The little disabled girl looked up through the wires of the chicken coop in which she was caged.

The child's family had offered Suzy Butler, a student travelling through South America in her gap year, food and shelter when she fell ill.

Struck by their kindness, Suzy was horrified to discover the little girl locked up like an animal.

She said: "It really shocked me that this beautiful girl was being treated more like a dog than a human being.

"It wasn't so much abuse - it was more that she was ignored.

"She was never allowed in to family meetings and if, for example, there was ice cream being passed round she would never get offered any.

"I said this to a Peruvian guy I was travelling with but he said that just happened in Peru."

It was a moment which was to shape Suzy's future.

The former pupil of Blatchington Mill School, Hove, was 18 when she visited Peru.

Her experiences inspired her to do something to help children who were abandoned or had special needs.

Following months of fund-raising in Brighton, where she organised parties and street collections, she set up a charity, Kiya Survivors, in 2001.

The Rainbow Centre, near Cusco in Peru, has been built with the help of volunteers and supporters.

Suzy, now 25, has also overseen the construction of Mama Cocha Children's Home in Los Organos.

The charity sends volunteers to Peru and has helped transform the lives of hundreds of children who faced rejection because of their handicaps or learning disabilities.

She said: "I was working for a charity in Brighton and I just thought, 'What am I doing here? My heart's in Peru'.

"I always wanted to travel and help people but I never really thought I would be running a charity myself.

"I have learnt so much since I arrived. I'm a better person, I think.

"We have been concentrating on education but this year we have seen so many illnesses we want to move into that area now."

About 40 children receive a basic education in reading, writing and arithmetic at the Rainbow Centre.

They also take creative classes in art, theatre, ceramics, music and sport.

A physiotherapist and speech therapist work with the children to help them achieve their potential.

Kiya also provides psychological and social services for the children's families.

Its work has been extolled by charities such as Mencap and Oxfam.

Suzy's mother Jan, of Hove Park Villas, Hove, said: "When she started she had threats and people were against it.

"They couldn't understand why she was taking notice of these children.

"Last time they had a carnival in the town the children were actually invited and cheered by people going past. Suzy was thrilled.

"One father made an incredible speech about how he now felt his child was worth something in his own right.

"It's a very hard life. I couldn't do it - all that suffering and squalor.

"She does get a bit lonely sometimes. She has friends out there but it's still a different country and culture.

"I miss having her here and I know she misses her family but she is ensconced there, helping people who just wouldn't have a life otherwise."

Suzy said: "The conditions will always shock me.

"One of our worst cases was last year when we found two children who had been horrifically sexually abused and lived in terrible conditions.

"You can't ever get completely used to that."

Although she is settled in Peru and has been going out with boyfriend Jos for 18 months, Suzy is sometimes swayed by thoughts of home.

She said: "I really miss Brighton, especially when things here get bad.

"I was tempted to come back last year but I'm definitely staying."

To find out more about the charity, log on to www.kiyasurvivors.org To volunteer, or to donate money, call 01273 721092.