Latin American Foundation for the Future (LAFF) is a UK registered charity which has been helping marginalised children in Peru since 2008. LAFF currently supports partner organisations in the outskirts of Lima and the Peruvian Andes, a region plagued by extreme poverty and social inequality. Lack of employment and poor educational opportunities drive many rural families towards the big cities. The result is urban overcrowding, discrimination, unemployment, low salaries and homelessness. Many children are taken into care or move onto the streets as a result of the violence and abuse that follows their families’ destitution. LAFF gives children and organisations in Peru the tools and skills they need to break the poverty cycle and build a more independent future. We provide education and vocational training for at-risk young people, as well as supporting children’s homes through incomegeneration, cost reduction initiatives and capacity building for staff. We believe in creating independence, not dependence. This is crucial in our approach to young people and the organisations that support them. We also believe in sustainability, and aim to achieve it for those we help through educating, empowering and enabling.
This year, thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers, LAFF has continued to empower vulnerable and at-risk young people to build a better future. Partner organisations have developed sustainable social enterprises with significant community impacts. Young people have accessed a wide-range of tailored training opportunities.. This report tracks some of those key developments and reflects on some of the specific impacts and results we have seen in each area of our work. I hope you enjoy reading about the great progress we’ve seen this year, and that it inspires you to continue your support of LAFF in the future. From all of us at LAFF, and from all those we are helping, thank you. Sarah Oakes Founder and Director
We envision a world in which children and young people are able to break out of poverty and build a better future by being equipped with essential skills and accessing education and employment opportunities. We see a future in which local Peruvian organisations operate sustainably and independently to address the needs of the children and young people they support in the best way possible. To realise this future, LAFF strives to be a self-sufficient, informed organisation that is recognised for being true to its goals and values, and committed to volunteering.
Empower at-risk children and young people through education and training. Support them to access career assistance and employment opportunities.
1.1 1.2 1.3
Formal education Vocational training and career guidance Job placement
Increase local partner organisations´ capacity, selfsufficiency and sustainability.
2.1 2.2 2.3
Capacity building Social enterprise development Cost reduction and renewable energy
Increase LAFF´s impact by diversifying and improving our partnerships, retaining and developing our team, increasing our funds and the variation of our funding sources, and communicating our progress. 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
Partners and research Staff, volunteers, interns Communications Fundraising and selfsufficiency
Vocational
We believe that young people need more than food, shelter and safety. They need the opportunity to develop their self-confidence and skill sets. LAFF supports young people into adulthood by giving them a good education, life skills, employment skills and most importantly, a sense of self worth. This enables them not only to get the most out of their own lives but also to contribute to the world around them. We’re proud of Jhovana, Maritza, Janet, Ana Rita, Carlos, Hernan and Bautista for completing their chosen career-focused programmes in gastronomy and hotel administration.
Jhovana is a 17-year old living in Casa Mantay with her 2-year-old son. She chose to study gastronomy because she dreams of becoming a chef. She attends classes 5 days a week at a local training institute where she perfects her cookery skills through theory and practice. She has also completed LAFF’s CV workshops.
She is now doing work experience at Cicciolina’s, one of Cusco’s top restaurants. Where will Jhovana be in 5 years time?
This year LAFF has supported all children in our Cusco-based partner organisations Casa Mantay, Sacred Valley Project and Azul Wasi to access formal education. We made sure every child had school uniform, stationery and books, and also covered school fees. Funding afterschool tutors continues to help the children to make the most of their access to education. It helps them to overcome setbacks due to poor access to education in their past and barriers with language as many of the children’s first language is Quechua whilst school subjects are taught in Spanish. We are very proud to see the young people in Azul Wasi, Casa Mantay and Sacred Valley Project go from strength to strength and thrive at school, revealing their talents both in and out of the classroom.
We asked the children of Azul Wasi what their greatest achievement was this year and the teenage mothers of Casa Mantay if they had any messages for LAFF’s supporters. This is what they told us.
