The Shared Table 14: 2009

BRIEFLY....

May 2010 be a year of great blessings for all our supporters!
This blogspot presents a brief look at some of the goings on around the Kitchens and projects, as well as some information on the problems of the Valley of Jicamarca. Thankfully, at the moment things have settled down a bit, but we invite people to continue to pray that peace and justice may prevail in the lives of these people. We would like to especially mention in this edition the wonderful support we have recently recieved through the schools and the parish of Mildura. An overwhelming effort, and the result of so much work and generosity.

Fr. Michael McKinnon
28th December 2009

Lucia Cuentas, the Parish Social Worker, and coordinator of The Shared Table project within the Parish would like to sincerely thank all our supporters for their tremendous generosity over four and a half years. "Your kindness has brought relief and hope to so many young, struggling families in this part of Lima. We sincerely wish God's blessings upon you all, and we pray that the coming year of 2010 will be one of great joy for you all."

Teresa the parish nurse and Jenni who both work with Lucia Cuentas in the Parish Community Centre, sort through donations from Caritas Peru which will be distributed among the poorest of the families associated with The Shared Table.

Women from the various Children's Kitchens participate in the annual evaluation of their work before Christmas. Thanks to Lucia Cuentas, the daily running of the Kitchens is closely monitored.

A happy team at work in the Kitchen of El Trebol.

The foundations are dug for the commencement of the small preparation area for the Baking Workshop which has been in operation for 18 months. Thanks to the Terang Branch of the Knights of the Southern Cross, PFD FOOD SERVICES Pty Ltd, and to the wonderful contribution made by schools and groups from the Parish of Mildura, Victoria, by the end of January the Workshop will operate from its own site, enabling the project to invite even more women to participate and to benefit.

Bernie and Geraldine Gartland from near Colac, Victoria, recently spent some days in the Parish. They generously offered some time to assist Andrés with some weeding in the Vegetable Garden which has produced prolific quantaties of vegies this year.

CHOCOLATADA FOR CHILDREN OF THE VALLEY

Chocolatadas are the closest thing to the traditional Christmas break up in Australia - like the Christmas Tree Night at the local hall in the old days. They can actually be a nightmare. However, with the problems of the valley, we invited local "Dirigentes" (Community Leaders) to join together to provide this treat for the children. A mug of hot chocolate and a slice of panaton (sort of christmas cake) is a huge deal for the children of the poorer areas of Lima. It was also a way to invite the leaders of the various communities to act in solidarity. Funds from The Shared Table assisted this initiative, and the families were very grateful for the gesture of support.

One of the pots of chocolate milk ready for distribution.

Lining up for the chocolatada. Over 2000 children passed through the doors this day. Thankfully Christmas is only once a year!

Ester Laynes, working as an assistant to the Parish Social Worker, Lucia Cuentas, keeps things in order.

INAUGURATION ALBERGUE SAN ANTONIO

Señora Martha Vargas has appeared on a number of blogs in the past, and has worked tirelessly to offer assistance to very poor families around the area of San Antonio in the Valley of Jicamarca, often facing personal threats from land traffickers who have tried to evict her and her mothers from the Children's Kitchen. Recently Martha was able to secure the legal title of the land the Kitchen occupies, and so we were able to assist her in upgrading the facilities of the Kitchen. Martha send her gratitude to all the supporters of The Shared Table.

Martha Vargas calls those present to attention to begin the inauguration of the new building.

Waiting for the show to get under way.

The centre may be simple and humble, but the important tradition of breaking the champagne bottle must be completed just the same.

MARCH FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

Since the month of July, the Valley of Jicamarca has experienced a number of human invasion which have brought a serious amount of violence to the area. At least seven people have been shot dead, one of whom was a 15 year old boy. Another small boy had three fingers blown off his hand after picking up a live hand grenade. The violence is fueled by land traffickers who are taking advantage of the confusion surrounding the laws to do with sale and possession of land in the Valley. The trafficking of land in the Valley has been rife for some years. In response to the violence, the Parish felt the need to show solidarity towards those who were suffering fear, extortion and intimidation. It was a quiet march, calling for peace and justice for all, and challenging the authorities to seek a solution that has as its primary objective the rights and protection of the local people, many of whom are very poor.

Bernie and Geraldine join in the march with the locals.

By the end of the march some two hundred had joined the procession. Many were too afraid to march in public, but the occassion passed without incident.

SPORTS & SOCIAL INTERACTION

Providing sporting opportunities and occasions for social interaction for young people and children is an important part of the commitment of the local Church. Recently we worked together to provide such an opportunity for children and young people around the sector known as Primero de Mayo. The Shared Table was very much present as it provided nourishment for the particpants at the end of the event.

One of the spectators.

The game in process. Volleyball is a serious sport in Peru, as the National Women's Team won silver in the Seoul Olympics, 1988.

Jorge Ovalle, a Columban Lay Missionary from Chile working in the Parish, who shared responsibility for organisation, keeps a check on scores and other details for the event.