Orphanage in Aychuco, Peru is in need of supplies

Ayacucho is one of the poorest cities in one of the poorest countries. Located high in the Central Andes this is the infamous city that was hijacked in the 1980s by Shining Path terrorists who claimed the city as their base and cut it off from Peru and the rest of the world for almost 2 decades. Although now completely free from the terrorist group, this city is home of thousands of jobless families. We are talking unemployment rate of 80%. But what does this mean in reality? The intensity of the mid-day sun is unbearable though the ever-growing shantytowns. An older lady spending countless hours at the local market just so she can sell her craft for a dollar to a traveler who feels the need to bargain her down in price. A moto-taxi driver goes home after his 15 hour shift knowing that he won't be able to afford feeding his children a proper dinner none-the-less send them to school. This city if far from the golden empire of the Incas! Beyond Peru's vibrant culture and history, a large number of inhabitants throughout the country share this same lifestyle. The difference between reality to them and the photos you see in the Lonely Planet are great. Faced with these challenges, many children are suffering. Alcoholism and violence are gaining ground in the households and prostitution has become abundant in the streets. For many parents, the only hopes of seeing their children survive comes down to abandoning them in the street, hoping that they can beg their way into a meal or a new pair of shoes when the time comes. Orphanage and public institutions are rare and the ones in operation are overcrowded and underfunded.