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Children of Peru

Following his ordination in 1998, Augustinian Missionary Priest Christopher Steinle, O.S.A. was assigned to bring Christ to the people of Peru. After ministering in Morropón for three years, he relocated in 2002 to Progreso, an isolated town high in the Andes Mountains. He reports on the Peruvian child at school.

The Child at School

Sometimes we recall the “good old days” in education, when the students learned “reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic”.

Now it seems that the United States’ educational system is much more complicated. The students learn to use computers, have calculators and study exotic subjects like “The Psychology and Ethics of Play”.

Here in Peru, the educational system has very modest goals, attempting to offer only a basic course of studies to all the young people. Many of the courses and extra-curricular activities found in U. S. schools are simply not available to our students.

In the town of Progreso, in the mountainous state of Apurimac in southern Peru, the Augustinians work in the parish and assist in the schools, both elementary and secondary.

During the current academic year, 70 students were initially jammed into one high school class. After about two months, this large section was mercifully divided into two groups.

In many of the sections, there are not enough desks. Clusters of students sit on sawed-off tree stumps placed around an old wooden table.

Text books are scarce. In some classes only the teacher has a book. The teacher dictates from his or her text while the students take notes.

Many of the students have only the most basic school supplies, lacking even necessities. The poorest families have difficulty obtaining a notebook and a pen or pencil for each of their children.

Augustinians of Señor de la Exaltación Parish help by distributing notebooks and other school supplies to the needy families.

Many young people daily walk long distances to school, some trudging two or more hours over mountainous terrain.

The school tries to offer a meager breakfast to students, who often leave their homes before 6 a.m. in order to arrive at school on time.

The Augustinians assist by donating food supplies. If it were not for this breakfast program, almost all of these students would begin their day with empty stomachs.

These schools in Progreso boast of no computer, no calculators, no well-stocked library. The teachers use a blackboard and chalk--and maybe a text--and endeavor to lead their poor but eager students to knowledge.

Courses offered are basic. Teachers must deal with several youngsters who come from homes where neither parent can read or write and are not able to speak Spanish, but only Quechua, an ancient Indian dialect.

The poorly paid teachers work heroically and with little support as they strive to educate the future leaders of Peru.

The Educational System in Peru

The Peruvian system of public education provides three distinct levels of instruction:

• Initial - Three years (ages 3-5)

• Primary - Six years

• Secondary - Five years

However, not every child has access to all three levels of education. Especially for children living in small remote villages, the closest school may be so far away that attendance is not possible. Many children have to walk two or three hours each way to and from school. Some children in the primary and secondary grades will stay during the week with a family in the town where the school is located, returning to their home only on the week-ends.

Besides the public schools, there are many private schools, particularly in the larger cities. These schools are generally known as colegios. The high cost of enrolling in many colegios makes them inaccessible to large numbers of Peruvian children.

Helping Children in Peru to Stay in School

Children in the United States are helping children in Peru to stay in school through the Heart-to-Heart Project. This is an excellent activity for Sunday School or other Relgious Education programs and Church groups, as well as for individual children. Click link below to learn what it is and how your children can be part of Heart-to-Heart 2008.

       » How to Be Part of Heart-to-Heart
             Children in U.S.A. helping children in Peru to get an education

Learn More about the Augustinian Missions in Peru

• The Church at Work in Northern Peru

         » Making Much with Little
               Grassroots Pastoral Plan in the Catholic Diocese of Chulucanas, Peru

         » Social and Economic Development
               Helping the poor to help themselves in Northern Peru

         » The Bishop Visits
               Pastoral visits in Peru are a time of special blessing

         » Pastoral Journeys in Pacaipampa
               Travelling to remote Peruvian mountain villages to bring Christ to the people

         » Augustinians Return to San José Obrero
               Friars resume ministry in Chulucanas parish after five-year absence

• Children of Peru

         » Children of Peru: The Working Child
               Peruvian children must work to help their family make ends meet

         » Heart to Heart Project
               Helping poor Peruvian children to remain in school