Hello everyone,

We will briefly tell tou our little story, why and how we decided to come here, in Peru.

Before, we (Chantal, Aaron & Gil) were living happy and comfortably in the Pyrenees in France.  We wanted to share this happiness with others who did'nt have this chance.  We read a lot of book of Mother Rheresa de Calcuta and she became an exemple for us.

We wanted to devlop a project in France, however, it wasn't possible in our beautiful mountains...we than decided to go to India to offer our services to the poorest people, the children who were suffering.

Than, India, It wasn't possible to stay in the country for more than six (6) months.  The only solution was to pay more to stay longer:  corruption.  Our money was'nt going to be spent the right way...more money for the ones who already have to much.  We left for Nepas were we found the same problem, but there we met a French woman, president of an association in France and we became members.  She loved our project and told us about Peru...

July 200 1, we arrived in Lima.  After eight (8) months, the 5 of March 200 2, we had all our legal papers ready to open our door for the first children...imagine our hapiness, our dream!!

Unfortunatly, the president of the association had a serious desease and coun't help us anymore.  We were here in Peru without association, without help, beliving that God would help us.  We sold our house in France and continued our project with our own money.  After a while, money became rare and we send messages in Europe, asking for help.  Someone from Belgium heard our prier and quickly founded an association...thanks to him, we were than able to cover the basic monthly cost, and the danger of closing the door was passed.

In April 2007 the founder of Casa hogar Los Gorriones, Chantal, her husband Gil and their beloved children learned that Chantal was diagnosed with liver cancer. After so many visits to doctors in Lima, many bouts of chemotherapy and a valiant fight against this horrible disease, there was nothing more that could be done. Chantal had her lasts visit with the cancer specialist this past March and passed away on April 10, 2008. It is with a great sense of sadness that we mourn her loss. She was buried on April 12^th and is now resting in a quaint mountainside cemetery near Ayachucho where she will have a wonderful view from her spot in the shade. Somehow this beautiful, quiet place suits her and we take comfort in knowing this. The Chantal that we will all remember is a remarkable, humble woman filled with character and a heart as big as the entire world. She was born on January 4, 1948 and was not destined to live an ordinary life. For fifteen years she directed a children’s day centre. When she met and married Gil, they moved to Anège where they were swept away by the simplicity of life in the moutains. It was there they had their first child, Aaron. The Ayacucho project actually began in France when Gil and Chantal hungered to adopt children and were blocked by strict French laws which would not allow them to do so. The small family of three then set off for a voyage in India and Nepal to plan their dream of a humanitarian project. With restrictive visas in both countries, they could no longer stay or fulfil their dream in either place. When they met another director of a children’s centre who informed them of the absolute poverty in Peru, Gil and Chantal packed their bags once more. On July 1, 2001, the family arrived in Lima without knowing a word of Spanish or knowing another soul. But as fate would have it, this would be the last time they would pack their bags as they made their way to Ayacucho, Carmen Alto. Making their dream a reality was easy but with undying courage they succeeded in opening Casa hogar Los Gorriones on March 5, 2002. Shortly after, Chantal and Gil legally adopt their first child in Peru; Ruth-Karina, a child found playing in the rubble and severely disabled, blind and mute, the child Chantal called her little “choupinette”.  This began their life-long journey to fill their world with more children who hungered for the love Gil and Chantal were so eager to give. Even in the throws of her illness and weak with sheer exhaustion, Chantal would not leave her children. Since its opening six years ago, la Casa has seen many people pass through its doors. For all those who have entered la Casa, Chantal will certainly stay forever etched in our hearts. We must never forget la Casa and show Chantal that we will continue her generous mission. We hope others will also answer the call to help. An example of what it means to truly “give of oneself”, Chantal taught us all a valuable lesson. If we were to give even 10 percent of our time to others, perhaps the world truly would become a different, happier place. Today, our wish for Chantal is that she may rest in peace and our prayer for la Casa is for the courage to continue, especially Gil, Chantal’s true life partner, Aaron and Ruth-Karine and all their children.  In her own words, Chantal would remind us “SIN AMOR NASA SOY” – without love, I am nothing.