[also available in Spanish]
Madre Admirable, a school in the El Agustino barrio of Lima, Peru, serves 1500 students, aged 5-18. The children, who live in pockets of poverty throughout the northern barrios of the city, find refuge in this oasis of learning.
The mission of Madre Admirable is simple: purposeful education. The school offers children moral values, teaches them a trade, and exposes them to Peruvian cultures through music and dance.
Hermana (Sister) Maria guides El Agustino students toward fulfillment of the mission from her wheelchair. This feisty nun literally fights city hall to keep the streets surrounding her school safe from the gangs, drug dealers, and petty criminals that are common fixtures in the daily lives of the children.
About the “Two Eggs a Week” program, Hermana Maria says “I am happy for the affection you have shown through your help of people you don’t know: our children and adolescents.…I love the idea of ′Two Eggs a Week.′”
Every student educated at Madre Admirable works hard – and not only on school courses. A typical day begins at 3:30 a.m. when most students get up to prepare the food their parents will sell as vendors on streets throughout Lima. The kids kill chickens, pluck feathers, and deep fry the wings, legs, and breasts that will be sold to support their families, most of whom live in poverty.
The children usually finish their familial duties by 5:30 a.m., return home, wash, put on their uniforms and go to school. They attend a full day of classes, participate in afterschool activities, such as dance and art, do their homework, and return home after 8:00 p.m. The daily schedules of these Peruvians would exhaust most American students.
Lunch is served at school. It is the only full meal the children will eat during their 18 hour days. But all too often school lunches do not contain enough protein to help these children – most of whom are malnourished – grow into strong adults. When asked what would most benefit “her kids,” Hermana Maria gives a one word answer, “eggs.”
“Actually,” she says quietly, “two eggs.”
“Two eggs a day?”
“No,” she replies, “two eggs a week.”
She quickly does the math in her head: two eggs a week would cost the school 4500 soles, or about $1500 a school year.
“For eggs?”
“Yes, just two eggs a week to give the children the protein they need for work, study, and play.”

Two eggs a week – that’s 98 cents a day – less than we pay for a bottle of water when working out at the gym, less than a large candy bar or bag of M&Ms for an afternoon snack.

American students in Maryland and New Jersey have listened to Hermana’s modest request. They are developing ideas for projects to raise the money, using the Internet to spread the word. One school in Princeton, New Jersey, has already raised nearly $1500 through student government projects. Another school in Bethesda, Maryland, is selling plastic bracelets, stamped with the motto, “two eggs a week,” and will donate the money to Madre Admirable.
These Americans are learning about the world and practicing global citizenship by helping Peruvian students achieve their dreams – with eggs, just two eggs a week.

If you want to join in this effort, log in to your Facebook account and find the “Two Eggs a Week” group.