Project Report
| Sep 28, 2017
Norma's Story
By Marina Lobato and Claire Naughton | HOOP Social Work Coordinator and Volunteer
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Norma has been with HOOP for the past five years. Originally from Puno, she came to Arequipa looking for more opportunities for herself and her son. Since arriving eight years ago, she’s faced many setbacks but has also found strength in her personal goals and in the women around her.
“My life changed in a lot of ways when I joined HOOP... I felt a lot calmer and happier because of the workshops...and I’ve made a lot of friends through meeting the other moms."
One of Norma’s most admirable qualities is her commitment to providing opportunities for both herself and her son: “It’s very important to me that my son learns as much as he can... and for my part, I love the classes, from yoga to English to dance...I’m having fun.”
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Sep 27, 2017
Rosa Quispe's Story
By Marina Lobato and Claire Naughton | HOOP Social Work Coordinator and Volunteer
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For Rosa-Quispe, being a member of HOOP has given her a sense of place and belonging. Like many of the HOOP moms, when she first joined, she was quite shy and uncomfortable sharing personal information with others: “...when I am [at HOOP] I feel so free; I just forget my problems. I feel alive! It is very different from home, where I am preoccupied and always have things to do.”
Feeling like she’s found an extended family within the HOOP organization has helped Rosa-Quispe open up to others and take control of her personal development: “We don’t have to be ashamed to ask you for advice. We can trust you and you know a lot of things!”
“For me, HOOP is a synonym for help….what I love the most with HOOP is the diversity of workshops that you propose to us...I also love when the professionals give us workshops...they transmit a lot of skills to us, improve our knowledge, help us become able people.”
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Sep 26, 2017
Hilda's Story
By Marina Lobato and Claire Naughton | HOOP Social Work Coordinator and Volunteer
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One of the things Hilda has found most rewarding about being a member of HOOP is the camaraderie amongst the HOOP mothers; she feels she has found a group of women in whom she can trust and confide in because of the common ground they share.
A resident of Arequipa for the past 20 years, Hilda joined HOOP two years ago with her three children: “Before, when I wasn’t in HOOP, I was very stressed. I would pick my kids up from school and bring them home and then we just had nothing to do...but now I go to HOOP in the afternoons and I feel much happier. I’ve made friends and we are always talking.”
Feeling comfortable and safe within the HOOP organization has helped Hilda gain a sense of place within the Flora Tristan community: “HOOP means a lot to me...it’s a support system [where] we teach and advise one another. I like all of the workshops and talks with the psychologists...before we didn’t have anything like that. I never miss a workshop unless one of my children is very sick.”
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