Don Crean visited Lima, Peru during the week of Easter and learned about the plight of street children. After we spoke with Lucy and Desiree, the Not For Sale representatives in Lima, they told us about Don’s remarkable reflection. One night, Don went with his group to the streets to celebrate a boy’s birthday. Once they surprised him with a cake, a bunch of children gathered around to sing and celebrate. During the gathering Don heard some of the kids stories. Don was shocked when he realized that these children had experienced so much violence at home and later in the streets. He also learned that in the streets, these children are exploited and later put in jail where they suffer torture. When they turn 18 years old they are released and their self-esteem is nonexistent, which makes them easy targets for exploitation and trafficking. The only prevention and after care house that many of the street children had, was shut down because the neighbors did not want to see them around. When Don went to visit the house, a neighbor across the street started screaming and saying that the children were drug addicts, thieves, and prostitutes. Don was overwhelmed.
At the end of the week, Don reflected about his experience: Sharing a cake with a boy in the streets for his ninth birthday was like the last supper. While listening to the life stories of the children, Don remembered the stations of the cross. Each story was a painful fall. When he visited the children’s home and the neighbor started screaming at the group and cursing all of the children that live in the streets, the words that Don heard coming out of the woman’s mouth was “crucify them, crucify them!” Resurrection happened the next day, when he visited a safe heaven, a small house where street children enjoy a healthy environment and have the opportunity to go to school, practice their favorite sport, play music with their friends, and dream of a better life.
Our team in Peru really appreciates Don’s analogy. The constant harassment against vulnerable children that live in the streets weakens the self-esteem of these children and underestimates the good work of the people on the front lines. Don’s interpretation of the children’s story opens a new representation of their lives.
