"How many blankets are on your bed?" I asked the children of Changes for New Hope. In the Peruvians Andes at 3000 meters every night is cold, when the wind blows across the unheated adobe houses, it is even colder. I was surprised at their responses. "One, two maybe three" Some children wet the bed at night making blankets unbearable to sleep under. I remember my Boy Scout days camping out in the wide open nights. One thing I remember well is how miserable it is to shiver in the cold of the night. That was a week long camping trip. For these children it is every night, all year round.
Changes for New Hope was not developed simply to scratch the surface of the needs of children living in such destitution. Helping them with their homework isn't nearly enough. A quick meal and a hug is anemic. We need to meet the needs of the children on every level we possibly can and this is one more problem that needed solved. Our "Behind-the Scenes Man" Karl, found 'Space Blankets'.
Space blankets are very thin, thermal barriers that trap body heat from escaping as the children lay in bed. Developed by NASA for astronauts, if it worked on the moon (or the Arizona desert?) it should work in the cold Peruvian Andean nights.
AND IT DOES!!!!! Every child in our project is either using one now or about to receive one. Those using them tell me that it is keeping them warm, less sniffling and coughing from the cold at night and they are sleeping well. Overly tired children can not study well in school, everything is affected in their young lives if they can nit sleep at night.
Space blankets are available online. They are about 3 to 5 dollars USD and lightweight so shipping costs are not an issue. It is the cheapest and most effective way to help those we care about who need our help in s many ways. So far, our "Virtual Volunteers" have provided us with over 100 so each of our children can be sleeping under a space blanket.
Knowing that they are better off makes me sleep at night a whole lot better myself. ~~ Siempre, ~~~ Jim Killon