I’d love to know! Have you ended up here by accident or after some random big brother Google queries? A mutual friend? Will you ever come back? Have we met in the real world? If not do you think we will? Do you want to promote an organization? What do you (really) think of this site? Well, you got the idea… This page is for you!
Ayacucho, Peru. This area was severely hit in the eighties and nineties with the terrorist activities of an organization named “El Sendero Luminoso” (The Shining Path). 70.000 people were killed or displaced. A mass exodus from the unsafe hill’s villages led to overpopulation in the city, that led to an economic disaster, with all the collaterals you can think of… Kids being of course in the firing line, some being sold for organs trafficking or prostitution, the “lucky ones” ending up on the street. Without the work done by all the NGO’s these kids would never stand a chance to get a decent life.
Founded in 2001, La casa Hogar los Gorriones is one of them. They have provided shelter, food, access to education and even more importantly a family to children aged between 0 and 18 who would probably never have stood a chance without the determination of Gil and Chantal, the founders. A few of them are orphaned, some have huge handicaps. I’ve been volunteering with them last year for a month, as part of a gap year I spent tramping around the globe. At the end of my stay, I found out that those kids helped me more that I could ever help them.
Nilda is one of them. She was born with cerebral palsy and a lung infection. She is blind, weighs half she should and her lungs regularly fill up with water. The advice from the doctors was to let her die as, according to them, her condition was hopeless. She is 5 now and she never stops… smiling! When I looked at this baby girl so bright and happy in spite of her condition and suffering it made me realize one thing: I don’t have the right to complain, whatever happens to me. If she can make it through smiling, why am I not able to do the same? In the end of the day my problems are nothing compared to what she has to endure everyday and when I need a reminder, I just have to look at this picture…
I don’t have the guts to dedicate my life to a cause like Chantal and Gil did but I still want to help somehow. First I wanted to publish a book but the production price took me down. Then I was offered an exhibition spot in Dublin but, to keep it short, it didn’t work out so…
All the pictures you’ll find below are now on sale to raise found for Los Gorriones for a limited time.
They urgently needs found to complete an extension project that would benefit for even more kids and as they only rely on private fundings, they are struggling to get this project to take off. So every little helps 
Pictures will be print by a company specialized in fine arts printing and framing in Dublin on top of the range Pearl Permajet paper (warranty 75 years). I offer you plenty of options, all prices including shipping fees:
Postcard for 3,50€ each >>>> 2€ for Los Gorriones
40cm * 27cm (16*11) framed on thick cardboard for 50€ >>>> 13€ for Los Gorriones
30cm * 20cm (12*8) framed on thick cardboard for 30€ >>>> 8€ for Los Gorriones
40cm * 27cm (16*11) for 30€ >>>> 13€ for Los Gorriones
30cm * 20cm (12*8) for 20€ >>>> 8€ for Los Gorriones
As I can only collect the prints every couple of weeks or so you will have to wait about 3 weeks for delivery (but not for the postcards). If you happen to live in Dublin we can arrange a pick up, the money save on shipping will be added to the found raising. To keep the price low I can only ship in Europe but if you happen to live oversea and are interested drop me an email, I’m sure we can arrange something.
And last but not least, I use an highly secured Paypal shopping cart to receive payments, if you don’t have a Paypal account you can safely use all major credit cards. If you want to pay cash just order it through the contact form or drop me an email (with picture description and size).
May all being be happy.
Nicolas
UPDATE 07/06/10: So far 284€ have been raised, thanks a million!
UPDATE 25/09/10: Thank you for visiting but this action is now over, more information (how much, etc.) to come very soon!
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