Kendra Flowers works with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF at our national headquarters in New York City. She's currently in the field with UNICEF supporters, visiting programs in Peru.
I arrived in Lima last night with UNICEF supporters Chuck Meyer and Jamie Gross. The drive from the airport to our lodgings revealed the depth of the casino culture here, which could give Reno a run for its money. We are gearing up for the days ahead which I anticipate will be filled with eye-opening experiences for all of us.
My first impressions of Lima—aside from amazement at the creativity and variety of theme-casinos—revolve around the inherent history of this place, the beauty of its seascapes and warmth of the individuals we've encountered. While the city itself see-saws between the bleak and the opulent, the people we've met have been consistently kind and welcoming (and incredibly forgiving of my very broken Spanish).
We were also fortunate enough to see a magnificent Pre-Inca ruin called Huaca Pucllana, a ceremonial temple of the Huaca people, dating back 1500 years—right in the heart of bustling Lima.
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| © US Fund for UNICEF, 2008/K. Flowers |
| Ruins of Huaca Pucllana |
In the week ahead, our kind hosts at the UNICEF Peru Country Office will take us to visit child protection and emergency response programs in Chincha and Pisco, reconstruction efforts after last year's deadly earthquake, child protection facilities in Lima and a special visit to the remote indigenous communities of Ayacucho.
I look forward to sharing my observations with you of UNICEF Peru's lifesaving and life-changing initiatives in the days to come.
Comments (1)
I look forward to reading your trip notes, Kendra! Safe travels to you and your travel companions.
Posted by Leslie Goldman | October 28, 2008 9:36 AM
Posted on October 28, 2008 09:36