In Peruvian community development, the roof signifies completion, It indicates readiness for use. While walls and floors may require adjustments, a finished roof is essential.
A Milestone Achieved
On Sunday, June 25, 2017, MEDLIFE Staff witnessed a significant milestone in Union de Santa Fe. Just two months after finalizing plans and signing the community agreement, the completion of the second-floor roof of the wawa wasi marked a momentous occasion.
Collective Efforts
Community members, alongside MEDLIFE interns, worked tirelessly to transport numerous buckets of rocks and sand to the cement mixer. With the addition of this machinery, the roof was completed in just one day.
Bridging Gaps in Childcare
The first floor of the Wawa Wasi, completed in 2015. It hosts the Cuna Más program, providing childcare and meals for children aged 6 months to 3 years. However, a gap exists for children aged 3 to 6, as they await primary school enrollment. The new second floor will house PRONOEI, a preschool program aimed at bridging this gap and providing safe childcare for the children of working parents.
The completion of the second-floor roof at Union de Santa Fe’s wawa wasi exemplifies the transformative impact of community development initiatives. Through collaborative efforts and strategic planning, MEDLIFE continues to bridge gaps in childcare services. Empowering communities and fostering a brighter future for the next generation is our mission.
Carlos Benavides, director of MED Programs Peru, stands with the materials required to fill in the roof.
MEDLIFE Summer interns, Brandy and Jana, pass a bucket of rocks down the cement assembly line.
Project days might be tough work, but they are definitely fun, too! 
Members of Union de Santa Fe spread the concrete mixture on the Wawa Wasi’s roof.
Ricardo Ccasani, Union de Santa Fe community leader and MEDLIFE staff member, fixes a leak in the pipe carrying cement to the roof.
Thanks to the immense support of the Union de Santa Fe community, the Wawa Wasi roof was completed in just four hours!
The summer interns take a break from all the hard work to pose for a quick picture!
MEDLIFE Staff members, Martha, Rosali, Raúl, Edinson, Angie, and Dr. Nick Ellis, pose in front of the Wawa Wasi after the inauguration.