Generally, our mission will be to assist in educational activities, engage with the local community, and make a significant contribution to the development of the parish and its community members, with a particular emphasis on aiding the poorest of the poor. Our activities will include visits to isolated communities within the Amazonian rainforest along the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya rivers. Moreover, we will be involved in pastoral work amongst AIDS patients, drug rehabilitation centres, and homeless centres which are run by the parish. 

During our upcoming expedition, our primary project will involve redecorating the first floor of one of the drug rehabilitation centres operated by the parish. This newly acquired house has been converted into a rehabilitation centre, replacing a previously leased building, just across the road, some 30 meters from the parish church. The ground floor has already been redecorated, but the first floor is still in the original state.

The drug problem in Iquitos is severe, affecting nearly every family. The combination of low employment rates and easy access to drugs exacerbates the issue. Increasingly, the parish is approached by younger individuals, some as young as 12 years, and their families seeking rehabilitation services.

The parish’s rehabilitation programme, “Talita Kumi,” takes its name from Jesus’s words in Mark 5:41, meaning “Little girl, get up!” This encapsulates the programme’s mission: to help individuals overcome addiction and to get back up on their own two feet. The first step in this arduous journey is restoring the dignity that addiction has stripped away. Providing clean, well-maintained facilities is crucial in this process. Our team will work diligently to create a dignified environment that supports recovery and fosters hope.

Join us in our efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of those struggling with addiction in Iquitos. Together, we can help restore dignity and provide a pathway to recovery.