Luz de Vida (formerly Corazon de Esperanza)

Background Statement

Luz de Vida is non-denominational and was incorporated in Colorado as a non-profit organization in 2010. The organization was started by a dedicated group of men and women who recognized that there was a great need for services and support for women, at-risk youth, and youth emancipating from orphanages in Northern Peru . Luz de Vida first began in 2010 by hiring a Peruvian director, Elizabeth Bernuy, who met with numerous judges, lawyers, social workers, and orphanage directors in Trujillo, Peru to elicit their thoughts about the greatest need in the Trujillo area. The overwhelming consensus was that there was a crucial need for a transitional home and supportive services for youth aging out of orphanage care. During the summer of 2010, our director started meeting with at-risk youths out of her home to provide counseling, Bible studies, and life-skills classes. She also began the long process of obtaining approval in Trujillo to start a transitional home. In June 2011, the transitional home, Hogar Luz de Vida, received authorization in Peru and a large apartment was leased to begin receiving youth. In February 2012, three female youth entered the home with the support of our Peruvian director, live-in tutor, and a part-time social worker and psychologist. The team continued to work with up to ten at-risk youth who continued living outside of the home. Later we were able to purchase land and the first two floors of our building were completed in March 2013 and the third floor was completed by the end of 2015. We now provide services to 9 girls who live in the home and there are 15 youth who are receiving educational scholarships.

In addition to providing youth transitional and development services, our staff also began reaching out to women and children living in a nearby rural communities. With the help of volunteers and missions teams, we began to provide Bible studies, cooking classes, jewelry making classes and knitting classes for the women. The program, Hilos y Semillas, has allowed the women an opportunity to provide a small income for their families. As they continue to sell their hand-made good, their children are also provided classes where God's love and hope is shared.