Inspira
The only cancer hospital in Peru is located in the capital, meaning Peruvians living outside Lima don't have access to treatment. So, under a tight budget, they leave their families behind and arrive at an unknown place where they have no shelter or job to support themselves during their child's treatment.
In most cases, parents are forced to travel back and forth to the capital for treatment. However, seeing their child feel worse due to the medicine that was supposed to help certainly isn't encouraging. This leads to a decision parents should never be in a position to make: do they suspend the treatment and go back home? Let's consider the factors that influence this decision-making: no job, shelter, or food. It's clear they didn't even have a choice to begin with. This is where places like Inspira come in. Inspira's mission is to give a home to families so their children can be close to the hospital, receive a proper meal every day, go to school, and get the emotional support they need.
Through the IA Deep Dive project, I had the chance to meet the kids and their families and become part of their community. The Deep Dive project required us to create a solution. Thanks to this, we supported the Inspira walkathon by creating advertisements, such as videos and posters, while selling shirts to raise awareness and gather participants.
We also organized a photo exhibition showcasing the stories of children battling cancer, highlighting the importance of community support and solidarity.
HUE.MAN
Who are we? What is Hue.man? We are a brand that goes beyond just creating socks. With their conceptual designs, our socks turn each customer into a walking advocate, raising awareness for social causes. We are dedicated to the inclusion of all humans, celebrating our differences, and promoting unity.
With a shared vision and values, my four classmates, Alma, Anto, Vale, and Cami, and I embarked on a business venture. We didn't just create a brand. We formed a community that recognizes the value of every Hue.man being.
All of the profits from our garment business went to Kantaya, an organization that provides education to underprivileged children from Ventanilla. They have helped around 300 children, empowering them to pursue their passion and learn that through education, they can get wherever their dreams take them. Every pair of socks we sold gaves one week of education to each child.
Hue.man socks incentivize young adults to become advocates for what they believe in and what they see as an issue in the world. For example, one of our socks called "Beat" shows the image of a heart and the message "different rhythms, one beat," demonstrating the uniqueness of each Hue.man being. There is another sock with different-sized stickmen called "Shapes and Sizes," which highlights the diversity of our world. Our socks follow this trend to make every customer part of what our slogan says, "For people who care. Be a walking advocate. Join the Movement."
Villa Vida
In Peru, 3,000 to 3,500 annual pregnancies were registered by 15-year-old adolescent mothers from 2019 to 2021. However, at least three-quarters of those would have occurred earlier, when they were 14 years old. This means that pregnancies in girls aged 10 to 14 would be around 11,000 between 2019 and 2021, according to UNFPA.
Sadly, statistics don't reflect the whole story. Several young girls face violence that leads to pregnancy. Families facing this situation sometimes turn their backs on their children due to societal rules. This is where Villa Vida comes in, a center for teenage mothers in Villa Maria del Triunfo. There, mothers can stay until they turn 18. During that time, they can receive an academic education while learning to care for and love their babies.
We funded and led the Villa Vida club with two classmates, which organized weekly visits, events, and fundraising efforts. The relationships built during our visits led to real friendships and bonds. The visits went beyond playing with the kids. We wanted to be there for the mothers and build strong relationships, transcending the notion of an extracurricular club.
SWITCH
For our IA magazine project, we decided to do things differently. Instead of selling the magazines, we wanted it to be a gift from students to parents. For this reason, we created content that would provoke thought and challenge the reader.
People latch to their beliefs without questioning them. After many brainstorming sessions, we realized we wanted to create a magazine that challenged this idea. So, we created something more conceptual than before by challenging paradigms and seeing the world through new eyes. We wanted to show a side of Lima that isn't usually seen. We gathered sponsors through advertisements to fund the production and delivery of magazines to over 1,500 Peruvian families.
Thanks to these articles, I had the opportunity to meet and interview Peruvian Paralympic Rugby team members and even play with them. Additionally, I learned about a new type of clown whose purpose is to bring cheer and joy to children in palliative care.
Feel free to check out the articles I co-wrote with Valeria Ramirez!
