Littlehampton friends on a mission on aid Peru orphans

Jade Shanahan, 24 of Arundel Road and Joyce Quinney, 47 of Thorncroft Road, have signed up for a trip to Peru to help teach some of the country’s poorest orphans.

The pair, who work in the Millfield Care Home, St Catherine’s Road, Littlehampton, will be working with children of all ages for two weeks in December.

Joyce, who is also a foster carer, said: “I can’t bear to see the children over there suffering. We see so much poverty. It’s a really, really sad world that we’re living in. We read about it; we see it on the telly – then we forget about it.

“I just want to put a smile back on the kids’ faces.” The friends say that this idea has been in the pipeline for more than seven years.

Jade said: “We both felt that something had to be done. I think we were watching Comic Relief and Joyce said how they never show places like Peru on it.

“Now we’re going to be teaching the children English, art and computer skills. It’s going to be a big challenge but we’re both really looking forward to it.”

The pair will begin a series of fund-raising events next month.

There will be a musical extravaganza on Friday, June 10, at Littlehampton’s Coco Lounge, Clifton Road.

Local rock band, King and I, will be performing as well as an ensemble of students from Northbrook College, Worthing. Tickets will be £3 with the concert starting at 7.30pm.

All the money raised will go towards buying essential goodie bags for the children, including pens, pencils, note pads, flannels, soap and toys.

Jade said: “It’s the everyday things that the children really need.”

The trip is being organised by the the UK’s largest gap year travel company, Real Gap Experiences, as part of its Peru Youth Outreach Volunteers Programme.