Maria Zychowicz

Lima, Peru
Studying Spanish
Elelatina School
Fall 2011 IROS Scholarship

My name is Maria Zychowicz. I was born in Chelabinsk, Russia and I have been a missionary for 17 years. In 2008, together with volunteers from USA and Sweden my husband and I established a humanitarian project aimed at helping underprivileged families and children in the poorest areas of metropolitan Lima. In the last three years we distributed thousands of dollars worth of educational resources and materials, apparels, foodstuff, hygienic products, etc. We facilitated medical help (dental care) and presented shows for the children in Social Centers and orphanages. Since the beginning of this year we distributed 500 free educational book/coloring book, 1,000 gifts/toys given to kids, 100 cosmetic packages to mothers, 140 kilos of donated foodstuffs, boxes of clothes and home appliances donated by concerned individuals and companies.

I am very excited to receive the IROS scholarship this year for my Spanish studies. Because of this scholarship, I will able to attend this intensive Spanish course. Thank you so much! For me, being a mother of four wonderful children, homeschooling them, and being actively involved in missionary projects here in Lima, it was like a dream to receive the resources to take this course. Throughout the last year my need to take this language course became very evident. It became almost impossible to continue our missionary work here in Peru without sufficient knowledge of the language. I am trying my very best to learn as I go, but it is a challenge.

So, all that to say, I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity and I am committed to make the very best out of it. Big “thank you” to the Activated Ministries and all the great people who work there for making this dream come true!