On a recent online call with the local Committee, we were pleased to hear that the Home is running well, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Manager, Brenda Peixoto. Brenda has been a full-time employee, but she will now resign to return to a job in banking. Her current deputy is a possible candidate to replace her as Manager.
On the staffing front, a therapist has resigned and will not be replaced, since therapy services have been offered, free of charge, by a local therapy centre. The associated cost saving is most welcome.
In September, the two-year mandate of the local Committee comes up for renewal. Brenda Peixoto has agreed to join the new Committee then. Under the company’s statutes, existing members of the Committee may be re-elected for up to two additional two-year terms, and it is probable that some of them will put themselves forward for re-election this year. That would be excellent news, providing a degree of continuity that has often been missing in the past.
Following the recent installation of security cameras, a troubling incident was detected whereby a resident was mistreated by a long-serving member of the therapy staff. Upon investigation, a past incident involving the same therapist was identified. The person has left the Home and been replaced, and the Committee is taking steps with all the staff to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Over the past several years the Trust has been fortunate to receive substantial six-monthly donations from a private charitable trust that has also been supporting children’s homes in other countries. The family trustees have ceased their donations to us and instead have generously endowed the Anita Goulden Trust with a considerable portion of their capital. The Anita Goulden trustees intend to invest these funds to provide a continuing income. This is very much required, since the increasing costs of the Home in Peru now exceed the regular income from our donors.
We were deeply honoured when we were told that, among the last wishes of Denise Arnot, a long-standing supporter of the Trust, who passed away earlier this year, was for charitable donations in lieu of flowers at her funeral, to come to the Anita Goulden Trust. The substantial amount donated by her family and friends is very much appreciated and came at a time when the Home was in great need of extra financial support.