2021 Year in Review
In our December 2020 end-of-year email we listed the many ways the Lord had blessed Paths of Hope in Peru and we shared four goals for 2021. It is good to make lists – it gives us the opportunity to reflect on what has been accomplished and see which goals have been divinely altered in some way.
When we set our 2021 goals, we decided to hold our plans loosely, which is always a good idea. As we ended the year and reflected on what happened, some of the things that we envisioned, we accomplished! Our goal of starting to train mentors in Trauma Competent Care was one we completed. Implementing a Life Skills Curriculum for the two boys’ homes will remain a goal, but on a different timeline than we had imagined. Identifying additional scholarship students will continue to be a key focus, but with in-person school being cancelled across the country of Peru for the second full year, identifying these students has been delayed.
However, we have been able, with the Lord’s help, to accomplish many wonderful things this year; things that did not even make our list of goals! Below are the highlights of 2021, accomplishments, adjustments, and unexpected blessings.
Billy, Kate & Will:
Billy Greenman, Executive Director in Peru, continued to work from the apartment in Lima, doing many Zoom meetings and trainings from home. Kate has kept busy assisting Will with preschool classes, doing a lot of computer-related projects, as well as updating social media platforms. After more than a year on lockdown and restrictions, the Greenmans got to spend some time this summer in Michigan with their families. Zoom meetings and even preschool continued from the U.S..
New Staff:
One unexpected blessing of 2021 was being able to hire Jocabeth Oscategui, to assist with the mentoring development of POH Peru. We were also able to utilize long-time volunteer, Linda Gamero in additional areas of responsibility as we have grown. Both Jocabeth and Linda are gifted in areas that have moved us forward in our work because of their individual areas of expertise and contacts in the city of Lima. (Read more about Jocabeth and Linda)
Center of Excellence:
Billy and the team from Health Bridges International began training the staff at both boys’ homes in the Sacred Valley and in Ica during the month of May. The training began over Zoom, but the trainers were able to meet for their first in-person training in November! It is encouraging to watch the light bulb turn on when staff members begin to understand their own stories and then the “why” behind behaviors they see with the kids. (Read more about the November training)
Scholarship student - Huberth:
Huberth has just completed his 4th semester online, studying architecture. Classes at his university remain virtual and have not been in-person since he resumed his studies. However, he continues to receive stellar grades and hopes to complete his studies early next year. (Read more about Huberth here)
Ex-Girasoles:
Ex-Girasoles are young men who have aged out of the Scripture Union children’s homes. Billy has been working with five of them in particular this year, helping them with life plans, next steps, job resources and just being a friend to whom they can talk. Billy and Jocabeth are putting together a network of these young men through Facebook. Young men like these prompted the vision of Paths of Hope, as they were leaving residential care unprepared in many ways to transition successfully into society. It is important to us to connect with and assist any of our old friends who need help.
Mentoring:
Billy is now an affiliate trainer with Trauma Free World and is able to lead trainings using their six-week course entitled, Trauma Competent Care (TCC). Jocabeth and Linda have also participated in the training, and Jocabeth plans to complete the requirements to become an affiliate trainer herself. The TCC program trains participants how to understand kids who have endured traumatic situations. Offering the TCC training in churches is a key component of our program. We are convinced that God’s people in His church are the answer to this great need. Once potential mentors receive the training and are willing to become a mentor, they will be paired with a young person in a nearby school or children’s home. Our prayer is that the mentor and his/her partner church will have a huge positive impact on these kids as they work with them over time. (Read more about the TCC training)
New Logo:
We pointed out recently that we have a new logo at Paths of Hope! This new logo is more culturally appropriate, thanks to the invaluable input of our Peruvian staff.
Thank you for following our progress and for supporting us in this exciting work that the Lord has called us to do! We are less without you; in fact, we couldn’t do a thing without you!
Please consider a generous gift for the new year.
Give online: pohperu.org/donate
Give by mail: P.O. Box 4242, Greensboro, NC 27404
