INFOCIMA Nº 46 – OCTOBER 2024

The Smile of the Month:

Juan Roberto Rodríguez

Hello, my name is Juan Roberto and I am from Lima. I came to CIMA because of my studies and also because I had problems at home and on the street. Since I arrived, I feel very good because I have learned many new things. At CIMA, they teach me skills that will serve me in my daily life and to value what people give me. I feel very happy to be at CIMA because I have made many friends and learned many things, like fixing things that break, feeding the animals and making bread for my companions. I thank Father Jean-Louis for letting me into his home, and my companions for welcoming me as one of them. Thank you to all the members of CIMA for opening the doors of your home to me and for teaching me so much. Here, I have found a place where I belong and can move forward despite the difficulties.

Testimony of Josimar Cárdenas – ExCIMA.

Hello, my name is Josimar. From a very young age I was very mischievous; I liked to draw and play a lot of football. However, as I got older, I became more rebellious and lost. At 13, I fell into drugs and alcohol, even though no one in my family knew anything. When they found out, they talked to me about it but I couldn’t get out of that world. I continued to use drugs until one day I left home and spent the nights on the street. Little by little I realized how much I was losing: my family, my friends, and all the loved ones. I wanted to change, but I didn’t know how. My parents put me in several centers, but I always escaped. One day, my father took me to CIMA, although he never told me who recommended this beautiful place. At CIMA, they helped me change a lot. With a lot of effort and wish to change, I stayed at CIMA for my family, and for all the ones I love in this world. I am now on the right track and grateful for the opportunity I was given to improve my life.

Testimony of Martha Rosental, volunteer from France.

My name is Martha Rosental; I was born on June 3, 2002 in Clamart, France and am currently studying a master’s degree in political science in Paris. This summer, I went to CIMA as a volunteer between June 26 and August 8. Through this testimony, I want to confirm the healthy character of the CIMA home. My conditions as a volunteer were excellent: 3 meals a day, personal room and hot water. In general, I felt fully integrated into the life of the center. Children, teenagers and collaborators have always shown me great respect. For several years, CIMA has been carrying out numerous social and environmental projects for children: recycling, biodigester, solar panels, wastewater treatment. It is a wonderful association that deserves volunteer support and financial support.

Aquaponics Workshop at CIMA

A few months ago, a group of volunteers from the La Molina Agrarian University developed a fish farming project. We are raising tilapia, which has allowed the transformation of the hydroponics workshop into aquaponics. Aquaponics is a farming method that uses nutrients from fish breeding ponds to feed plants. In turn, the plants filter and clean the water, creating an efficient cycle that minimizes water use and maximizes food production. This workshop offers our children and adolescents a valuable opportunity to learn about biology, ecology and sustainability in a practical way. The children are actively involved in all stages of the process, from caring for the fish to harvesting the plants, encouraging teamwork and responsibility. The Aquaponics Workshop is an important step in our mission to provide a comprehensive and practical education. We thank all the collaborators and experts who have made this initiative possible, and we hope that it will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of our young people.

Birthdays of the Month:

Here is the list of the children who had birthdays in October: Fabian Rivera Abraham Lazaro Aaron Gutiérrez Jean Paul Álvarez Happy birthday!

News:

Representatives of the Ministry of Culture gave a special talk for our children over 14 years of age. It was an excellent opportunity to discover and deepen our cultural richness, learning about heritage and its value in everyone’s identity. Thank you to the Ministry of Culture for this valuable educational experience!

Our children from group A-1 and A-2 have started the course “Starting My Own Business”, led by Engineer Ulises Ubillus. With this program, the children learn the basic principles of entrepreneurship and develop tools for future initiatives. We are very proud to see how they prepare for the future.

We celebrate the first tilapia fishing at our fish farm! This achievement was possible thanks to the effort of everyone at CIMA, especially the volunteers of the La Molina Agrarian University.