pair of pink socks. She immediately asked Operation Blessing staff to help her put them on.
Though Natalia and her siblings, Claudia and Jose, now had warm feet, new book bags, and supplies for the school year, their family was still struggling to break free from poverty.
The children live with their father, Juan, who has had a hard time finding steady work. He spends what little he makes on food, but often the children live on only one meal a day. But that is changing.
Juan was invited to take part in Operation Blessing’s four-month livelihood training project, where adults and teens are trained in the areas of electricity, masonry, carpentry, and plumbing. When Juan graduates from the program, he will have help finding a position working in one of those fields, giving him a steady job to help feed and clothe his children.
“Through this workshop, he is going to learn different abilities that will help him find a job and give his children a better life,” said Rocio Borrego, OB Peru staff.
Both the Healthy School and 4-Skills projects are part of a holistic effort to raise the standard of living for more than 100 families in this impoverished community. By focusing in the areas of livelihood, health, and child development, these projects are giving children like precious Natalia and her hard-working dad hope for a healthier and more secure future.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Operation Blessing is helping to transform the futures of children like these by providing clean water, education assistance, nutritional feeding programs, medical care and more.
Please make an online contribution toward OBI's orphan care programs today and help us continue to reach those in need.