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Project Update: Wawa Wasi Construction in Unión Santa Fe

wawa update portraitMEDLIFE began planning for our first Wawa Wasi Day Care construction project approximately seven months ago, in April of 2012. The Wawa Wasi is an important national day care program for low-income residents in Peru; it began as a partnership between UNICEF and the Peruvian Ministry of Education in 1993 to address childhood poverty. 66% of children five years old and younger are growing up in poverty in Peru. The Wawa Wasi program serves 150,000 of these children nationwide, according to UNICEF. The centers give mothers the opportunity to work or study while leaving their children in a safe place. The Wawa Wasi provides children with educational activities and daily meals made in a local community kitchen. In addition, teachers are trained in health care and early childhood stimulation, and help educate parents about the importance of proper hygiene and preventative health care.

MEDLIFE is currently expanding this important and established program to the community of Unión Santa Fe. After breaking ground in June, 2012, we have made steady progress with the center’s construction. Although the inclement weather of Lima’s winter months has stalled progress, we are back on track with the help of community residents. Now, community members have completed the seven-meter deep retaining wall, which will secure the building. They have also made progress with the iron framework, and started constructing the building walls. On a recent visit to the construction site, MEDLIFE Director of Peru Carlos Benavides brought community members MEDLIFE t-shirts, as well as additional safety gear such as helmets and gloves.

wawaupdateThe Wawa Wasi project in Unión Santa Fe is slated for completion in early 2013.

 

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Reya Seby
Western University

This trip motivated me more to pursue a career in the healthcare field so that I can use my resources to help those who need it the most, similar to MEDLIFE’s mission.

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Victoria DiCanio
University of Connecticut

It was most enjoyable to finish the hard work and see how big a difference a group of individuals can make. It was such an amazing experience.

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Anita Woo
University of Toronto

I enjoyed the mobile clinics the most, especially the dental and triage portions. I would definitely recommend a MEDLIFE trip, it was a great experience.

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David Saff
Maclay High School

The most enjoyable part of my trip was hanging out with the amazing group of kids I was with. I would highly recommend a MEDLIFE volunteer trip to others.

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Sydney Sansone
Nova Southeastern University

This trip made everything that I was learning in my public health courses come to life and immersed me in a new culture while also learning about medicine.

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Abygail Youmans
College of Charleston

Being involved with MEDLIFE is not like joining another club - its bigger than that. It is about joining a movement that seeks to help change people’s quality of life for forever.

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Emi Hofmann
University of Central Florida

Not only was I able to participate in a week long Mobile Clinic, shadowing doctors of all types of specialties including pharmacy, dentistry, gynecology, and more, but I was also able to learn about the culture and visit incredible places.

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Julian Takagi-Stewart
University of Toronto

One thing that I really loved about this trip was that MEDLIFE made sure that the volunteers got an understanding of the complexity of issues that lead to underprivileged people in communities outside of the main city

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Hannah Van Hofwegen
University of Ottawa

Whether it was basketball with the local kids, assisting the doctors, talking with families, building washrooms, holding babies, or spending time with the people who were on the SLT with me, this was an amazing opportunity that I would do over and over again.

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Isabelle Holt
Cornell University

I loved learning about the patients MEDLIFE has followed and how they offer real help to people with chronic/urgent conditions. It is amazing how the organization formed real connections with the communities.

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Valerie Lindeborg
Parent

Our family had the privilege of participating in multiple trips with Nick [founder] and his amazing staff. Their expertise made the trips unforgettable while instilling in my boys the fundamentals of good character: selflessness, compassion, and empathy.

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Harry Vildibill
University of Georgia

As an aspiring physician, MEDLIFE motivated me to further continue my goal of becoming a doctor. In fact, I enjoyed the Tanzania Service Learning Trip so much that I decided to go on another trip to Cusco, Peru.