A Little Organization called Peru's Challenge

  Peru's Challenge (http://www.peruschallenge.com/) is an organization founded by Australian Jane Gavel and Peruvian Selvy Ugaz. They were in their early 20s when they met and fell in love in Cusco.  At just 22 and 23 years of age, they had a vision of how they could help some of the poorer communities high in the hills above Cusco.

A rare moment - Jane and Selvy  sitting down together at Pumamarca

Their vision has resulted in an organization that has been very successful in working with several communities in the area.  They do not give handouts and they have some very strict rules when they "adopt" a community.  They will work with a community a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 (the community of Pumamarca where we've been working is just heading into it's 6th year and so everyone is in the process of preparing for the new reality of life without the support of Peru's Challenge).

The community decides (with the help of Peru's Challenge) what it needs and how the organization can help.  The community is then in charge of providing some portion (be it materials or labour) of the project with Peru's Challenge supplementing where it makes the most sense.  For example, when we arrived we were told that we would be helping to build a fourth greenhouse up at the school.  As the weeks wore on, however, the greenhouse site remained unchanged.   We soon learned that the community had been unable to make enough adobe bricks that they were meant to provide for the project.  Another meeting was held just last week and everyone decided that indeed a green house was very important and if they could quickly make enough adobe bricks, there may be time before the rainy season really kicks in to build the greenhouse (with the help of the volunteers).

In the picture below notice the site for the new greenhouse on the left and on the right, the most recent greenhouse that had no roof when we arrived. (it does now!!)

We were able to help put the roof back on one of

the greenhouses!

Many of the projects undertaken by Peru's Challenge focus on the schools and the children in the communities. Although this is a starting place, they realized early on that they must support the whole community in order  for the children to thrive.  In the community of Pumamarca, for example, every house now has water and electricity and there are several large greenhouses for blocks of families that not only enable them to provide food for their families but also support their ability to sell food and flowers in the local markets.  Peru's Challenge also employs a social worker who supports the families in their struggles against poverty, alchohol and domestic abuse.  They track the health of the kids and provide medication, vitamins and most recently had all the kids eyesite checked and provided glasses for those who needed them.  In addition, they have started a woman's group (Talleries) that has provided the women in the communities with skills, confidence and the ability to supplement their family income.

The women in the community of
Quilla Huata working on art and
crafts in their weekly Tallaries class.

The results of their work in Tallaries are on display at the
Pumamarca school site where volunteers and tour groups
come up to purchase some items and tour the school.

As you may surmise, I am incredibly impressed by this organization and both Jane and Selvy.  Those of you who know me well know that I am not one to idolize people and I rarely become "star-struck",....  I think I'm in love!  They are down-to-earth, kind, fun and incredibly dedicated individuals who, by the way, are also raising a lovely little boy Tomasito!  Amazing!!

A fellow volunteer and new friend of ours has 2 very detailed and well written postings on her blog if you're interested in more information about Peru's Challenge: 

http://freindinfarplaces.posterous.com/69140246

http://freindinfarplaces.posterous.com/69912164

The grade 1/2 class, with the help of the director of the school, greeted us
with a song on our first visit to Pumamarca.

              

Hello Cusco

One of the side-effects of getting adjusted to the high altitude of Cusco and our new existence as volunteer's with Peru's Challenge is that our blog entries have been a little sporadic.

It has been a very cool week. We got here and almost immediately got impacted by the high altitude and also by a stomach bug that we think Heather picked up in Lima. Almost as soon as we got off the plane we (well, at least Heather and I - apparently kids are immune) started to feel the effects. Thankfully we seem to be somewhat adjusted now.

Once we arrived we were met by the Peru's Challenge team and taken to our home base in Cusco where we met the other volunteers. There are people here from the USA, South Africa, and Sweden, including a two-year old boy.

We received our orientation trip to the community where we will be volunteering on last Friday. It is amazing what the Peru's Challenge team has been able to accomplish here. Our focus will be on doing some teaching and completing construction of the local greenhouses, as well as assisting with the local woman's craft market and even doing some house visits with the local social workers.

Here's a look at the greenhouse (before we started on it) and the school area:

Saturday we had a trip into the centre of Cusco and a visit to the local black market. Unbelievable. Like a giant maze filled with people selling anything. A couple of times Chloe and I had to turn back as we were sure we would lose our bearings if we went deeper in. Here's a sample of movies that were available (note the titles)

Sunday had us horse-riding to explore some Inca ruins in Cusco.

One of the things we learned was the significance of various animals to the Inca people, and how they paid tribute to those creatures in their temples. Here's Chloe at the head of the snake and me at the tail.

We are definately not in Kansas anymore