The Shared Table - Stage 4

On Friday the 31st of March we officially opened our second Parish Comedor (kitchen) for children at the chapel of Santa Rosa, Montenegro. This Comedor has been established specifically for providing meals for children suffering from malnutrition, and operates in conjunction with the local clinic in Montenegro. Children may only be inscribed in the Comedor after a referal through the clinic.

Because the Comedor Santa Rosa has this particular focus, it was necessary to provide some initial workshops with the women from the Parish Health Team who have generously offered their time in the organisation and running of the Comedor. One of our local doctors, Jorge Vargas, provided a number of sessions on nutrition, and the causes and effects of malnutrition.

Malnutrition obviously is the result of poor nutrition, and in poor areas it would be supposed that such a condition was prevalent. Dr. Jorge pointed out that in most cases, the children suffered because of the economic conditions of their household. However, as he further pointed out, the condition is also due in part to the fact that some parents are ignorant of the sources of healthy nutrition.

The Comedor Santa Rosa has therefore taken on the task of offering education to the mothers whose children participate, whilst the local clinic makes regular visits also to check on the progress of the children. Once a child is deemed free of risk, they leave the program, but only at such time as their mothers are aware of the causes and effects of malnutrition.

The beneficiaries of La Mesa Compartida (The Shared Table) are grateful to all who continue to assist us, and ask that their thanks be extended. At the moment of the publication of this blogspot, we are happy to inform our supporters that the water has now been connected to the tank in our vegie garden, and we are ready to build the chook shed - more news in the next edition.

Fr. Michael McKinnon
mickmckinnon@yahoo.com

For further information in Australia, contact Maree Harris: m.harris@peopleempowered.com.au

Previous blogspots:
www.lamesacompartida.blogspot.com
www.lamesacompartida2.blogspot.com
www.lamesacompartida3.blogspot.com

Volunteers attend the first Workshop offered through the local clinic dealing with problems associated with malnutrition.

Dr. Jorge from the local clinic of Montenegro instructs the volunteers of the latest kitchen on aspects of malnutrition and diet. The women received two weeks of formation before the work in the kitchen bagan.

Gladys and Delia getting the final touches finished in the kitchen of Santa Rosa.

Planning Meeting of volunteers for the latest comedor, Santa Rosa, Montenegro.

Preparing a simple meal for the opening ceremony. Volunteers from the Parish Health Team who provide assistance with the elderly, the sick and also our latest Comedor, Santa Rosa.

Dr. Jorge joins us for the opening of the Comedor.

The official unveiling of the plaque.

A few words of thanks to all our workers, and special thanks to all our Australian and Irish supporters of the Shared Table.

All dressed up for the grand occasion.

Enjoying the celebration.

One of our children.

The Children's Kitchen "Santa Rosa" - the Human Settlement Enrique Montenegro thanks our brothers and sisters of Australia for the Shared Table.

Back to Cangallo, where our original kitchen operates, looking down upon the settlement where final work is being done on our water project, providing water to homes and for our vegie garden, the produce of which goes towards children's kitchen.

Mario, the engineer, one of the neighbours and Jose, the community leader, discuss the water project with Fr. Ned Crosby (foreground) who works in the parish and provided financial assistance for the project through friends from Ireland.

The water tank constructed up the top of Cangallo, from which water will flow to the tank installed in the Vio Huerto.

Two of the workers from Caritas Peru discuss the work plan for the afternoon, as Rayder, one of the mums awaits instructions.

A couple of the lads who will be overseeing this afternoon's work.

Senora Trinidad gives a few last minute directions before the afternoon work begins.

Eugenia preparing to get her hands dirty. A great worker is Eugenia, and a wonderful mum.

Senora Auria, one of our mums speaks only a little Spanish. Like many who live in Cangallo, she is from Ayacucho where her family have only spoken Quechua. However, coming from a farming background, she is a great asset to our project.

Little by little the terraces begin to take shape. Plastic is laid over the planted seeds for protection and to provide a sort of glass-house effect.

Working in earnest along the terraces. The soil looks good.

As the tank is still not connected, water is carried up to the Vio Huerto in whatever is handy at present.

Mother and daughter inspect the day's labour and the progress of the Vio Huerto.

Senora Trinidad, the coordinator of the Comedor at Cangallo, and Lucy, our parish Social Worker, look content with the progress in the Vio Huerto.

Martha Vargas (on the right) is a woman of great commitment, especially to the poor of her area. She is also a Parish catechist. For a number of years, Martha has been running the Comedor "San Antonio", providing meals for very poor families in her sector. She also works in ceremics, and recently ran a summer holiday workshop in clay-modelling with these and other children. We have chosen to make the children of Martha's Comedor a special focus over the next few months.

The Comedor, "San Antonio", which has been adopted by The Shared Table project.

Marco, Ricardo and Jose wait for today's meal to be prepared at San Antonio.

Waiting outside the Comedor of San Antonio, a building basically of card board and tin.

The outdoor kitchen where part of the meal is prepared in large pots on an open fire.

A view into the kitchen where the meal for the day is being prepared.

Gregoria, one of the mums at the kitchen sink.

Sampling the wares.

Washing up as the serving takes place.

The Comedor can't replace this natural method of feeding.

Hector, ready to dig in.

Laidi (pronounced Lady, and named after "Lady Di") enjoys her lunch.

Standing directly above Cangallo, with Montenegro in the background.

The cross overlooking the development of Jicamarca, stretching up into the valley. Not far, directly below the cross is the Comedor of San Antonio. Thanks you once again to all those who assist us so generously.