At the still-young age of 28, Bothell’s Celeste Marion figures she has visited approximately 24 countries. After graduating from Bothell High, she and friends even spent some time backpacking around Europe.

Eventually, in 2004, Marion’s wanderings led her to Peru. Why Peru? The world traveler offers a pretty straight-forward explanation.

“I’d never been there before,” she said.

Now, after having spent nearly four years in the country off and on, Marion has teamed up with a native partner to help found “Manos Unidas,” or “United Hands,” a charitable school for special-education students in Cusco, Peru.

Currently run out of the home of Peruvian teacher Rosa Mercedes Delgado Chavez, United Hands should be moving to its own facility by early next year. Marion has been back home since August working to raise funds to help make that happen.

Having earned a degree in psychology with an emphasis on childhood development from the University of Washington, Marion volunteered to spend some time working with special-education students in what she described as a fairly rural area of Peru. Within two weeks, she was offered a job, and while she admitted to some reservations, she accepted that offer. It was while working in Peru that she met Chavez, and the two eventually teamed up to co-found United Hands.

The school serves students in what Marion described as a fairly large agricultural community of about 300,000 people sitting 11,000 feet up in the south eastern Andes Mountains near the ruins of Machu Picchu.

For now, United Hands offers classes to about 27 children in Chavez’ home. The students are dealing with a variety of developmental challenges, including autism, Down’s Syndrome and cerebral palsy.

According to Marion, Peruvian schools offer help for developmentally challenged children, but that help is a standardized, one-size-fits-all approach.

“They’re not given the opportunity to grow and excel,” Marion said, adding the advantage of United Hands is the one-on-one attention given the students. United Hands’ student-to-teacher ratio also is much lower than at mainstream Peruvian schools, sitting at 4-to-1.

“Everybody who works there has a passion for the kids,” Marion added.

As you might reasonably expect, Marion said there are some huge cultural differences between Bothell and Cusco.

“Until you get used to it, you can’t breathe as well because you’re 11,00 feet up,” Marion said. “I have llamas and donkeys walking past my house everyday down there.”

But more importantly, Marion said many Peruvians have a very different attitude toward special-needs students than is commonly seen in the U.S. Such children are often pitied (along with their families) but not necessarily understood.

“The real challenge is to try and show the parents that growth and change are possible,” Marion said.

Toward that end, the school is only one part of United Hands three-pronged program, one of those programs being an attempt to change the attitude of the locals toward the developmentally challenged.

Marion admits there are times when she longs to come home for good. But she is committed to returning to Peru in January and staying for at least a year to help get the new school off the ground.

In terms of fund-raising, Marion plans an evening of entertainment and a silent auction for Dec. 6 at the Lo-Fi Performance Gallery in Seattle. Tickets will be available at the door.

In the meantime, Marion spends every Sunday at the outdoor market in Fremont selling jewelry and other items created by her Peruvian boyfriend. While hawking items in Seattle, Marion even has been able to find at least one person willing to volunteer some time in Peru. Marion added she’s always open to donations, be they monetary or school items.

Those looking to help can visit the United Hands Web site at www.manosunidasperu.net.