Father Hugo School

In 2016, civil and religious authorities in Lima asked Father Hugo for help in restoring part of the Pérez Araníbar Children's Home to house the most vulnerable children. Inspired by Father Hugo, the young people of Operation Mato Grosso renovated several of the old pavilions with their own hands. Currently, they operate four homes for children aged 6 to 12 (50 children), two restored homes for secondary school students in the highlands to spend their holidays (36 teenagers), and a restored, free school attended by all the children from the Children's Home and others who stay overnight off-site. The school offers preschool (40 children) and primary education (104 children) and provides daily meals to more than 250 people.

The school is a magical place; you can feel it from the moment you step through its small door. The love that the volunteers and teachers put into it is palpable in every corner. The classrooms are small so that each child can receive the attention they need. The teachers, most of whom come from the mountains, have trained at the Don Bosco Higher Pedagogical Education School. They have learned to combine teaching skills with Don Bosco's educational method: loving kindness and constant presence.

The houses and school are maintained with funds raised by volunteers in Italy through their work, as well as with the support of volunteer families in Lima who organize raffles and markets, and help with restoration work or in the garden. However, children continue to arrive, and that's why we will continue to rely on and need your help.