Josue's Story

“My biggest dream is to be able to celebrate my birthday like many children with balloons, candy and songs, and that for the first time I get a pair of shoes…”

Josue's mother abandoned him when he was very small; she left him in a park of the district of Independency, Lima, Peru.
He had never celebrated his birthday. He used to live in the streets where he sold candy to earn some money to be able to eat during the day. He used to sleep there or in the park with his friends. “On the streets, other boys took away the money that I earned by selling candy…” says Josue “… and if I didn’t give them what they asked for they beat me; that is the reason why I don’t want to go back to the streets. Here I feel more protected, I have friends to play with, I have a place to sleep in, all the sisters love me very much, and besides I can attend school…”

Josue arrived 8 months ago at one of the Homes that are a part of the Early Encounter Lima, where 24 girls, boys and adolescents were sent by the Lima’s Court, because they were in risky situations.

Violeta, one of the project staff, says that when the boy arrived, he was aggressive, disobedient and very restless. Now his aggressiveness is decreasing, he pays attention and the restless child has become a happy and playful child.

Soon, Josue will be able to live his dream when he celebrates his birthday along with the children of the project, who have become his family, with “balloons, songs and candy”; candy that, on this occasion, is for him.

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“The only thing that I wish, is to be able to study, so when I become an adult I can be a good police officer to defend people in need, and to help change my country for the better.” Josue