We are in the headlines!

"2000 Afro-children benefit from playground in Yapatera, Piura"
http://www.andina.com.pe/Espanol/Noticia.aspx?id=LRsWLgnfThk=
"Park for children in the Afro-Peruvian community of Yapatera, Piura"
http://www.andina.com.pe/Espanol/Noticia.aspx?Id=P7HRvhYILT8=
(Andina news agency)

"Park for Afro-Peruvian children"
http://www.elperuano.com.pe/edicion/noticia.aspx?key=4AnvIZWGoU4=
(National government newspaper El Peruano)

"Heart of Yapatera"
http://correoperu.pe/correo/columnistas.php?txtEdi_id=7&txtSecci_parent=&txtSecci_id=55&txtNota_id=541837
(Piura newspaper El Correo)

Inauguration today!

You are all invited to the inauguration today of Yapatera's first playground called Yapatera Corazon! We will have activities including Mango decorating, face-painting, and a blood pressure clinic. There will be speeches by village residents, local authorities, the Cultural Affairs Specialist of the Embassy of the United States in Peru, a baptism of the playground park and finally the Patron saint of Yapatera, Saint Sebastian will arrive at the park to give his blessing. Thanks for all your support and making this possible! Pictures from inauguration will follow soon.

Phase 4 of the playground: mural

Exercise therapy clinic in Yapatera

Cheri brought the benefits of exercise and self-care to Yapatera's villagers in a half-day clinic held at the village municipality. Villagers were able to address complaints of chronic discomfort and pain in one-on-one sessions and were prescribed exercises to do at home.

Heart of Yapatera donates prizes to local pottery competition

Thanks to your donations we were able to contribute the prize of two backpacks and school supplies to Yapatera's first children's pottery competition. The competition took place within the twelfth annual Mango Festival and was organised by Yapatera's own celebrity, fiction writer Abelardo Alzamora.

Phase 3 of playground: plants

The plants for the playground were transported from a nearby plant nursery by motorcycle rickshaw. The protecting fences for the saplings were built by hand out of sugar cane by local workers in Yapatera.

Medication for Johan

Thanks to your donations we were able to procure medication for Johan, 8 who was severely burnt by a cooking fire.

Yapatera Corazon Health Project: a great turnout

On Thursday and Friday Yapatera's community radio, (these are speakerphones on long cane polls that blast announcements to the population), invited villagers to have their blood pressure checked for free at Heart of Yapatera's first two Heart Health Posts. The Heart of Yapatera Health Project will be holding four weekly Heart Health Posts at two different locations on neighborhood porches, with education on preventative measures. On Thursday and Friday 33 villagers were able to monitor their blood pressure, body fat and BMI. Some of the villagers had never had their blood pressure or height measure. Many people dressed up for the event and lingered for hours chatting, it was a major social event.

Playground Phase 2: the fence

In order to keep small animals (pigs, sheep, goats and dogs) out of the playground we are building a fence. Yapatera's children are on summer vacation and there are many reports of them playing on the playground until 11 pm! Naro, one of the neighbors has taken initiative and has successfully obtained a donation of 20 trees from the local parish. Naro who heads the local religious brotherhood has assured us that the village patron saint Saint Sebastian will be making a special appearance at our playground inauguration on January 25th, he will be carried in a colorful procession to give his blessing to Yapatera Corazon and the playground.