Juana Alarco de Dammert , philanthropist, benefactor of childhood. She was born of an illustrious family, in Lima, on May 27, 1842. She was the daughter of Julián Alarco and Mercedes Espinoza. She attended the school run by Cruz Andrade de Noel and received private lessons in French and music. She married the German merchant Juan Luis Dammert, originally from Hamburg, on December 31, 1861 and traveled with him to France. In the pleasant Parisian atmosphere she devoted herself to reading, while her soul gained an interest in the medical and social assistance of mothers and children. In 1886 she returned to Peru, and she was forced to restore the damage that the Chilean occupation had caused on her estate. That same year she was hurt by the loss of her firstborn son. Thinking to remedy this lack with loving dedication to other mothers and children, she founded the Children's Helping Society in 1894. A year later, moved by the violent disputes between caceristas and pierolistas, she associated with a group of ladies to organize a blood hospital, which was located in the portal of San Agustín. In that place the fallen would find not only the comfort that her physical ailments demanded, but also the affection and gentle attention. When the conflict was over, everyone returned home, but it was then that the helplessness of the children who had been orphaned in that war became clear. Juana Alarco de Dammert immediately promoted a movement of social solidarity in favor of such children, founding the Maternal School in 1896, supported and promoted by the Children's Assistance Society . About fifty infants were housed there, where they received food and education. As an annex, a free medical care office was installed.
From that moment Mrs. Dammert was consecrated as the mother of all unfortunate children. Not limiting herself to receiving the little ones at school, she extended her protection to all kinds of troubled homes. she On October 21, 1900 she held the first charity kermesse to obtain funds for social work . At that time the Public Welfare donated a farm to establish a maternity cradle, which was founded in 1902 to care for the children of working mothers. This crib or nursery has served as a noble example and paradigm to overcome the old foundling house; There was no shortage of modern sterilizers, disinfection stoves, a sanatorium, gardens, bathrooms, joy, contemplation and much love. Her spirit, always vigilant for the welfare of the children, made her promote the creation of children's climatic schools and the distribution of milk in national schools; she promoted the sending of poor children to the beaches or other places conducive to recreation. When the silver jubilee of the Children's Assistance Society was celebrated in 1919, public recognition was given to the task performed by this lady and, three years later, the municipality of Lima inaugurated a statue of her in a public square that today bears his name, as a testimony of his charitable work for Peruvian children .
Let us remember, finally, that Juana Alarco de Dammert was the main manager of the founding of the Children's Hospital, inaugurated in 1927. Due to her constant work helping Peruvian children, which she continued even in old age, she is known as "the children's grandmother." she died on August 2, 1932 in Lima, at the age of ninety .