[tri-wings] Re: Peru

Hi Tracey

 

Dunno if you remember, but I worked in Peru for a while with disabled kids.  
Its really sad what happens out there, but its just a lack of information and 
traditional spiritual beliefs at the heart of it.  Many families still believe 
it is a curse when you have a disabled child and that certain actions must be 
taken to destroy the curse.  We encountered all sorts of stuff, which I won't 
go into as its probably a bit upsetting when you're not used to it.  They also 
suffered badly from a lack of information, for example NONE of the families we 
worked with knew that it was bad to drink alcohol while pregnant.  Hence 50% of 
the kids in our school had FAS!  

 

Its a very sad situation, however I really did find that when you worked with 
families individually and gave them proper information there was a real 
willingness to see chance.  Most of the families actually loved their children 
and wanted the best for them, but struggled with community prejudice.  I think 
we changed a lot of attitudes in the communities we worked with and many of 
them began to choose to keep their kids at home (its still perfectly normal 
there for disabled kids to be dropped at mass orphanages).  

In some ways, I found it far easier to work there, where families were ill 
informed and struggling for support than work to change attitudes in our 
countries where frankly MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO EXCUSE for their prejudices and the 
value judgements they make about our kids.  

 

Anyway, that my input for the day, or realistically the month!  Hope everyone 
is well.  Will write more when I'm not so crazy!

 

Love

Demi 
(from deep lurk)

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