Munay (Love & Beauty): Stories of Life in Peru: A different approach to development

My Peruvian host dad said something to me the other day that really got me thinking about the Peace Corps approach to development and the methods we take to try and make a difference in our communities. A few days ago at the dinner table we were discussing the high cost of school supplies for students here-the new school year in Peru has just started up and each child has a list of things they have to buy. This list of supplies can cost up to $25 per child which is very expensive for Peruvian families living in poverty. I was discussing this problem with my host family and my host dad stated that the Peace Corps should pay for school supplies for poor children. He then went on to say that the Peace Corps does nothing in Huallanca and isn’t making a difference at all because we don’t buy things or give money to poor people…Obviously this was very hurtful to me because it was like he was telling me that all the hard work I’ve done in Huallanca over the past 7 months has been useless but I am trying not to take it personally because Peruvians tend to speak their mind and say things that seem very rude to Americans. And I know he probably isn’t the only person who feels that way. There are many Peruvians who try to get the Peace Corps to pay for things or give out material resources that’s not what the Peace Corps does and it’s not what we are about.

The Peace Corps is not an NGO (Non-Governmental Agency) and in fact we come straight from the US government. Many NGOs go to third world countries with a specific plan and purpose for assisting the area where they are going in some way. They stay for a week or two (sometimes longer of course), build things or give out material items to people living in poverty, take photos, and then they leave. I am not saying this type of service bad or wrong; I have definitely been a part of these kinds of groups and have seen the differences that they can make. I am a social worker and I absolutely believe that every human being deserves basic needs. But the Peace Corps has a very different approach to development. The Peace Corps does not have money or material items to give to people living in poverty. What we do have are people willing to give at least two years of their life, time, and energy to work in various areas of educating locals and be a facilitator of creating social change using local resources at a grassroots level. We form relationships with locals to gain trust and we work alongside of them in hopes to make our work sustainable once we leave after our two years. The kind of work that we do is usually not work that you can see transforming lives overnight-it usually takes months or years until we can see the fruits of our labor. That can be hard because sometimes I feel like I am not making a difference at all in Huallanca. But then I look at all the beautiful relationships and friendships that I have formed with the locals and its them that inspires me to keep going and keep trying to make a difference even if I might not see the fruits of my labor right away.

I may not have money or material possessions to give out to the people in Huallanca, but what I can give is my time, energy, and heart. And I have found that in return, with time, patience and hard earned trust, I get the same from the locals here. They invite me into their lives and share their food with me when they don’t even have enough for themselves, they teach me about their culture and take me in as their own family. The Peace Corps mission is about more than just development; it’s also about cultural exchange and consciousness. It’s about understanding and loving people who live completely different than us, ultimately creating more peace in the world.

“Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common is more important and crucial than what divides us.”

-Sargent Shriver (The first director of the Peace Corps)

Here are some photos of the highlights of my week and why I love my job and where I live:

Lately I have become really close with this family and I love spending time with them. Here we are selling "mazamorra de papa" (in the US it would be known as potato jelly that tastes like vomit). They are trying to raise money for their 12 year old daughter who has cataracts in her eyes and needs surgery.

My precious little Yanelita eating her potato jelly.

Beautiful.

Potatoes galore!!! Welcome to the mountains of Peru where Potatoes is all we eat! Learn to love them or lose a bunch of weight like I have!

I have really been enjoying getting to know different families and spending time with them :)

She is such a beauty!

My kids Yanelita and Meyer

My new wonderful friend Benita, the mom of the family that I have been spending a lot of time with.

They always brighten my day!!

My host family came back from Lima after being gone for two weeks and it´s really great to have the kids around again!!

My baby sister grew a lot while they were in Lima!!

I missed these little ones so much!

My precious Billy!! My mom sent a spiderman pillow case that she made for him and he was very excited about it :)

I started working at the school again this week because classes are back in session and I am so glad! I missed my students!!

I am always enjoying the beauty of where I live. especially while on walks and runs :)

Also always enjoying the cute farm animals everywhere-especially pigs and sheep!

This week I started a support group for girls who recently graduated from highschool in Huallanca but do not have the funds to go to college yet. I had 6 girls show up this week which I was very happy about!! Here we are doing an art project. With this group I plan to do sex edu, self-esteem building, and future planning.