Dear Friends,
My newsletter in December
told the story of Benito and family carrying school desks across the Andes to
his faraway home and new school at over 4,500 meters (14,700 feet). It created
an instant reconnection with friends who had previously enjoyed a Magical
Journey to Peru. Thank you for your wonderful response to my request for
donations and your help that enabled us to raise enough money to pay a salary
for a teacher at Benito's new school.
Soon after that newsletter
went out I heard from Kate Majzoub, a student at Harvard Kennedy School of
Government who has been researching and developing curriculum guides for
teachers to use in Andean schools. Kate reminded me that she originally wrote
in 2007 to ask permission to use a part of my book "Pachamama's Children" in a
film she had made in collaboration with Qero communities.
At the time Kate did not know
of Willka T'ika and my friendship with Benito, and I did not 
know her or that
through the making of the film she had connected with Fredy Flores Machacca, a
cousin of Don Benito who grew up in the same Cochomocco community. Kate wrote
that Fredy displayed unusual talents that got him a sponsorship to study
computers and video cameras. In time, Fredy asked Kate to help in the process
of gathering the initial building materials for a school for his community
where he planned to return one day to teach the Qero children. Kate wrote to
tell me she also works with students at Harvard Business School to develop
sustainable direct-trade business for the beautiful weavings you all are
familiar with from Benito's community. Her projects are to help create a steady
source of income for Benito and other members of the community.
It was wonderful to hear that
after my newsletter was sent, Kate had received a grant to cover the salary of
two teachers at the school. Kate and Fredy asked that the Willka T'ika
Children's Fund sponsor a third teacher for the 11-13 year olds. Benito's
son-in-law Ricardo came to tell me last week that a teacher for the older
children, and Fredy, now qualified to teach, were both teaching at the school.
To our faithful donors, the money received to sponsor a teacher will be held in
place until I meet with Kate and Fredy personally and hear how it can best be
used to benefit the school.
Last week, the road to
Chumpepokes and Huama schools were finally cleared of mud that had washed
across the roads by the never-ending rains. On Friday we sent the Winnipeg
group to visit the children and deliver fruit and gifts from our visitors for
the first time this year. Having been cut off for four months, the children
were very excited to receive their Canadian guests.
The reality of crop losses
has yet to set in for the Quechua subsistence farmers who grow crops to survive
each year. While they mostly live in the moment, I cannot do that when I know that
in the coming winter there will be a serious scarcity of food and all the
children living away from towns and cities will go hungry. Already fruits and
vegetable prices have gone sky high in the local markets. At Willka T'ika I
have instructed our gardeners to sacrifice flowers this year and plant
vegetables anywhere there is space. Wherever possible, I am going to be asking
for money to sponsor hot protein meals to feed Benito, Richar, Jessica and
Vicente's school children. A little money goes a long way.
Jessica's late mother Matilde
begged for help to build Kkapackmachay school where Jessica was teaching at the
time. It is so isolated that it took 6 hours by a four-wheel-drive car for Mark
and I to attend the inauguration. I remember how a required 
additional hour's
walk across a pass at 4500 meters elevation almost did me in. I lagged behind
as the welcome committee of young children ran up and down as easily as mountain
goats. But the reward at meeting those children living in the clouds was
something Mark and I never forgot.
When Jessica was promoted to
principal and teacher at Chumpepokes, and her husband Richar achieved a similar
position at Huama school, they were delighted to be able to go home together
each evening to their two children in Urubamba. Jessica begged me to continue
helping Kkapackmachay whose young community untouched by the outside world have
survived and thrived thanks to the monthly food we provide for the children,
and school supplies we send them when possible. The children love to study and
make the most of what they have.
Brilliant blue sunny skies
have blessed us all in the Andes for the past week. Our group from Winnipeg
happily left for Machu Picchu at dawn today. With sighs of relief, the staff
and I felt that everything was almost back to normal. Today Vicente arrived
with a few woven bags made by the mothers. We purchase weavings the parents
make at the price they ask. Then we mark it up to sell in the little store we
run. All proceeds go back into the community, keeping a circle of currency flowing
their way.
I asked Vicente for a full report
on how his one classroom filled with 30 pupils aged 5-13 was doing since the
start of school in March. Delighted to have my full attention, he proceeded to
tell me how much he needed an assistant to train the little ones who are just
four and five years old in basic finger skills so they can hold a pen and be
ready to write when they come to school next year.
Vicente's 
words resonated with
me because just two days ago Benito's grandson Edwin, who has just turned five,
came on his first trip down the Qero mountains to visit us. Edwin's dad
Ricardo, son of the late Alto Misayok Mariano, married Benito's daughter. I
instantly knew and felt happy that Ricardo, who will one day take over from
Benito, and Edwin, who I believe will one day take over from Ricardo, were all
sitting and playing in the sun on the green grass. There is no soft green grass
at Qeros. I took color felt pens and a notebook to let smiling Edwin draw. I told him to choose a color and he went
for purple. But then he looked at me blankly. Ricardo explained that little
Edwin had never held a crayon or pen before. I cupped his little hand and we
drew a stick picture of him, and I wrote his name on it. His smile got even
bigger. When I came back an hour later, he had copied that page over and over
again proudly writing EDWIN.
When Vicente told me he
needed an assistant for the little kids to get those fingers working today, I
melted and said to go ahead and find an assistant. He said he will find one who
will be happy to work for less than half a salary and live in that isolated
community. Loaded with lovely children's books brought by participants in the
first two groups this year, Vicente was all smiles. The books catered exactly
to ages 4-14. With nothing provided to his community by the education
department, the books are greatly appreciated.
The Willka T'ika Children's
Fund will devote this year to food and education. They go hand-in-hand. We will
save the salary for Benito and Fredy's school until I meet Fredy personally and
see how the school is moving along. We will continue to find money to sponsor
Vicente's assistant for the young children of Kkapackmachay.
If anyone is interested to
join our Magical Journey to Machu Picchu program I will be leading with
Gaby, Benito and other wonderful people in July and September this year,
there is space. The weather will be perfect to go into the mountains. If there
is enough interest during those programs, I will offer an "optional" outing to
participants to join a two-day expedition to visit the "school in the clouds"
Kkapackmachay. Participants will
take supplies and work with the children. They
will camp overnight in the little schoolroom. For those of you who are
adventurous, fit, and can handle high altitude, it will be a rare ayni experience,
and photographic and cultural exchange.
I would love others to see
and experience what I always try to share and write about. Please let Michele
in our USA office know of your interest in either the July or September
program, and she can send you the itinerary. Michele can be reached at info@willkatika.com.
Meanwhile, Jessica
desperately needs a wall around her school. Seven computers were stolen out of
the new computer room in December. Jessica and students were devastated at
their loss. We need to secure the property. We will continue to sponsor three
teachers doing such splendid work at Chumpepokes, and continue to send help
from wonderfully generous friends to Huama and wherever else needed in the ever-changing
Andes. As each school year progresses, some needs become more urgent than
others.
I respect and trust the
dedicated principals who are also teachers at Chumpe-Pokes, Huama and Kkapackmachay. Whenever they make a
request to me, I know it is for the benefit of the children who otherwise would
not be educated or survive. I see the exam results of the children. Your money
goes directly to the principals and there is no paid middleman involved. Thank
you for your continued loving interest and support. It is greatly appreciated.
Andean blessings and abrazos,
Carol
(Donations are always welcome and can be made
via www.chakragardens.com)
www.willkatika.com www.chakragardens.com www.magicaljourney.org
