2025 was a busy year for the teams at the Home. The disruption caused by the Covid pandemic, and the various staff issues that arose, have been put behind them and they have been active in promoting as full a life as possible for the residents. Among the events in which the residents took part were the celebration of Anita Goulden’s birthday, the parade for Peru’s Independence Day, and Peru’s Day for Persons of Different Capabilities.
Circumstances have conspired to substantially increase the funding needs of the Home. First, there has been an increase in the minimum wage in Peru, which had a knock-on effect on staff salaries at the Home. In addition, staff numbers had to increase to compensate for the shorter working week for nursing staff, to which they were entitled, as health workers, under Peruvian labour laws. The staff numbers really are needed. Thirteen technical staff cover shifts of 6 hours each, and three of them already work part time. A therapist who recently resigned has not been replaced, because a therapy centre, owned by an individual closely associated with Home, generously offered to provide free therapy for the children. Finally, the value of our quarterly transfers to the Home has fallen in local currency terms as the US Dollar has weakened against the Peruvian Sol.
The local Committee asked us to increase the value of regular transfers, but that is a difficult matter for the Trust, as it inevitably affects the time horizon over which the Trust expects to be able to fully fund the Home, now estimated to be seven or eight years. The local Committee has been considering what might have to happen if our funding was no longer sufficient to keep the Home open. Some, but by no means all, residents could go back to their families, but for the rest, there are no other institutions in Peru that offer the kind of support that they need. One, in Arequipa, looks after its interns 24 hours a day, but does not have the expertise to deal with cases as severe as the residents of the Home. One, in Cuzco, does offer adequate care, but only during daytime.
Bearing in mind the legacies are expected, the Trust agreed to increase its funding, whilst strongly encouraging the Committee to continue their efforts to develop local cash funding, possibly from the Peruvian corporate sector. Although they do not now receive many monetary donations, most of their food and medical supplies is received as donations in kind, and they have recently been given both a new kitchen for the Home and a semi-industrial washing machine.
The full-time Manager of the Home had done an excellent job of re-establishing good staff relations but, sadly for us, she accepted a job at a financial institution and left her role at the Home. She has, however, kindly agreed to become Secretary in the new local Committee that was elected in October. To replace her, a member of the outgoing Committee has been appointed to the Manager position. The Committee has also appointed a full-time Sub-manager, who will also take on the critical role of social assistant, dealing with hospital appointments, taking the children to these appointments, dealing with doctors and maintaining contact with residents’ families. She replaces the former holder of the position, who has retired after many years at the Home.
The Home now has 12 residents, following the death of Angel. With our increased funding agreed, the Committee feels able to consider admitting further new residents.
