THERE is an opportunity to buy some genuinely different Christmas presents in Tavistock this weekend, sparked by a moving trip experienced by a former Tavistock College student. Whitchurch resident Becky LeSeelleur, 24, is studying to be a teacher at the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth. Eighteen months ago, she spent five weeks working in an orphanage in the Peruvian Andes. The experience made her determined to help the orphanage and the youngsters she met while working for the Colibri Project in Cusco, which runs the orphanage and a drop-in centre for street children. Becky said: ?The orphanage is home to 12 boys, most of whom find themselves there through the most tragic of circumstances. ?But when you meet them, despite all their troubles, you give them something simple like a balloon and you have them giggling and laughing for hours ? they were amazing! ?Likewise, the kids in the drop in centre were fantastic. There are kids as young as three, the younger ones normally accompanied by an older brother or sister, who I would see out on the streets as late as 1am, trying to sell a postcard or polish some Westerner?s shoes as they leave a restaurant.? Becky helped the children by giving them lessons ? one of the youngsters she met, Henry, made a big impression on her. She said: ?He left an abusive home in the jungle when he was seven years old and made his way up to Cusco alone. He was able to stay in a type of dormitory most nights, where for about 10p, young homeless are given a bed from 11pm until 6am or 7am. ?From the age of seven, he made the very grown up decision that he needed an education, so through selling postcards, knitted finger puppets and shining shoes, he struggled to make enough not only to feed himself, but to get everything he needed to go to school.? Henry was 18 when Becky met him ? she said by that time, most of the youngsters he had been in the dormitory with were frequent glue sniffers. Becky said his dream was to go to university, so she and a friend who travelled to Peru with her have set up a group which is sponsoring him through college. ?This links to the whole Colibri Project, as it shows other young street children they do have some hope of changing their future and that dreams can come true,? said Becky. ?Henry now helps out when he can at the Colibri drop in centre and I think he?s an inspiration to many.? To raise money to help Henry, and the Colibri Project, Becky is holding a special stall in Tavistock Pannier Market this Saturday, December 3, selling Peruvian clothes and crafts which have been sent to England by Henry. Becky said: ?The people who come to the stall can buy some really nice typical Peruvian stuff in time for Christmas, and also know the money they pay has firstly paid a fair price to the person who made it, and secondly, that the proceeds will make some young Peruvian children very happy.?
