september 2010

September 2010

news from perunews from peru

“Thanks to the boarding school my Karina knows how to crotchet and I am happy with this because I do not have time to teach her rural skills”

“My daughters have more respect now, before they were disrespectful”

“I have two daughters who are in Lima, one is already a single mother. I am going to do everything I can so that Flor de Maria can carry on studying in the boarding school”

“Our daughters teach the other girls the new knitting skills that they learn”

“Roxana didn’t use to greet people in the community, now she isn’t so shy”

“Ubaldina was very shy and she didn’t want to do anything, but since the beginning of the boarding school she has become a lot more confident and hard-working”

“Heidy has got so much better in her studies”

“I am so happy that Monica is being taught traditions and rural skills, that is great”

september 2010

September 2010

On Wednesday and Thursday, we took advantage of the holiday time to visit the girls and their parents in their houses. This gave us the opportunity to talk in more depth with the parents and to seek their feedback, advice and suggestions. Although, sad at times, given some girls’ family circumstances, it was a very positive two days. The majority of the parents are really happy with their daughters’ progress and with the boarding school in general. Below are just some of the things they said:

Wednesday 3rd & Thursday 4th August - visiting the girls and their families

The parents showed their immense generosity and it soon turned into a culinary tour of Ccorca!

Monica and her parents Rosario’s family with Jovita and Rocio

The parents showed their immense generosity and it soon turned into a culinary tour of Ccorca!

news from perunews from peru

Thursday 19st August - a donation from LuisOn Thursday, we were at the bus-stop in Ccorca, waiting for a taxi to get back to Cusco, when the mayor

approached us with another man, called Luis. Luis is from Ccorca but he moved to Lima 30 years ago, where he made a fair bit of money. He came back to Ccorca 2 years ago, fulfilling his mother’s dieing wish; to be

buried in Ccorca. It was then that he came to visit the boarding school project and was really impressed with what we were doing for the district’s children. So impressed that he wanted to offer his support, and today he

told us the news that he had decided to donate to us an amazing piece of land, measuring 1280m2. It is situated in a beautiful setting near to the main community and the other two boarding schools. This donation

represents a huge first step towards a boys boarding house! Thank you Luis.

August - September - Rupert and Tom accompany us

Tom and Rupert have been volunteering with Amantani during their Erasmus year from Bristol University. They have both been working with the income generation schemes within the boarding school, as well as planning new ventures such as the eco-lodge. They have also being willing to lend a helping hand in a huge variey of jobs, from painting to teaching. They have certainly left a lasting impression on the organization. Amongst other things, they managed to set-up a smooth running postcards business, which now sees our postcards being sold in 8 different shops around the centre of Cusco. Thanks Tom and Rupert.

3rd September - Eli and Marleni start a new courseThis August, teachers Eli and Marleni started a new course in the Steiner-Waldorf education, an approach that gives more attention to the emotional and spiritual development of the child. The Steiner-Waldorf curriculum is

designed to work in harmony with a child’s development and has so much in common with the Andean culture’s own education. After 3 years, our teachers will be qualified Steiner-Waldorf teachers and they will be

able to bring this perspective to their work in the boarding school.

Meet the girlsMeet the girls

Flor de Maria14 years old6th grade (primary)Community: Rumaray1 hour from school

Margaret11 years old5th grade (primary)Community: CcorcaSister of Betsy

Luz Marina14 years old2th grade (2ndary)Community: Chanca4 hours from school

Reynalda15 years old1st grade (2ndary)Community: Coyac2 hours from school

Carmen11 years old4th grade (primary)Community: Tamborpuqio2 hours from school

Maria Marleni10 years old3rd grade (primary)Community: Tamborpuqio2 hours from school

Betsy13 years old6th grade (primary)Community: CcorcaBetsy previously worked as a house-maid in Cusco

Veronica13 years old6th grade (primary)Community: Coyac2 hours from school

Doris Sofia13 years old6th grade (primary)Community: Coyac2 hours from school

Lucia Angelica16 years old3rd grade (2ndary)Community: Carhuis3.5 hours from school

Ruth Karina10 years old4th grade (primary)Community: Coyac2 hours from school

Roxana11 years old6th grade (primary)Community: Tamborpuqio2 hours from school

What are the biggest problems in Ccorca?

The biggest problems are alcoholism and as a consequence of this; domestic violence. There is also the occasional theft of livestock by people outside the community.

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Do you think the people are happier in Ccorca or in Cusco?

It depends on the economic and social situcacion of the people. In Ccorca, they do not have the same danger as in the city but they also do not have the education on offer in Cusco. In the city, they run the risk of being assaulted or raped but the also have more opportunities of work and study.

What are the biggest problems in Independencia (the district in Cusco where the people from Ccorca go to live)?

In the same way, there is alcoholism, domestic violence but there is also common crime such as house-theft, mugging. There is also homelessness.

What are the dangers for a girl coming to the city with the hope of studying?

The danger of rape and mugging as well as the risk of being tricked into working

Meet local policeman Richard tumayMeet local policeman richard tumay

Above the girls are measuring the area of our potato field as part of their

applied mathematics class.

This week, Flor de Maria’s mum has come in to teach traditional weaving

The girls prepare the field for the sowing of the potatoes.

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