"To Serve the One Life..."
I have dedicated my life and work towards accomplishing
this simple philosophical statement . Thus,
as a member of HOUSE OF THE CHILDRENS' advisory board,
I am passionate in my support of the work of founder,
Nancy Santullo, and HOTC.
Please take time to read about the compassionate and
dedicated service Nan shares with the children and families
living in the Peruvian rainforest. Any donation
you can offer to help contribute to this wonderful social
activism is deeply appreciated. Together we can
create a difference.
-Kate
HOUSE OF THE CHILDREN UPDATE
January 2005
Water committee member Emilio Caparo,
teaching Moises, age 13
how to test the chlorine level of the water.
Dear Friends,
The year 2004 was magical and powerful for HOTC, filled
with many lessons learned, and important progress and
advances in the health and well being of the
indigenous children we serve. When we founded HOTC in
December of 2000, we had the good fortune to have a
trusted attorney named Dan Wax prepare the documents
for setting up our non-profit status. At the time we
were unclear of the legalities involved, but Dan handled
every detail without accepting payment. We received
our tax exempt status within 45 days and it was a clear
sign to advance! Dan passed from this earth, but
his passion touched our lives forever. Dan believed
in "doing good" in the world, and he believed
our vision for children. His simple act of kindness
gave HOTC our wings.
Now, four years later, we are beginning to see much
of our work become a reality. We have stayed true to
our dedication to raise the quality of life for indigenous
children and their families by co-creating with them
social and bilingual health educational programs in
context to their cultural and environmental needs that
result in individual and community self-sustainability.
HOTC advances in 2004
Water Purification
Left photo - Alex, Emilio - Water
Committee, Maria Luisa - Health Director, Erlinda
- Resident of Huacaria, Humphrey Blackburn - US
Engineer, Carlib Matos, Project Foreman at the pre-filter
tank in the Quecha Sector. Center photo - Extension
of the water line over the Huacaria river via a cable
system to reach the Matsigenka sector. Right photo -
Water Committee member Angel age 20, learning masonry
at the Quecha sector.
The central community gravity flow water system is
renovated, slow sand filtration and chlorine added and
the lines extended from this system to the Matsigenka
sector. Gravity flow water system with slow sand filtration
constructed at the Quecha sector, and water lines extended
to each village home. All of the children and their
families have access to purified secure water throughout
Huacaria for the first time in their history!
This is monumental for the community!
• 12 double sided sinks made of stone with accompanying
underground drainage trenches to dispose of gray water
completed at all village homes in the central community
and the Matsigenka sector. 4 provisional tap stands
are in place at the Quecha sector.
• U.S Engineer Humphrey Blackburn, a slow sand
filtration expert, made two visits to Huacaria, one
in August and one in December to train and oversee the
construction of the slow sand filtration, and the overall
water system. This was instrumental to our success because
slow sand filtration removes up to 99% of the most harmful
bacteria and cysts from the water. .
• Documented water testing with our HACH portable
microbiology laboratory secures that the village water
supply stays bacteria fee.
• Establishment and training of the Village Water
Committee (VWC.) This consists of 6 members that have
participated in all aspects of construction and are
responsible for the maintenance and repair of the gravity
flow water systems and sanitary installations.
Indigenous Health & Hygiene
(L to R) Dr. Leonid Esquivel with Edmundo
and Nancy and at their weekly dentist visits.
• Weekly health & hygiene education with the
children at the village school houses and monthly meetings
with the teachers. The children's enthusiasm and
willingness to participate inspires us forward!
• Bi-weekly multilingual health & hygiene
education with the mothers in context to their cultural
and environmental needs. Nicole and Rebecca are Matsigenka
mothers who for 11 months were resistant to attending
the meetings. But through lots of patience and support
both were present at the meetings in December...happy
and interested.
* Partnership with the local and regional health
ministry in which HOTC, the villagers and the medical
staffing work together to improve the health and well
being of the children. Parasite and anemia testing was
completed and medical treatment was administered to
85% of villagers to treat their intestinal parasites.
• Dental programming began in October. All school
aged children are in the process of getting their teeth
repaired, whereas before they would reach a critical
state and then have to be pulled.
