Making Miracles Carolyn Canouse ’90 fights to make the lives of young Peruvians better — changing her own life in the process. BY ERIC BUTTERMAN
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t began simply, with Carolyn Canouse ’90 being interested in what her eldest daughter, Casey, was up to on her travels. Casey had gone to Peru a couple of times when she was 15 and came back wanting to go yet again.
Fine by Canouse — but, this time, she was going, too. Taking several short-term mission trips, Canouse found an inspiring Peruvian spirit and, eventually, a chance to help. On one of her trips, she visited San Juan de Lurigancho, the most impoverished of 43 districts throughout Peru’s capital city of Lima. Approximately 40% of San Juan de Lurigancho’s 1 million residents live without lights, drainage and running water. Later, Canouse received a letter about that very area. “An American missionary wrote me about a girl named Basilia, who was aging out of the orphanage and was so smart and wonderful — and needed $3,600 to send her through an institute to get a three-year degree,” Canouse recalled. “They asked about donating it.” Considering the effect such visits had on her, it didn’t take a great deal of soul-searching for Canouse to agree.
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Then, it was two more girls who were aging out of the orphanage. By this time, her husband, Jack, was the one out in front to help. The Canouses had gotten to know the girls while staying at a shelter for abused women and children, where the girls were housed. It was becoming clear to Canouse this wasn’t going to be merely writing a few checks as a way to assist. She was beginning to see where her heart was. Her realization: Without the needed support, the young people of San Juan de Lurigancho had no hope to further their education after high school. Today, Canouse is president of the nonprofit Make a Miracle, founded in March 2015 with the mission of sending students from San Juan de Lurigancho to college (70 students sponsored to date), building houses for those in poverty (60 houses and more on the way), and providing community centers (five of various sizes). As a result, aspirations are closer to being realized. One scholarship recipient, a girl age 17, wants to create her own nonprofit organization “like this one.” A 20-year-old said he was bullied in school; now he’s learning to be a “better person for the community and society.” Without money, a 19-year-old was planning to forgo college and go to work to help his family. He smiled broadly as he talked about his current coursework, which was his “first opportunity to study.” A 21-year-old is studying international business and “following her dreams.” A Peruvian couple sat in their new house and gave thanks after “crying and praying,” and the same for a single mother who was holding her two young daughters. In essence, Make a Miracle has helped to transform an entire region through education, housing and community outreach.
