A Vicious Cycle

Abuse in Iquitos is about as common as McDonalds in the US (not to make a joke out of abuse but McDonalds is the most common thing I can think of). It is accepted as a way of life here. And it's all types of abuse: mental abuse, sexual abuse, molestation, physical beatings, any type of abuse there is. The most accepted practice of disciplining a child here is by violently beating them. It's just as common for parents to force their children to work to provide money for the home. Dads and stepdads beat the wives and children, sexually abuse them, give them to other family members or neighbors in exchange for money or food (i.e. sexually trafficking their kids), etc. And the wives and family members stick my the men in court in front of the judge because the men bring in more money than the children do. Also, because they don't always see that there is something wrong with the abuse.

Most of the time, it's how they were raised and so it's the only way of living they know. It's literally a vicious cycle and when does it end? Who does it end with? The kids who are born into this type of atmosphere doesn't always escape it like our girls have. So then they raise their kids in the same way. We're trying our best to prevent this behavior but we can't house every child in Iquitos. (Not to say we're the only ones here who are helping because that would be completely untrue). It just seems like it will never end and that's one of the hardest things to accept, especially after getting to know our girls and seeing there they came from and how they've grown since being at Poppy's House. Unfortunately, this problem is everywhere in the world, this vicious cycle of abuse. Even in the US. The best thing we can do is continue to fight it and hope for the best in the future.

-August 9, 2012