In 1972, during my first visit to Lima, Peru, as a young member of the British Merchant Navy, I found myself in a situation that would shape my life forever. After a rare day off from cargo supervision in the busy port of Callao, I became disoriented as night fell and could not find my way back to my ship, the COTOPAXI. With nothing but a small Spanish phrasebook, I entered a local police station and, using pen and paper, drew a picture of my ship with its name on it. The officers, seeing my predicament, called a taxi, paid the fare, and ensured I returned safely. That act of kindness left an indelible mark, and I vowed to one day pay it forward.
Decades later, in 2010, Meryl and I returned to Peru. The streets of Cusco and Lima were filled with children, mostly girls, spending long hours selling trinkets to survive. One evening, as we were photographing the city, a young girl followed us persistently, explaining that she hadn’t sold enough that day. We offered her a small donation, and the encounter stayed with us. It stirred a deep desire to make a lasting difference in the lives of children facing such hardships.
Back home in Sydney, we decided to sponsor a child in Peru. The child assigned to us was a girl named Blanca, from Cusco. From 2010 onward, we visited her annually, supporting her education and well-being even after World Vision ceased operations in Cusco. With our help, Blanca completed her university studies and became a nurse and midwife—a testament to what consistent support and opportunity can achieve.
During a visit to Cusco in 2018, we met Carmen, a remarkable woman running extra lessons for children in a small, run-down facility at the foot of the Andes. Despite limited resources, she and her husband worked tirelessly to give children a safe space to learn and grow. Seeing their dedication firsthand was an eye-opening experience.
When COVID-19 disrupted the world, Carmen’s lessons stopped, and the building she rented was put up for sale. Over twelve months, we explored ways to help. Eventually, Carmen was offered a block of land, but she and her husband, both unemployed by then, could not afford it. We stepped in to purchase the land, supporting them over three and a half years while they secured a loan. Together, we helped plan and build a new facility—a safe, vibrant space where children could continue to learn and thrive.
During the project, we shared our connection with Dainere’s Rainbow, a Canberra-based charity supporting children with brain cancer, and explained how Dainere’s courage and compassion had inspired us. Carmen and Rogelio, her husband, chose to honour Dainere by dedicating a room in their new facility to her. With permission from Dainere’s parents, the room was named Dainere’s Class, and a plaque was installed, commemorating her bravery, her dedication to education, and her enduring legacy of hope and humanity.
Today, Dainere’s spirit lives on in Cusco. Every time the charity facility opens its doors, children are welcomed into a space inspired by her courage, kindness, and vision for a better world. From Canberra to the Andes—15,000 kilometers away—Dainere’s legacy continues to shape lives, empowering children to learn, grow, and dream.