For many children in the Peruvian Andes, primary school is the only formal education they receive. In remote villages at the top of the Andes, long walks and treacherous transportation leave these communities without access to secondary school. It takes eight hours on foot to reach the nearest high school, making it too far a journey on foot or by mule. To address this need Sacred Valley Project has created a dormitory for girls to stay at during the week so that they can attend a public secondary school. The Project not only provides safe housing and nutritious meals so that the girls can go to school well rested and ready to learn, but with the help of LAFF, also provide tutoring to overcome language barriers and poor foundations in education. Outside of school, LAFF helps Sacred Valley Project to run extra-curricular initiatives in business, leadership and self-esteem. This ensures that the girls gain valuable life skills that are not always taught at school, and can get the most out of their education. Here’s Alex Ball from Sacred Valley Project to explain how LAFF has helped this year.
Construction is close to finish and we hope to see Sacred Valley Project’s young women start the new school term in March 2014 from a brand new dormitory. Thanks to Gulf for Good and World Challenge for their financial and physical support with this project.
LAFF’s social enterprise programme helps partner organisations on their road to future sustainability. We believe that the issues facing at-risk young people are varied, complex and best understood by those who are closest to them. This is why we work through and support partners who understand those needs.
We help our partner organisations by ensuring their self-sustainability. Our aim is to enable projects to be independent of outside help, by becoming more financially stable. This allows organisations to overcome constant worries about financial support and instead concentrate on more important concerns such as the welfare and future of those in their care. LAFF supported Casa Mantay by providing materials to kick-start the ‘One heart one opportunity’ campaign. The leather hearts sold raised public awareness of the project and $8,200 to invest in the education, health and nutrition of teenage mothers and their babies. UN funds secured by LAFF have enabled Casa Mantay’s social enterprise to open an outlet in a 5-star hotel in Cusco. The store, which sells bags, key rings, purses and other leather accessories made by young mothers at the home, has opened the business to new markets. We’ve also funded marketing materials, training, a new website and an online shop for the social enterprise. launching in March 2014.
Ruwasunchis, one of our newest partnerships, works with impoverished communities to improve their quality of life.
This year we’ve helped Ruwasunchis to establish a social enterprise in Manchay, a shanty town on the outskirts of Lima, Peru’s capital. Ayllu Ruwasunchis sells handmade scarves and other woven products in order to empower local women and generate sustainable income for their families. The business is already having a positive impact on the whole community. LAFF’s support to establish an online shop and website will expand the enterprise’s reach to new audiences. To find out more and visit the online shop,
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We help our partner organisations work as efficiently as possible and build their independence by delivering one-on-one capacity building and providing technical support. Our highly skilled team of staff and volunteers work with partner organisation staff to develop their skills and knowledge, and bring in external support when need demands it. We provide technical assistance in areas such as programme proposal and business plan development, and accounting and financial systems development. This year after LAFF donated him a laptop, Alcides Jordan, Azul Wasi’s director, completed an intensive one month computer skills course at the Universidad Andina del Cusco. The training and laptop have enabled Alcides to improve his accounting skills. This has ensured effective use of funds and good reporting, which builds the confidence of donors that support the home and so increases the home’s sustainability.
From April 2012 until March 2013,
donated
to support LAFF, our partners and projects.
LAFF would be nothing without its people. We rely on our International Partnerships Manager and skilled volunteers to provide capacity building and technical support to partner organisations and deliver, manage and supervise LAFF’s projects.
International partnerships manager, Arianna, grew up in South America, moving between Peru and Venezuela. Living in different countries sparked her interest in international development. After completing a BA in Political Science in Rome and an MSc in Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Arianna spent four months as Vocational Training and Career Guidance Coordinator for LAFF. She became our International Partnerships Manager in summer 2013.
Jess has volunteered part-time as communications consultant for LAFF since April 2013. She has developed and implemented a communications strategy and two-year work plan for the charity, as well as helped at LAFF’s first ever LAFFiesta fundraising event in London. Jess has ten years’ experience in digital communications at the BBC and UNICEF UK, where she’s worked across youth engagement, e-campaigning and fundraising. Having studied Spanish at university and in South America, she’s passionate about Latin culture and youth empowerment.
Danielle joined the LAFF team as the first Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor. In the past she has worked for a consulting firm in Ottawa, Canada and volunteered in Haiti and Kenya working on children’s issues. Danielle has combined her experience and knowledge in both evaluation and children’s issues to devise LAFF’s first monitoring and evaluation overview and strategy for the future. Read more about our team in the ‘About’ section of our website.
LAFF welcomes volunteers in social enterprise, vocational training, communications, monitoring and evaluation, video making, fundraising and more. If you would like to spend time volunteering for LAFF, in Peru or online, please check out our current volunteer opportunities.
