Photographers Without Borders | Arequipa, Peru 2017
MOTHERS AT THE HEART OF CHANGE
Helping Overcome Obstacles Peru (H.O.O.P) empowers mothers through education to strengthen families and transform communities in Arequipa, Peru.
Celestina, H.O.O.P. member since 2013: “[Us moms] are learning about things that we didn’t know before, about rights we didn’t know we had.”
Celestina's Story by Teresa Schwarz, HOOP Co-founder and Claire Naughton, Volunteer
Celestina is a pillar of the HOOP community. A member since 2013, her kindness and strength exemplify a life both literally and metaphorically scarred by experience. However, Celestina’s resilience is not unique to her; it is representative of all the HOOP women. Machismo culture, which sometimes manifests itself in the verbal and physical mistreatment of women, continues to run deep in Peru, particularly in Celestina’s community. To combat this, HOOP implemented psychological, economic, and health workshops geared towards educating and supporting the moms. For Celestina, their addition has been critical to both her personal development as well as to the moms’ sense of community: “I see that the moms have a different mindset now and that things are changing.”
Helping Overcome Obstacles Peru (H.O.O.P.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in the Flora Tristan community of Arequipa, Peru, through education, health, and social programs. Founded in 2012, H.O.O.P. provides English classes, homework support, and computer courses for children and adults, while also offering health, nutrition, hygiene, and financial literacy workshops for mothers. Its initiatives include social care programs that build confidence and strengthen social skills, as well as housing improvements through the Vida Digna program and environmental awareness through Flora Circular. By combining education, family support, social care, and sustainable home and waste management, H.O.O.P. empowers families to overcome poverty, gain skills, and create lasting change in their community, with the ultimate goal of achieving self-sufficiency so they can thrive independently and with dignity.
Field Notes
In 2017, as a member of Photographers Without Borders, Canada, I spent 14 days documenting H.O.O.P.’s work in the Flora Tristan community, located on the outskirts of Arequipa. Immersed in the NGO’s daily activities, I observed and listened closely to the team, learning not only about their programs but also their hopes for the future.
This collaboration allowed me to contribute conceptually by suggesting environmental portraits of mothers in their homes to give donors a more intimate view of their lives and challenges, strengthening H.O.O.P.’s Global Giving campaign.
Adapting to bumpy bus rides, unpredictable schedules, and varied home environments, I approached each moment with flexibility and professional integrity, balancing participation with observation to respect the subjects and preserve the authenticity of their stories.
The measurable impact was tangible: $14,959 raised from 217 donors. The portfolio of images continues to help H.O.O.P. tell its story and empower its community, showing how documentary photography can meaningfully support both storytelling and social impact.
