When you are wandering around Limas neat and modern “better” districts like Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro or even the Historical City Center you might quite easily forget that you are still in the capital of a 3rd world country. And if you don’t let yourself be “distracted” by modern shopping facilities, business centers and apartment towers, beautiful restored historical buildings and the unique cultural remains the city has to offer or if you even dare to leave the beaten tourist tracks in Lima, you will soon discover how many people live in poverty and are in need of help.

According to official studies around 20% of Limas population lives in poverty. That’s more than 1.6 million people. Looking behind the nicely maintained better suburbs or at the slums surrounding Lima and the thousands of workers earning an average wage of around US$ 200.- to US$ 300.- you will soon realize that there are even more people that need support. Not to forget the people living outside Lima in the underdeveloped regions of the Peruvian highlands or jungle.

Giving a coin or two to beggars on the street might not be considered wrong, but please do us a favor and read our topic on “Begging in Lima” before you do so. Anyhow you might say it’s only a drop in the bucket and you’re right. If you really want to help, we would like to recommend supporting one of the social projects or charities in Lima (Peru); either with cash and physical donations or with your voluntary work.

Do you feel uncomfortable with just donating your money or anything else to a charity you don’t even know? You simply would like to know how your money is spent and where your donations go? Is it more important to you that your help really reaches the ones in need and you don't finance a huge administration machineries? Or you can’t or don’t want to spend hundreds of Dollars being a volunteer for some organization that charge you an arm and a leg just to enable you to actually help? Well, that’s quite understandable!

This should give you an idea why we have compiled a list of some organizations that we consider doing an amazing job with their projects and hard work for Lima’s poor. We would like to recommend them all, as they seen to be honest and trustworthy by allowing you to be part of their progress by archiving all sorts of changes to improve the situation for the community. Volunteers aren’t charged any fees like with some other “institutions” or places in Peru – at the most you have to pay a small amount for your food, etc…

By no means these are all out there doing a hard job, so if you know other recommendable social projects, charities and volunteer opportunities that need support, please give us their details and after checking them out we’ll be happy to include them in our listing.

We did it again. As in the past years we managed to get a couple of things together helping some kids and their families in Ate Vitarte (one of the poorer districts of Lima) - just before Christmas with food, clothes and presents.

It doesn’t need a lot to help if you are willing to do something by yourself, just go out to some of those areas surrounding the nicer districts and you’ll quickly find out how and with what you can help! LimaEasy organizes other little projects on a permanent base and you are more than welcome to join forces. Get in touch with us by email or use the contact form.

Our thanks go to all the volunteers who helped again on this occasion and especially to Fernando Cortijo and his family who organized the event with us and helped to select the location.

Limakids also runs the only medical outreach service for street children in Lima. By coordinating their programs and events with more than 20 children homes and orphanages, an informal collaborative network has evolved which delivers a more effective platform of support than each individual partner and provides a range of options to facilitate an exit from the streets for those children who choose to ask for help. The outreach medical clinic of Limakids operates every Thursday attending patients between 4pm and 7pm in the El Augustino area of Lima. The target population is children living on the streets of Lima.

La Liga Limakids is a football tournament Limakids runs each year and it continues to grow. In this year’s event over 40 teams will compete. Following the success of the match day Core Values workshops during La Liga 2008, Limakids plans to run a series of parallel workshops on the Rights of the Child in 2009 as well.

How you can help Limakids?

Volunteer. All volunteers are welcome, especially on tournament days. For further information please get in contact with Limakids.

Donate money. Either get in contact with Limakids or donate via their website.

Shop at Amazon.com. Just use the link on the Limakids website as they earn a small percentage. of your purchases without costing you a penny (and every little helps!).

The children homes are designed following a family structure; they have a maximum of 12 children per home. They are under the care of a substitute mother and are supported by a team of women. Children may stay in the care of “El Refugio” until they turn 18, or even for a longer time, until they are able to support themselves.

The founders Doris Storz (Swiss) and Lucia Corzo (Peruvian) started this Association in the year 2000. “Our wish is to be able to help babies and children who are neglected or at risk, by offering them a real home, and giving them the necessary love and support, as we are based upon Biblical principles and values. We also aim to reach out to the families and communities of at risk children, as well as to care for the elderly”.

How you can help El Refugio?

Donate food, cribs, beds, mattresses, strollers and prams, highchairs, toys, furniture, diapers, clothes and shoes.

Purchase handmade products from El Refugio like beautiful cards and Christmas Cakes.

Sponsor one of their children (monthly contribution of US$ 40.-).

Be a friend of El Refugio (monthly contribution of US$ 20.-).

Sponsor a grandma or grandpa (monthly contribution of Soles 40.-).

Donate money (account information can be found on their website).

Aprendo Contigo is a program helping children with life-threatening diseases to continue with as much normality as possible in a hospital environment. The small patients can attend classes and develop physically, emotionally and intellectually while being confined to a hospital bed or as a walk-in patient undergoing treatment.

The main goal of Aprendo Contigo is to create an environment of normality for the patient during hospitalization or treatment. The children continue to have access to an appropriate lesson plan and learning material. In addition Aprendo Contigo promotes the creative development through various handcrafts, workshops and hobbies. For this reason the small patients don’t lose the contact to the outside world and don’t see their illness as the central part of their lives.

