Peru

In 2018, Pope Francis visited Peru for the first time in decades. The country was plagued by political volatility and corruption scandals throughout the year, resulting in the resignation of the president and the imprisonment of a former president. Peruvian children and adolescents, in particular, often face violence and abuse of many kinds, and girls are especially vulnerable. About 2.5 million Peruvians don’t have enough food or care to keep them healthy. Natural disasters can impact food prices, causing already-vulnerable families to struggle to afford the basics. Unemployment among young people is high, while, paradoxically, hundreds of thousands of children are involved in child labor, some of it dangerous. Thanks to our donors and partners, many vulnerable families in Peru were supported this year. Government partners joined us to promote child protection through a national campaign to end violence against children. Other government collaborations also helped us promote job training and life skills education for adolescents, to make sure they’re supported into adulthood. As well, Venezuelan migrants were assisted with basic services and Child-Friendly Spaces for kids to play in safety and provide normalcy. The U.N. refugee agency helped us improve shelters for migrants, and we held a cultural festival with highlights from both Peru and Venezuela to help the two people groups live harmoniously.