catch scott

Sadly my time in New York is coming to an end. On 13th October 2009 I will be returning to Peru to continue with philanthropy work. Toward the end of 2007 and during 2008 I was volunteering in Cusco, Peru, teaching at a school in the city and a rural school in Welta, about 20 minutes out of Cusco.

Peru is a very poor third-world country, and the government doesn’t support either of the schools I taught at. Although they built a small classroom 12 years earlier in the rural school, they have never provided materials or funds for a teacher or stationery. Fortunately, a local church paid for a teacher and I was the teacher’s voluntary aide.

The school ran out of books and pencils twice within the 4 months I was there. Fortunately my sister sent over a package of books, pens and clothes, and an old university friend sent over a box 4 feet tall full of his and his colleagues’ old pencils, pens, rulers, paper and the like from their school days, as well as some clothes. The postage alone from Australia was $600US.

These acts as well as the stream of volunteers to Peru showed me that people do want to help. Even though most people cannot physically be there to help, they have a desire to help in other ways. This gave me the idea of setting up a website where people can buy local Peruvian crafts, tapestry, and art. The proceeds would be used to support various projects in Peru, initially, and later on I hope to expand it to other third world countries in South America. Purchasing local goods made by locals also supports the communities often struggling to make a living and provide for their families.

Initially I will be supporting the two schools I taught at. The church which financially supports the rural school struggles to provide the children with materials necessary to educate. The one-building school doesn’t even have toilets. My plan is to create a non-profit social program. I will use the website to list projects requiring assistance and the money needed to meet the task (for example building toilets in the school, or providing educational books or even clothing). When friends make purchases a figure showing the money needed would be reduced. I aim to have the website up-and-running before this year is out. I invite people to leave their email/contact details and I will send out information and details of the website when I have it completed in December.

The world is full of inequality and people struggling to survive and better their situation. In some places people are worse off than others. I have seen first-hand the difference that a little caring can make. I hope that, collectively, we can help those who need our help.

To my new friends in New York, it has been a pleasure meeting you and I thank you for making my 18 month stay in New York so memorable.

Scott Jeppesen
catch_scott@hotmail.com