Chocolatada, Manchay
A Christmas celebration for the children of the Andes
150+
children
11
volunteers
3
vehicles
1
unforgettable party
An initiative born from the ground up
It all started from a simple conviction: Christmas should never be a luxury. Rather than waiting for grants, we chose to mobilize our circle of friends, families, and loved ones around an online crowdfunding campaign.
Person by person, euro by euro, trust was built. Thanks to that collective generosity, we were able to buy gifts for more than 150 children and imagine much more than a distribution: a real Christmas party, with music, costumes, games, and a show where Santa Claus would come in person to delight the youngest.
The journey to Manchay
Reaching the upper area of Manchay, on the outskirts of Lima, feels like an expedition. The land is arid, almost desert-like; basic services are lacking, and from 6 p.m. darkness falls: not a streetlight, not a landmark. To transport the gifts, three vehicles lent by volunteers hit the road.
More than an hour and a half of travel on roads that test your nerves. We were 11 volunteers: drivers, facilitators, Santa Claus, and those responsible for welcoming the children, organizing the party, and distributing gifts; every role mattered, every gesture carried with care and respect.
Joy, music, and magic
The day began with a football tournament: laughter, self-transcendence, camaraderie. The afternoon turned into a living show. Thiago, one of our volunteers, dressed as an elf, made the children burst into laughter, while Alonso strummed his guitar and launched songs that made mothers, children, and adults dance.
Games, dances, songs: the atmosphere was joyful, inclusive, almost suspended in time. Then came the long-awaited moment: the arrival of Santa Claus, who distributed gifts with a tenderness that left in every child's heart the memory of a magical day.
« We would like to thank the entire team of volunteers, as well as the generous donors, for making this magical moment possible. »
In pictures