How you can help Aprendo Contigo?

Volunteer. Aprendo Contigo accepts foreign volunteers on a short (no less than 3 months) and long term basis upon evaluation. Some Spanish is required.

Purchase christmas campaign products (Christmas cards, wrapping paper, calendars, etc…).

Donate money - Account information can be found on their website.

Physical contributions directly at their office: Calle Bellavista 587, Miraflores

The children come from miserable and poor circumstances, their mothers are often single parents and thanks to the Casa Belen can at least work for a few Soles to support their families.

At the Casa Belen the children find a loving and caring day home. They receive an overall support from qualified social care workers, well balanced food and medical care. The school children are as well supported with their homework by qualified teachers. Additionally the Casa Belen offers support to the parents on all educational and social issues. Visitors are always welcome!

How you can help the Casa Belen Project?

Volunteer. Casa Belen welcomes all volunteers that are willing to get involved for a time period of at least 3 month up to 12 month. However Spanish knowledge is a must.

Donate money. Please get in contact with the Evangelic Lutheran Church, Av. Ricardo Rivera Navarrete 495, San Isidro, Phone (0051 1) 442 4452

Purchase items at the Christmas bazaar of the Evangelic Lutheran Church

Since 1990 the German Catholic Church San Jose together with the Parish of Santa Maria in Tablada in Lurin is involved in a project supporting mainly children affected by malnutrition up to 6 years. Thanks to donations a special medical controlled food program was developed. The children enrolled in the program receive special “built up” nutrition appropriate for their ages and needs. Some children recover within a few months others need assistance for years. Anyhow this program gives the children a chance for a better physical and mental condition and for a healthy development.

Courses for the children in dancing, music, origami, educational excursions, psychological assistance and education of the parents are part of the program.

How you can help The Children of Tablada?

Donate money. Get in contact with the Parish San José, Av. Dos de Mayo 259, Miraflores, Phone (0051 1) 447-1881

Most children living in the Villa Martha experience for the first time in their life a caring home where they learn and live by a regular schedule with a Christian based overall education, moral principles, regular meals and healthcare. All children receive a basic school education in public schools or schools for children with special needs. Those who show outstanding capabilities are guided and encouraged to pursue university careers or religious education.

Important for the development of the children are as well the recreational and cultural activities. The kids can develop their potential and capacity through various productive workshops. They learn different trades and how to live a healthy, dignified life without begging. The workshops include baking, sewing, farming, animal breeding, cooking, laundry and maintenance. Due to insufficient funds some workshops like cake making or shoe making had to be canceled.

How you can help Casa Hogar Villa Martha?

Volunteer at the Casa Hogar Villa Martha. Villa Martha has its doors open to both national and international volunteers. Food and lodging (on the premises) is offered to volunteers interested in spending extended periods of time at Villa Martha. If you would like to volunteer, please send your personal data to them by using the contact form on their website.

Donate money to the Fundacion Santa Martha (account information can be found on their website)

All children go to school and do extra lessons and activities at the home. They help with chores, cooking and caring for the younger children. Important for the development of the children and the financing of the project are the productive workshops. Here the children develop their potentials and capacities and learn trades that are useful for them in the future.

The workshops include at the moment carpentry, ceramic, bakery, farming (as far as the natural resources allow) and serigraphy. Due to insufficient funds other workshops like book printing, animal breeding, sewing, welding or computing are future goals.

How you can help the Comunidad de Niños Sagrada Familia?

Volunteer: Everyone with a big heart and the wish to help is welcome at the Sacred Family. No matter if you want to stay for an hour or forever. Accommodation within the community in special guest houses is provided for free and food for a minimal fee. Either visit their website in English or Spanish or get in contact via E-Mail or call them for more info (0051 1) 550-0372.

Donate money for the construction of new modules and workshops or for the food.Please get in contact with the community via E-Mail or call them to get more information.

Be a godfather of one of the children.

Donate food, cloth, toys, stationary, school supplies, etc... Again, please contact them for further information or just visit them in Zapallal in the district of Ventanilla.

Purchase items from their various workshops.

The most common medical conditions at “Hogar San Francisco de Asis” are diseases related to poverty like malnutrition, chronic diarrhea, tuberculosis, parasite infestation and chronic respiratory diseases. The center as well treats and cares for children with (congenital) malformation, chronic diseases, cancer and handicaps.

Hogar San Francisco de Asis depends entirely on donations. To collect funds for the outstanding work of the Center for destitute and sick children the Villa La Paz foundation was created. Every Dollar of your donation send to the Foundation Villa La Paz is used for medical care and food for the children. No donation money is used on the administration or other expenses.

How you can help the Hogar San Francisco de Asis?

Volunteer at the Hogar San Francisco de Asis. Please visit the webpage of the La Paz Foundation and check out the section “Information for Volunteers”. Here you will find very detailed information.

Donate money. The best and easiest way to donate money is the donation button on their webpage.

Physical donations - get in contact with the Foundation to find out more about their current needs.