Continued Outreach
More to come!
2014
February
Just outside the village of Pallata is an annual festival that celebrates children. Based on a legendary folktale about a child fairy who played with water, then froze once his secret was revealed, this festival involves children playing with water balloons, squirt guns, and the like. Project Inti put together a large pot of hot chocolate and bread for the children as dusk set and little hands and feet were getting cold. We served about 75 children and the project (including transportation, equipment rental, and some toys to give along with the food and beverage) cost $300 = approximately $4/child. This was a great way for us to make a deeper connection to the families, helping us to lay the groundwork to teach them Leave No Trace principles. Photos coming soon.
July
Typically, winter in the Andes is the dry season and the temperatures don’t necessarily fluctuate. However, this year, they experienced extreme cold temperatures and several children perished from pneumonia. Project Inti brought blankets and bread to about 30-40 families. The project cost $300 total (about $7.50 per family).
October
In October 2014, we began our trek in Patabamba where we met our horseman, Beningno, and shared breakfast with him and his family. What generous people opening up their home to us and sharing roasted cuy (guinea pig), potatoes, and mate de coca tea! Beningno’s family belongs to the Inka Pallay textile co-op and they sell their handmade textiles in the Pisac markets.
From Patabamba, we made the 2-3 hour trek to Siwas, a village of 120 families with about 80 children. Later, we traveled over a 4,000 meter pass (13,100 feet) to end our trek in Lamay (total trek 6 hours). Considered part of the Sacred Valley, this village is situated at 3,700 meters (approximately 12,140 feet). We met women and children along the trek and extended our outreach to them as well. The village of Siwas recently built a school, but it does not contain a high school. Most children attend school until age 12 and then work the family’s farms. Even while attending school, these children are helping to herd the family’s alpacas and sheep. They are far away from medical help and do not have a visiting doctor. They have to travel several hours by foot to get to the nearest clinic (Lamay or Calca).
We brought with us blankets, socks and underwear, vitamins, and toys for the children. Overall, we provided outreach to approximately 50 people and spent about $360 in transportation and goods for this project = approximately $7.20 per person.
These people were the most gracious and polite souls and were such good sports about letting us take their pictures. We received many handshakes of gratitude, receiving many smiles and words of thanks. Many of the children were quick to put their toys into play, even sending a toy truck into action through a trickle of a stream! Photos coming soon.
February
Just outside the village of Pallata is an annual festival that celebrates children. Based on a legendary folktale about a child fairy who played with water, then froze once his secret was revealed, this festival involves children playing with water balloons, squirt guns, and the like. Project Inti put together a large pot of hot chocolate and bread for the children as dusk set and little hands and feet were getting cold. We served about 75 children and the project (including transportation, equipment rental, and some toys to give along with the food and beverage) cost $300 = approximately $4/child. This was a great way for us to make a deeper connection to the families, helping us to lay the groundwork to teach them Leave No Trace principles. Photos coming soon.
July
Typically, winter in the Andes is the dry season and the temperatures don’t necessarily fluctuate. However, this year, they experienced extreme cold temperatures and several children perished from pneumonia. Project Inti brought blankets and bread to about 30-40 families. The project cost $300 total (about $7.50 per family).
October
In October 2014, we began our trek in Patabamba where we met our horseman, Beningno, and shared breakfast with him and his family. What generous people opening up their home to us and sharing roasted cuy (guinea pig), potatoes, and mate de coca tea! Beningno’s family belongs to the Inka Pallay textile co-op and they sell their handmade textiles in the Pisac markets.
From Patabamba, we made the 2-3 hour trek to Siwas, a village of 120 families with about 80 children. Later, we traveled over a 4,000 meter pass (13,100 feet) to end our trek in Lamay (total trek 6 hours). Considered part of the Sacred Valley, this village is situated at 3,700 meters (approximately 12,140 feet). We met women and children along the trek and extended our outreach to them as well. The village of Siwas recently built a school, but it does not contain a high school. Most children attend school until age 12 and then work the family’s farms. Even while attending school, these children are helping to herd the family’s alpacas and sheep. They are far away from medical help and do not have a visiting doctor. They have to travel several hours by foot to get to the nearest clinic (Lamay or Calca).
We brought with us blankets, socks and underwear, vitamins, and toys for the children. Overall, we provided outreach to approximately 50 people and spent about $360 in transportation and goods for this project = approximately $7.20 per person.
These people were the most gracious and polite souls and were such good sports about letting us take their pictures. We received many handshakes of gratitude, receiving many smiles and words of thanks. Many of the children were quick to put their toys into play, even sending a toy truck into action through a trickle of a stream! Photos coming soon.