Léon

In Peru 13% of teenage girls (from 15 to 19 years old) are or have been pregnant. This percentage being high doesn't mean that getting pregnant as a teenager is a well accepted fact. Most of these young mothers end up dropping school, being rejected by their family or being seperated from their baby and sent to work.

Mantay is a home founded in 2000 that welcomes teenage mothers and their child. It gives them a new home and family, as well as a safe environment to live, study, educate their child and most importantly terminate their studies. Mantay welcomes up to 40 young mothers or pregnant teenagers and enables them to live an independant life by the age of 19, when they will have to leave the premises with their baby.
 
Additionaly to the normal schoolarship, they learn how to cook, sew, clean, take care of themselves and of their baby. They create souvenirs for tourists passing by Cusco and get a fair salary for their work. That money is safely kept at the bank account they can only access once they leave Mantay, helping them to start their new independant life. 
 
Have a look at their colourful website (english available): http://www.mantay.org
 
How can Leon help? Finance the food for everybody for one week costs 335 US$. In September 2012 Association Leon already supplied for one month food and sent clothes to Mantay for the mothers and the babies. We want more!