EAST COBB - Tyler Angevine, 29, spent his entire life growing up within the safe confines of east Cobb, where he graduated from Wheeler High School in 1999. Vacation trips to Aruba, Costa Rica and the Bahamas were common. Then he traveled to Chulucanas, Peru; a trip that changed his life.

Chulucanas is a small northern town near the Ecuador border, far from the hustle and bustle of the capital city of Lima. There, Angevine met a group of impoverished school children. Determined to do something, he enlisted help from his family, friends and neighbors in east Cobb, and was able to donate computers, much-needed school supplies, and new bathroom sinks and toilets.

"I don't think I can describe the poverty level. Some of it still haunts me," Angevine said.

"One family we visited lived miles from any village with no roads, water or electricity. This older couple had a son who had cerebral palsy. All day he just laid out on a blanket in the yard. It was really horrible. The nicest clothes the children had were their school uniforms, which they wore with such pride."

The children Angevine met attended the Primary School of Santa Margarita. Many of them were orphans, he said.

Two years ago, Angevine first traveled to the Amazon River region in Peru. In search of adventure, he went to help a family friend who was on a mission to save the Amazon rainforest. He worked there several months helping local farmers plant hardwood and fruit trees. In March 2009, Angevine returned and assisted an archaeologist on digs in Chulucanas.

Dr. Mario and Rosa Juarez help run the Santa Margarita school. Many orphans who attend live with the couple and others in town, said Angevine. Other students are the children of farmers in small, isolated villages. Up to a hundred students, ages 4 to 13, attend the parochial school, he said.

"I fell in love with the children. Each morning I would teach them English with my limited Spanish," Angevine said. "I tried to make it fun. I was such a novelty. Some of them had never seen blue eyes. The children were very disciplined. I got to be the 'fun' teacher. They wanted my approval, something new for me."

"Last December, I knew I wanted to go back and help Mario with the children," Angevine said. "They had never seen computers in the classroom. I knew it was something they all needed, to learn about the world outside Peru."

To raise money for computers and other needed items, Angevine turned to those he knew in east Cobb who could offer to help. Despite the economy and it being the holiday season, more than 30 people rallied behind his cause to raise more than $2,000, said Kristi Angevine, Tyler's sister.

Four computers, three sinks, three toilets, and school supplies that included notebooks, pencils, pens, glue and books were purchased with the money raised, Tyler Angevine said. He said he was amazed at his community's generosity.

"I donated money on behalf of the children of Peru because it was an honorable cause and I knew that my contribution would go to the children and help them in some way, especially for the Christmas holiday," said attorney Bob Susko, 62.

"I have known Tyler for several years and admire his compassion and generosity in helping others," said Tyler's mentor, Iris Bolton, 79. "I have traveled to Peru myself and I know the need, so I wanted to help Tyler help the children."

Barbara Pfleger, a Sope Creek Elementary School teacher who donated said of Tyler Angevine, "It has been an honor to follow his path for bringing hope and unimagined possibilities to school children in Peru."

Two weeks ago, Tyler Angevine returned to Peru. He said he is working to feed the homeless of Cusco, a city of more than 300,000 residents in southeastern Peru. He said he would like to continue raising money for the poor in the South American city.

"My experience with the Peruvians left me confused as to the fairness of life," he said.

"Not that people need material things to be happy, but the necessities of life shouldn't be so difficult. I wish I could have done more. The Peruvians are so generous. Each night a family fed me - ever had guinea pig?"

For anyone interested in helping Tyler Angevine in his efforts to help the people of Peru, he can be contacted at tylerangevine@hotmail.com.