LAFF’s first ever Latin American themed mini festival raised £2,724 as supporters came out to enjoy a glorious evening in the sunshine at Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London, in July 2013. Festivalgoers enjoyed a night of Latin-themed entertainment including live music, a puppet show, storytelling, a raffle and an auction. Thanks to Vodafone’s World of Difference support in making this happen, through funding a dedicated volunteer.
Sarah McComas trekked 100km through the Sahara crossing rough and stony landscapes, climbing sand dunes, passing oases and walking across a saltpan, all in intense heat, raising £1,225.
Pete Whitfield swam 3.8km in freezing cold water, then cycled for 180km before running a marathon (42km) in honour of Hannah Barrett, our dear LAFF Trustee who sadly passed away in July 2010. He raised £3,305.
King Edward High School for Girls (KEHS) has been a huge supporter of LAFF over the last few years, having held many fundraising events for LAFF, sold Casa Mantay products at fairs and even visited projects in Peru. Last year, KEHS established the Hannah Barrett Award for International Development, in recognition of pupils fundraising for LAFF. The award is in memory of Hannah Barrett, a former pupil of the school and one of the founding Trustees of LAFF, who sadly lost her life to cancer in 2010. The annual award was established to encourage and reward students fundraising for LAFF. Although it has no monetary value to the student, Hannah’s parents, Merilyn and Paul Barrett, will donate £200 to LAFF each time an award is made. This year’s award goes to KEHS sixth form student Duaa Khair. Paul tells us, “She was the obvious candidate. She did loads to raise funds for LAFF, all with cheerfulness, good humour and energy, just like Hannah”. Congratulations Duaa and thank you to all at KEHS for your fundraising this year!
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None of our work this year would have been possible without the generous support of LAFF’s donors, partners and volunteers. LAFF would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the LAFF family for their various contributions and support, and in particular thanks go to the following people and organisations for their support in financial year 2012-2013:
Gulf for Good, King Edward’s High School for girls, Peace Child International, St. Andrew’s congregation, Solihull School, Vodafone Foundation – World of Difference programme Josie Allen, Merilyn and Paul Barrett, Jess Bray, Beth Cox, Maria Cunningham, Susannah Goffe, Sarah McComas, Adrian and Carmel McCormick, Bessie Scarth, Jenni Tahvanainen, Fran Talavera, Richard Waine and Pete Whitfield A number of generous Trusts and Foundations supporting specific education and sustainability projects All those who supported our LAFFiesta through donating prizes
Azul Wasi Casa Mantay Sacred Valley Project Ruwasunchis Inca Educa Pantastico Girl Sport Works
Radhika Aligh, Eleanor Bainbridge, Jess Bray, Julie Cabanes, Maria Cunningham, Danielle Hoegy, Harriet Jackson, Maria Paula Jaramillo, Sarah Jessett, Matt Kinsella, Trilce Oblitas, Cindy Reijers, Meredith Saggers, Jenni Tahvanainen, Claire Tarinelli, Arianna Valentini and Sarah Warry.
Matt Kinsella, Alessandra Lauria, Jess Wright and all those involved in the organisation of LAFFiesta including Stephanie Charmail, Carmel McCormick and Camilla Sutherland.
The difference our volunteer team has made to our partners, beneficiaries and projects in Peru is impossible to quantify. However it does have a financial value. From April 2012 until March 2013, LAFF’s team of worked to support partners and make projects happen. support is valued at . In addition, LAFF also provide crucial financial support for our partners.
. That
We keep our costs low by researching and planning our initiatives carefully, relying on pro bono support and volunteer expertise where possible, making sure donations go as far as possible to have the greatest impact. Our low overheads and minimal fundraising and office costs have allowed us to spend donated on direct . This financial report covers April 2012 – March 2013 and therefore does not cover all activities mentioned in this narrative report (written Autumn 2013).
Grants to Peru & project support Fundraising Office management, fees and charges Other Total
£38,295.82 £556.50 £1,815.30 £189.49 £40,857.11
One off and regular donations Trusts and foundations Gift aid Other Memorial and challenge fundraising Volunteer fundraising Total
£1,348.70 £14,390.00 £1,008.15 £486.35 £9,982.39 £2,118.87 £29,334.46