Meet the Girls

Having finally managed to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together, we bring to you photos and mini bios of the newest additions to the dormitory! Just as we did in our first year, the girls wrote their own biographies (though somewhat hesitantly), and we translated them as best we could. Of course, as the school year did commence in March, our deepest apologies for having taken an astonishing seven months to get this post out to you all.

Special thanks to Anna Fawcus of the Peruvian Times for the photos and to Elizabeth Levitan for the translations! And to the rest of you, thank you for your patience, and do enjoy meeting our second class of students!

Elizabeth Sueldo Huillca

© Peruvian Times/Anna Fawcus 2011

My name is Elizabeth Sueldo Huillca. I am from the community of Rayan and I am 14 years old. I like to play cards and I like to study science. My favorite food is fried trout and I like to listen to the music of Aguilas de America. I would like to visit Lima. In my free time I help my mother cook.

Anita Cansines Espinoza

© Peruvian Times/Anna Fawcus 2011

My name is Anita Cansines Espinoza. I am from the community of Pilcabamba and I am 15 years old. In my free time I like to wash clothes and study English. I also like roasted chicken, and I like to listen to Huayno music. I would like to visit the United States. When I grow up I would like to study to be a tour guide and a singer.

Maribel Ccasa Carbajal

© Peruvian Times/Anna Fawcus 2011

My name is Maribel Ccasa Carbajal and I am 13 years old. I am from Markuray. I like to play volleyball and to study communication. My favorite food is locro de zapallo. My favorite musician is Marilyn. Some day I would like to visit Cusco.

Vicentina Calizaya Yupanqui

© Peruvian Times/Anna Fawcus 2011

My name is Vicentina Calizaya Yupanqui. I am 13 years old. I am from the community of Ttastayoq. I like to help my mother cook. My favorite food is fish. I like the music of Illari and Sonia Morales. I like to play volleyball, draw and knit scarves. One day I would like to visit Bolivia. My favorite classes are Quechua and ‘Individual & Family’.

Silvia Huanaco Surco

© Peruvian Times/Anna Fawcus 2011

My name is Silvia Huanaco Surco and I am 14 years old. My favorite food is chilcano de ceviche and my favorite music is Macano, or anything reggaeton. When I go home I help my mom cook. I like to play volleyball and soccer. When I graduate from high school I would like to be a singer and dancer. When I am alone, I don’t feel like playing. One day, I would like to visit Bolivia.

Cliset Cuba Piñares

© Peruvian Times/Anna Fawcus 2011

My name is Cliset Cuba Piñares. I am from Ocobamba and I am 13 years old. I like to play volleyball. I would like to study to be an obstetrician or a singer. My favorite foods are ceviche and chilcano. My favorite music is Yobana Jamk’o, I also like reggaeton, salsa and cumbia. I would like to visit Machu Picchu, Chile and the United States. I like to watch soap operas like Escalera al Cielo. When I am alone in my house I like to listen to music.

-Bianca

Blogging from Lima

We’ve been seriously lagging behind in our blogging responsibilities. And for that, I (we) apologize. This lag is in no way owing to a dearth of happenings, stories and advancements. In fact, the relationship has been an inverse one: the busier we are at the dormitory, the less productive we are in the sphere of the blogging world. But enough excuses already! Let’s try to bring you all up to date.

The year has been absolutely phenomenal so far. Our new program director, Elena, hopped on a plane from Ohio to Peru and joined the crew in March. Having worked for a similar project in Nicaragua, her experience, forethought and proactive nature have proven to be a huge asset to the program. Thanks to her, our educational program has advanced greatly (she’s implemented a more targeted tutorial strategy led by several professors and has developed systems to monitor and track the advancement of each student, just to name a few), and with every passing day, we make strides towards our long-term academic objectives. Elena, of course, is quite well spoken, and well written should I add. She promises to give you all an example of her astute abilities via blog… maybe one of these days you will be hear from her directly!

Currently, I myself am in Lima, and though I am thrilled to be in a new environment of contemporary happenings, steady gray skies, family and endless traffic, I would much rather be back in Ollantaytambo with the students of the dormitory. Especially as we find ourselves in a moment replete with activities and happenings.

I am particularly excited for the arrival of the spring (fall for some of you) season that will be marked by the arrival of a slew of long-term volunteers. This September and October alone we will be welcoming volunteers John, Alicia, Ana, Cheryl & Caroline. I would divulge on how these philanthropic individuals will be aiding the dormitory, but I will let suspense build and promise to write about their work and contributions in greater length in the months to come.

One last thing I’d like to mention in this hardly brief, but much needed blog update. You all have not had the chance to be formally introduced to the six new students of the dormitory. Long overdue, indeed, but I promise to have their pictures and individually written bios available in the near to not so distant future!

Thank you all for your continued support and dedication to the program. If you would like to join our newsletter, you can sign up via our website. Also, make sure to keep up with the daily happenings of the dormitory & the state of affairs in Peru via our Facebook & Twitter!

Website: http://sacredvalleyproject.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sacredvalleyproject
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sacredvalleyorg

Wishing everyone a lovely end to the summer (or winter!),

Bianca

Year Two: Inaugurated

On Sunday, 20th of March, the Sacred Valley Project celebrated the start of its' second operational year and inauguration of our new dormitory building. This 2011 school year, with twelve students and twelve families, management will surely be a tricky issue. However, the families and students alike have impressed us with their promptness, dedication and responsibility. Everyone showed up early Sunday morning to pitch in with all the to dos before the start of our inauguration. Furniture was rearranged, our lavish inauguration meal was prepared and some last minute renovations of the new home were completed.

Though not as extravagant as our first year’s opening fete, the day was a veritable success. The young women were calm and helpful, the mothers worked wonderfully together to prepare our lunch, and even the weather cooperated. The clouds cleared, the sun shone through, and we were all left in awe of the spectacular scenery surrounding the dormitory and town of Ollantaytambo.

Helping out in the kitchen, I was given the chance, nay the privilege to learn how to clean and cook the cuyes (guinea pigs), a special treat usually reserved for large celebrations and special events. Though a bit doubtful at first, I soon learned how to season the perfect cuy, and the mother’s of the young women of the dorm now avow that I am ready to meet my husband! Indeed!

In all, the mothers and sisters pitched in to make a delectable meal of cuy, rocoto relleno (hot peppers stuffed with ground beef and vegetables), tallarin al horno (baked pasta with olives) and choclo (good ‘ole corn). The meal was enjoyed by absolutely everyone, even the newer additions to the dormitory (a puppy named Osito and our boisterous watchdog, Doky).

As with all great inaugurations in Peru, chicha was present for the thirsty, plenty of hugs and complimentary words were shared, speeches were made and our stomachs were filled until they nearly burst. The students of the dormitory sang a few songs for those in attendance, and Yesica, one of our second year students even donned a dress and courageously sang a solo for the crowd in attendance. The occasion was merry indeed, and left me on the verge of tears.

Another year to come, and though it will surely entail a slew of work, we have no doubt that with the positive collaboration of the students and their families we will be able to advance and grow!

-Bianca