Dr. Glenn Shepard Jr., visiting the Matsigenka
sector of Huacaria on his recent visit.
Ongoing Medical Anthropology consults Dr. Glenn Shepard
Jr., (National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA)
and Dr. Carolina Izquierdo, University of Southern California,
Los Angeles. In August HOTC had the good fortune of
having Dr. Izquierdo visit the community. Carolina was
able to witness the first flow of purified water to
the community, as well as the monitoring of our parasite
and anemia testing. It was fun to watch the mouths of
the women and children drop as she spoke to them for
the first time in Matsigenka!
Glenn Shepard returned in October and has provided oversight
to see that our programming holds true to the needs
of the people. Research reports are being compiled on
how the Matsigenka, Wachipaeri and Quecha ethnic groups
respond to specific programs implemented within the
context of their cultural and environmental needs.
Secondary Scholarships
Secondary scholarship programming for 8 students complete.
Julia Ramos remains first in her class. In March of
2005 she enters her senior year of high school. Currently
we have her in collage prep classes in Cuzco. Julia
will be the first Matsigenka women in Huacaria's 30
year history to complete her secondary education.
Field Supplies
* The purchase of a 93 Toyota Hylux 4x4 field truck.
The truck doubles as the local school bus...the kids
love to ride in the back of the truck... the echoes
of their laugher filled the forest. This truck is one
of our dreams come true!
* Our field offices in Pilcopata finally has furniture,
plants are growing and the location a happy place to
work. You are all welcome to visit!
Our Hylux truck is loaded with field
supplies and children most days.
Nancy Santullo, HOTC executive project director has
been onsite overseeing every detail of construction,
health & hygiene programming and administration
necessary to function in Peru. She is proud to report
that HOTC is meeting its goals and is the first organization
in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon to assist an indigenous
community to improve health and well being of children
through clean secure water, sanitation, indigenous health
and hygiene education, and secondary education. The
community is advancing beautifully, at a pace that is
slow by steady. The health of the children is slowly
improving as they actively participate in all aspects
of our programming.
We Have More to accomplish...2005 holds more
construction work.
* 5 more double sided stone utility sinks with underground
drainage.
* 1 gravity flow water system for the Santiago sector
of the community.
* 1 slow sand filtration system for the local medical
post in Pilcopata. (Pilco will be the first medical
post in the southeastern Amazon of Peru to have purified
water.)
* Development planning for the hygienic center for the
village school house.
* Multilingual health & hygiene education, parasite
and hepatitis b testing, and a health & hygiene
poster campaign in 8 surrounding indigenous communities.
* Technical training of the village water committee
and community members.
* Secondary education and college prep classes for Julia
Ramos.
We need your support to continue. In 2004 HOTC
was able to accomplish all of the above on an annual
budget of $110,000. To advance in 2005 we are projecting
an annual budget of $185,000.
Help us to continue this vital support to indigenous
children and families here in the Amazon. HOTC's projects
are applied learning and vocational training for the
children and community to better understand the positive
health benefits of integrating nature, science and low
technology into their native culture. With donations
from you, we will continue our innovative programming
that brings support and encouragement to Santa Rosa
of Huacaria...and will serve as a model for other indigenous
communities throughout the world. No donation
is too small!
For more information on HOTC please log on to our website:
www.houseofthechildren.org
Online Credit Card Donations made through
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for Good
97% of your donation goes to HOTC
Mail in Donations
HOTC
7336 Santa Monica Blvd. #664 Los Angeles, CA 90046
Thank you for your generosity!
Blessings to you all,
Nancy Santullo
Founder and Executive Director
House of the Children
As we help one child, we help all children.
_________________________________
Nancy Santullo
Founder & Executive Director
House of the Children
7336 Santa Monica Blvd. #664
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Los Angeles Phone: 323.874.1940
Casa de los Niños Indigenas
644 Colcampata
San Cristobal, Cuzco Perú
Cuzco Phone:
51.84.253823
Rain Forest Phone: 51.84.249238
www.houseofthechildren.org
nancy@houseofthechildren.org
As we help one child, we help all children
Al ayudar a un niño, ayudamos a todos los niños
