How Mama Clara Norway started:

The Christmas of 2009 became an important event in my life. My son and I, Øystein, went to Peru – a country we had been dreaming of going to for years. First we planned to go to Lima, Arequipa and Cusco, with a trip to Machu Picchu as well. After those places we just didn’t have more plans. But we made such good friends with the people we met in Arequipa and Cusco, that we actually didn’t go anywhere else.

In Cusco we met with Elisabeth Bustamente, which runs a hostel in town. Wanting to help the villages of Sasicancha and Quaran, she had, supported by family and friends, been going to the mountains for four years. We volunteered to come along in the mountains, approximately 5000 meters in the Andes. We didn’t know what we went into at all.

Going there with gifts, shoes, clothes and food, made such an impression on me that I could not forget it. We witnessed so much poverty. Even though the people seemed happy, we will help them improve their lives. I felt ashamed of our lifestyles in west, when I saw the gratitude in the children’s eyes of just the smallest gift. There they where living in such poor houses and many of the smallest didn’t have anything to wear on their feet, standing in the mud. One of the moments that really stuck to my memory, was when I held a one month year old baby, wrapped in a little blanket. In May small children have died of the cold winter.

It was such a hard time when we were empty of our supplies, and children still came running after us. I bursted into tears and thought: “I will return and be better prepared. First we just have to raise some money.”

Christmas Eve the Mama Clara foundation was born. With the name of my mother, the foundation will work to help improve the children lives. Elisabeth Bustamente has the responsibility in Peru, and back home in Norway I am the leader. Elisabeth is trilled of having support from overseas and now the second trip is already planned. It will assure that the children will be prepared for the cold nights and school.

I am really looking forward to go. This time I will be prepared.

Erna