PERU
Peru is home to approximately 27 million souls. It is estimated that over 60% of the people of Peru live below poverty level with half of the population being under the age of eighteen. Of these, many are children who were abandoned on the streets, under bridges, or left in isolated desert mountain areas. Many have awakened from a nap to realize that their parents have left them behind on public buses. Daily, on the streets of Peru you can see many young children begging among vehicles in heavy traffic selling candies, shining shoes, searching for something to eat or someone to show compassion. These children are forced to grow up and learn the ways of
the streets with no hope of a better future. They learn a life of theft, deception, and danger, never knowing where their next meal will come from. They learn to frown in order to gain pity. They beg in order to survive. They suffer from malnutrition, a lack of love and affection, and no spiritual guidance.