The Association for Children and their Environment (ANIA) and the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP) teach children and young people with different abilities to take care of the environment

Thanks to the support from the Association for Children and their Environment (ANIA) and financing from Peruvian Supermarkets, the Tierra de Niños initiative (TINI) is being implemented at the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP), where students with different abilities (autism, mental retardation, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy) learn to take care of the environment.

The purpose of the "TINI" initiative, known as “Land of Hope” and carried out at the Centro Ann Sullivan of Peru (CASP), is to develop their students’ capacity to establish green spaces and care for them, so that they can do the same work in their homes, future workplaces and the community.  Emphasis is placed on growing edible and medicinal plants and host plants for butterflies and hummingbirds.

It should be noted that the “TINI” program from the Association for Children and their Environment (ANIA) was recognized by UNESCO in 2012 as an initiative to promote sustainable development in accordance with the objectives and priorities set by the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).

For ANIA the work with children has a fundamental role, because it is during childhood that our values and attitudes toward life and the environment are formed, and a way of promoting these values is participating in the improvement of their surroundings.

Canadian Ambassador to Peru, Patricia Fortier, Lived a day full of joy along with students and parents of the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru

This Tuesday, July 16, the Ann Sullivan of Peru (CASP in Spanish) received a visit from the Canadian Ambassador to Peru, Patricia Fortier. The visit is a recognition of both the 34 years of work the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP) has dedicated to the education of people with different abilities and the great friendship that has united Canada and CASP for 24 years.

“It is really an honor and a privilege to be able to give a little bit of ourselves to this great institution, an institution that really is an inspiration for the whole world, because here there is love, support and hope,” the Canadian ambassador said. I can see it in the faces of the teachers, the parents and, most importantly, the children.”

During the visit, Ambassador Patricia Fortier donated computer equipment on behalf of the Canadian Embassy in Peru. This donation can benefit all students of CASP, who will learn how to operate a computer and will have access to new sources of knowledge.

“We live in a world filled with technology,” said Dr. Liliana Mayo, Founder and Director of CASP, moments before the donation was bestowed. “Our students work with it, and they need to learn how to manage it, and for this reason, the donation is very important. We needed this equipment so that our students can learn new programs before entering the workforce and so that those who are already working can practice the new needs requested by their workplaces. We are happy for this visit. It is a day of celebration for us.”

In addition, during her visit to CASP, the ambassador could observe the work done with families in the classrooms, the job training performed in the laundry service of CASP “La Solución” and the Distance Education program, which began thanks to a special connection to Canada through the funding received from the Rotary Club of Sudbury (Ontario, Canada) and from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives - CFLI. Since 2008, this innovative project has trained over 25,000 parents and professionals in our country and 14 others in Latin America and Europe, providing monthly training to make a difference in the lives of people with different abilities and their families.

Students from CASP participated in the Confectionary Program organized by San Ignacio de Loyola University (USIL)

We congratulate our 12 students: Gilbert Oliva, Johana Aste, Joshua Cárdenas, Johana Rosales, Edson Bardales, Carlos Castañeda, Stephanie Vizcarra, Milagros Álvarez, Pamela Delgado, Ximena Bardales, Ronald Pesantes y Miguel Linares. They participated for 3 days in the Confectionary Program of the School of Chefs of San Ignacio de Loyola University (USIL).

They were trained in the preparation of doughs, elaboration and decoration, packaging and presenting cupcakes, demonstrating creativity and originality. The program’s objective was to be able to teach a new activity that could integrate and generate extra income for the family.

We thank Director of Confectionary at USIL, Carolina Guzmán; Director of the Department of Psychology, Mario Tueros; Dean of the Department of Humanities, Carmen Blázquez Quintana; and all the family from San Ignacio de Loyola University (USIL) for this incredible experience.

Thank you so much... !!!

Successful presentation of the musical “The Boy from Oz” to benefit the students of CASP

Nearly a thousand spectators attended the beautiful Municipal Theatre yesterday in a sell-out event to view the musical “The Boy from Oz,” staged by the “Prelude” Cultural Association to benefit the students of the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP) and their families.

Numerous figures from politics and the world of culture and representatives of the various media enjoyed this fantastic musical directed by Mateo Quiarella under the vocal direction of Denisse Dibós.

Distinguished national artist Marco Zunino masterfully played the role of Australian composer and showman Peter Allen. He was accompanied by first-class supporting actors Denisse Dibós, Erika Villalobos, Elena Romero, Sergio Lois, Anahí de Cárdenas and Natalia Salas, among other great artists.

This is the third time “Prelude” has offered an event to benefit CASP. In 2011, it was “Cabaret” and in 2012 “Chicago,” both beating box office records.

Revenues from the musical play will go entirely to the education of the students of CASP and their families, who in this way will be able to continue their learning at CASP, integrate into society and become independent, productive and happy people.

Dr. Liliana Mayo, founder and general director of CASP, Miki Miró Quesada de Romaña, founder and honorary president of the Assistance Committee, and Ximena Salmón, the current president of the Assistance Committee, thank the entire cast of the musical “The Boy from Oz,” the production team of the “Prelude” Cultural Association and all the assistants that came with us to the event to benefit the students of CASP and their families.

Special thanks goes to PwC Peru for joining our initiative and for motivating their workers through the area of corporate social responsibility to collaborate with our institution.

They also thank the press in general for the support given to this laudable work in favor of people with different abilities.

The movie from Peruvian director Alonso Mayo, "The Story of Luke," premiers today in the U.S. and Canada

A tremendous feat achieved by Peruvian director Alonzo Mayo, the award-winning debut screens today, April 5, in the U.S. and Canada. “The Story of Luke” is an independent film that tackles the life of a young man with autism who after being protected all his life, embarks upon the search for work and love.

“The Story of Luke” was produced by Nina Leidersdorff, Julien Favre and Fred Roos and stars Lou Taylor Pucci, who plays Luke and is accompanied by Seth Green, Cary Elwes and Kristen Bauer, among other actors.

Yesterday, April 4, The New York Times reviewed, “The film serves as a modest reminder that the challenges of autism may sometimes be no more daunting or fearsome than those that face anyone in search of an independent life.”

So far the film from Alonso Mayo has received many prizes in different international competitions in 2012, including that of the best picture in the San Diego Film Festival, Festivus Film Festival and the San Luis Obispo Film Festival. It has won four awards of best picture elected by the public at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, Bahamas Film Festival, SF Indie Film Festival and the Omaha Film Festival.

After today, April 5, “The Story of Luke" will be seen in 18 commercial theaters in the U.S. and Canada (Los Angeles, New York, Anchorage, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Eatontown-NJ, Lawrence-KS, Ogden-UT, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Vancouver, Washington, DC). Production is also working to announce very soon the dates of its premier in all of Peru.