Contigo - Verein Strassenkinder in Cusco

The Contigo Association is an organization for street children in Cusco. It supports the Elim aid organization in Peru. Elim was founded by a Peruvian woman and a Swiss woman. The aid organization runs two houses, one for girls and one for boys. These houses provide a home for children who have fled their families or been abandoned. The children eat and sleep in the houses and attend local schools during the day. Elim also offers afternoon homework help for children from the impoverished Zarzuela neighborhood. As part of the program, volunteers from various countries live with the children for a period of time. The boys' home, Casa de mi Padre, also functions as a kind of community church. Preventative work is carried out there, supporting the local population with life skills and child-rearing. The children express their experiences through dance, music, and poetry. The name Contigo means "with you" and, for Europeans, signifies a desire to accompany street children on their journey. For the children in Peru, Contigo represents God's help in transitioning to a new life. The Contigo association offers its members the opportunity to get involved through donations, sponsorships, or as volunteers. The association also supports the education of former Elim children by maintaining an education fund.