"If You Can't Feed a Hundred People, Then Just Feed One" - Mother Teresa



Precious children eagerly waiting to be served

If you're ever in Cuzco, please find your way to this one particular Indian restaurant called Maikhana. For 15 soles, you can feast on a lovely buffet that includes both meat and vegetarian options. Not only is the food great at this family run restaurant, but it goes beyond just feeding your belly. This family, consisting of a mother, father and two adorable young children, singlehandedly feed hundreds of children in small villages in the Andes each week. Using nearly half of their profits, these selfless souls cook delicious, wholesome food and ladle it out to hungry children whose diet typically consists of one boiled potato per day. Our hostel, Loki, is in the midst of creating a partnership with Maikhana where they'd organize charity tours for hostel guests to volunteer their time to help feed the children. Somehow we managed to convince the amazing staff of Loki to take us along on a trip to work out the details of the tour. There were about thirteen of us who drove to a small village in the Andes called Ccatcca. As we got into the town, we picked up police escorts who crammed into the van with us. 



Simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful



Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to experience. As our van pulled into the lot, groups of children began running after it, smiling happily as if they'd been waiting all day for our arrival. My stomach dropped as I realized they were all clutching their own little bowls, or for some, just clear plastic bags. The police had the children line up in two orderly lines according to gender. Watching these precious babies walk up in small groups, hold out their bowl or bag for food, and walk away with a huge smile was more than I could handle. It was humbling and overwhelming; beautiful, yet heartbreaking. My soul cried for these beautiful little children with their reddened, wind chapped cheeks. I silently prayed for these children's welfare and for the hands that so selflessly fed them, as I simultaneously cursed the utter unfairness of life. How could these innocent lives suffer so much while our babies at home get iPhones and laptops?! It's just so unbelievably unfair. My eyes kept welling up with tears, but I couldn't allow myself to cry in front of them. I had the opportunity to ladle out the food for them and my Lord was it incredible. To think, I helped to ensure that a few children got a least one decent meal. Everyone who was there had a chance to help feed the children, which was nice for us but had devastating consequences. The food wasn't properly rationed which meant a few children at the end of the line didn't get any. How horrific. Imagine being a hungry child waiting in line, watching all of these children before you get food, only to discover that nothing's left for you. Ugh. Heartbreaking beyond words. :(

For basically $250, a bus with volunteers can feed a couple hundred hungry children in various small towns. I know money is tight for everyone everywhere, but seeing these children first hand, I know they need it more than we do. Friends, family and blog readers, after seeing something like this firsthand, I would like to humbly ask if you can find it in your heart to donate some money to this ever so worthy cause. I promise you I will see to it that this money goes directly to the children and no where else. I know people are often reluctant to donate overseas because they don't know if the children receive it, but I can assure you, I saw firsthand that these children directly reap the benefits. Please, if you can skip a few lattes and bar nights and set aside a few dollars, it would mean a full stomach for one of these beautiful children. Here is your opportunity to truly make a difference in the life of a hungry child. If you're interested in donating, please email me at jessica.dowlatsingh@gmail.com and we can make it happen. Also, stay tuned once I get back to Toronto. I'm planning a fundraiser. These hungry babies will NOT be forgotten!