About Us

"The mission of Seeds of Hope is to support children living in extreme poverty in Huaraz,Peru and to provide vocational training for those without economic means."

Our Objectives

  1. Provide students with a strong academic and personal education, founded on values and principles which will improve their prospects for the future and develop their potential for independent thought.

  2. Aid our students with medical assistance as required, either by our trained professionals or in conjunction with other organizations.

  3. Teach our students to practise personal hygiene.

  4. Provide our students with clothes, shoes and school equipment.

  5. Give our students the emotional support they need while they are part of the organization.

  6. Fight for the rights of the children and provide them and their families with legal assistance where needed.

Soon we hope to:

  1. Teach people living in poverty the practical skills they need to make a living through selling handmade arts and crafts.

  2. Create micro-businesses which will give them the opportunity of fixed employment.

The Team

Seeds of Hope is made up of a group of likeminded people who want to make a difference to the lives of children in Peru. We have a permanent Peruvian staff consisting of, Yuri Chavez the full time director for Seeds of Hope and Seeds of Hope full time teacher, Mariela, who works everyday at the Seeds of Hope School. Together they run the organization on a day to day basis and work with the children as well as the local and foreign volunteers.

 

Yury Chavez President: Yury Chavez (Peru)
Yury was born and raised in Huaraz and studied the guitar at music college, graduating as a qualified music teacher. Following graduation he spent seven years working as a teacher with different organisations involved in helping children in extreme poverty. The knowledge he gained by working with these children and by getting to know their families gave him an insight into the problems of poor children in this part of Peru and how difficult it is for them to escape their social situation. As a result he founded Seeds of Hope, along with two volunteers with whom he was working with – Federica and Rocio. He has plans to expand Seeds to other parts of Peru in the near future.
Mariela Seeds of Hope School Coordinator and Full Time Teacher: Mariela (Peru)
Mariela was born and raised in Huaraz, Peru. She has a Bachelors degree in Primary Education from the National University of Pedro Ruiz Gallo in Chiclayo, Peru. After working in a rural school in a small village outside of Huaraz and for another private organization in Huaraz Mariela found Seeds of Hope. She was inspired and motivated by the Seeds of Hope mission and wanted to help educate children from very poor families.  In 2009, Mariela began working full time at Seeds of Hope School as the Head Teacher. Mariela is now working not only as the full time teacher but also as the Seeds of Hope School Coordinator.  She continues to pursue her studies and is participating in a variety of classes and programs to become a school counselor. Mariela finds her work at Seeds of Hope to be very rewarding and enjoyable experience and wants to continue to support the Seeds of Hope Project and the children however possible.
 

Vice President: Federica Bertuletti (Italy)

Federica was born and raised in Italy. She obtained a Bachelors degree in International Political Science. While studying in university she volunteered in Rwanda for a couple of months. After receiving her Masters degree in human rights she set off for Peru where she worked as a director for another NGO working with street children. While volunteering in Huaraz, she was struck by the poor social conditions of the children and their families. She along with Yuri and Rocio decided to found Seeds of Hope and help make a difference in the lives of some of the poorest children in Huaraz, Peru. She is now back working and living in Italy but is still actively involved in helping Seeds of Hope.
Treasurer: Yuri Maguina Anaya (Peru)
Yury was born in the city of Huaraz, Perú. He has a Bachelors degree in Statistics and Information and worked as a lecturer in Computing at the University of Huaraz for six years. He joined Seeds in November of 2006 and has been an essential asset to Seeds of Hope Program ever since. Last year he left Huaraz, Peru and moved to Italy. He is now working and living in Italy but still volunteers his time towards helping Seeds of Hope with managing money and computer assistance. He has been a great help to the development of Seeds of Hope.
 
International Coordinator: Katelyn Kerrigan (US)
Katelyn has a Bachelors degree Social Science and a Minor in Child Development from California Polytechnic University, in San Luis Obispo, California. She first came to Huaraz in September of 2005 to volunteer with another NGO that no long exists in Huaraz. Since then she has returned 5 times to Huaraz, Peru to work and volunteer at Seeds of Hope. She loves to travel and work with impoverished children all over the world. She has been to over 14 different countries and has spent extensive time working in Fiji, Africa, and India with impoverished children. Katelyn is currently pursuing her Masters at USF but is still actively involved and responsible with the upkeep up of Seeds of Hope's grants, sponsorship program, website listings, bi-monthly newsletters and fundraising.

 

 

 

 Marketing Coordinator: Sharon Herkes (UK)
Sharon has a Bachelors degree in English & Music and a Masters in Children’s´ Literature. After teaching English in Greece she worked for six years at Sheffield University before wanderlust struck. She spent fifteen months traveling around the world and one of the places she visited was Huaraz, Peru. On returning to the UK she worked for a number of universities and for non-profit organisations before finally fulfilling her long-term ambition to do voluntary work overseas. She returned to Peru where she was helping Seeds of Hope with their marketing and acting as their Volunteer Co-ordinator in 2008 for one year and half. She is now currently living in New Castle, UK and is continually involved in the development and specifically marketing aspect of Seeds of Hope.
Project Coordinator: Isabelle Vandeput (Belgium)
Isabelle has a degree as a Translator and a Masters in International Marketing Management. After climbing the cooperate ladder for 8th years in a market research company, it was time for a big change. Isabelle strapped on her backpack and went off into the South American world to explore... After 8 months she found a remarkable challenge in Huaraz, volunteering at the Seeds of Hope school. A few months turned into a volunteer period of almost 2 years, helping with the shaping of the school and supporting volunteers and their plans. She is now currently living in Antwerp, Belgium, working and studying in the social sector there and still continues to be involved in the development and specifically fundraising aspect of Seeds of Hope.

 

 

 

 

 




seeds of hope is a registered charity 2007-00007936