Abbreviation LAFF Founder Sarah Oakes | Formation 15 September 2008 Type Charity | |
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The Latin American Foundation for the Future (LAFF) is a charity founded in 2008 with the aim of raising funds in the United Kingdom and internationally to support local children's organisations in Peru. LAFF works with partner organisations in Lima and Cusco in the Peruvian Andes which aim to help children facing poverty, violence and abuse and to assist vulnerable children and young people living and working on the streets. LAFF's activities are focused around education, particularly around vocational training initiatives and formal education support.
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History
LAFF was founded in 2008 by Sarah Oakes after she was struck by the harsh lives of abandoned street and working children in Latin America whilst working as a volunteer in Cusco. Poor education opportunities and a lack of employment drive many poor rural families in the Peruvian Andes towards urban centers in search of work. This trend has led to overcrowding, high unemployment and homelessness in Peru's cities, with many children suffering family violence or forced into employment at a young age to secure food to eat. High numbers of children are taken into care as a result of poverty, rape, violence and abuse. Many more vulnerable children and young people living and working on the streets, with street children in Cusco spending an estimated 12–19 hours on the street per day. LAFF became a UK registered charity on 15 September 2008.
Since 2010 LAFF has focused on designing, implementing and supporting new projects, programs and activities with the purpose of moving toward sustainability and improving the capacity and self-sufficiency of its partner organisations in Peru which work with marginalized children. The organization has offices in both London and Peru.
Volunteering
LAFF has only one full-time employee and relies upon volunteers to continue its work. Since 2012 it has been placing volunteers in Peru as well as in the United Kingdom.