Saga Charitable Trust
Las Magnolias Nursery
In Peru, often the poorest people have no choice but to leave their children unattended while they work and many young children, even babies, are left either on their own or in the care of siblings. Apart from the dangers of being ‘home alone’, these children are not receiving any mental stimulation at a crucial stage of their development.
Josie and Roger Masters visited Peru in 1987 and were so appalled at the children’s plight, they knew they had to do something to help. The couple subsequently set up the ‘Hand in Hand’ Trust, a registered charity, to provide nursery care in the poorest areas of Lima.
Since then, the programme has grown to include several nurseries in Lima, as well as the Andean City of Arequipa. These have had a profound impact on the lives of hundreds of children, who not only receive food, care and stimulation in a place of safety, but will also have a chance of a better future. The education system in Peru is such that, without this opportunity, many of these children would probably never go on to school.
The Saga Charitable Trust is now funding the Las Magnolias nursery, in the Callao district of Lima, which is caring for 70 children between the ages of 0-5 years.
