Welcome
to AMAS

Objectives

Activities

Ways in which we work

The “Asociación Manos de Amistad y Solidaridad” translates as the association of helping hands and friendship. It is a non profit making organisation created to offer educational, social and general assistance to the children of Pillao Matao, Cusco, Peru. This is a rural community in a state of poverty and in some cases extreme poverty. AMAS run a community centre open to all children in the community. Between 60-80 children attend daily and on special occasions up to 400 children attend the centre. AMAS is a small organisation and only has one community centre in Cusco, Peru. At present AMAS does not employ anyone, all those who work for the charity are volunteers. AMAS relies totally on donations from private individuals and does not receive any kind of government funding. The most important thing to remember with regard to AMAS is that every single cent that is donated reaches the children. AMAS has no costs with regard to administration, advertising etc as all this work is undertaken by volunteers.

Objectives:

• Social Assistance.
• Educational assistance.
• Assistance with health issues, both physical and psychological.
• Personal development.
• Recreational activities.

Activities undertaken by AMAS
include the following:

• Assistance with school homework
• Handicrafts workshop
• Art, drawing and painting workshops
• English classes
• Social events – Christmas parties etc
• Games and playtime
• Financial assistance with school fees
• Provision of clothing and shoes where necessary

These objectives are reached
in the following ways:

• Support from local volunteers by visiting the project and also by donating school materials, clothes, toys and shoes.
• Support from international volunteers by visiting the project and assisting in the workshops etc.
• Also donations of school materials, clothes, toys and shoes.
• Children’s Cultural Exchange - cards are made by the children of Pillao Matao and sent to children in other countries with the receiving children sending something in return.