Hilferuf aus Pisco
Der folgende eindrucksvolle Situationsbericht unserer Freunde, Julio Reyes und Monica Echegary erreichte uns Anfang Mai:
We both lost everything with the earthquake, but this year we want to make the effort to get all the available help to get the new ACOREMA Center , which Hill be a great help to the people to cope with the time they (and we) are living. We feel tired sometimes, but our hearts are full of acknowledge for all the one who help us up to now; this help us also to keep optimistic that at the end we feel better, with renewed energies and convinced that we can do it. We have the illusion of give back to Pisco, specially the children of Pisco, a new Center as soon as possible. Every week we visit schools and develop activities with them, for example, we give them lectures about the history of the city and how whales have been present in this history since the first settlers, etc. Also we coordinate the puppet shows with the personnel of the Paracas National Reserve and lectures about whales and dolphins at schools. The children and teachers always ask when they can visit the ACOREMA Center .
One day the children of one classroom, having learned what happens to ACOREMA, start donating some US$0.07 (their daily allowance) and they said it was to help recovering the Center. We could not accept this and thanks the children for the gesture. But they want the ACOREMA Center back; also, we get request from groups from Lima asking when they can visit the Center again, Although is sad to feel that you can move as fast as you wish, we are glad to know that the Center is appreciated by the local people and those from other parts of the country. Current situation in Pisco. The demolition and clearing of remains has almost finished. The reconstruction of the city is really slow; still the town looks like a bombed place. After 8 months from the earthquake, many people are still living at tends or in small wooden houses donated by the government, although without the basic services (electricity, water and sewage); the work is going by sectors, so the Pisco Playa sector (where the ACOREMA Center and our houses were) are still practically as after the earthquake.
As announced by the government, the new hospital will be started to be built just next August, after a year of the tragedy. Meanwhile there is no a well implemented hospital. Most schools are under reconstruction, although it may take a year when the work in this Hill be done. There is no library, nor a place where people can learn or find amusement; that is why we try to keep in contact with the people, with lectures or organizing puppet shows or contests, while we all wait to see the Center operating again. During the last months we have also helping families and children with food and school materials; this week we distributed some blankets, as the winter is near. This help is accomplished with the personal help of some Peruvian friends living in other countries. Julio Reyes und Monica Echegar
