Nectar in the Garage

So DiscoverHope Fund held the last class for our loan recipients this month just this afternoon: natural juice "nectar" cooking class. We held the class in a garage that held enough space for all who wanted to come. I think it is actually very fitting that today in Austin, DHF is hosting the big event to raise funds for our community center, while our women make juice in a garage. I told the women that the next cooking class we have will be in a real kitchen in our new community center. They thought that cooking in a real kitchen will be a nice change, but as you can see in the picture, the women here are all smiles and didn't complain once about the garage. As a matter of fact they were especially appreciative during class because what they learned today will help them save money in the next couple of weeks. Women want to make homemade nectar juice for their kids lunches for school. School starts next week. They can save money instead of buying juice, they now can make it. The juice we made today was made out of a local fruit called poro poro. Tasty. The women were making a long list of all the fruit juice options they could make; mango, apple, peach, passion fruit, guanavana, etc...

So here's a nectar juice toast to future cooking class....in a kitchen instead of a garage!

The other side of Carnival

The carnival chaos is coming to an end today. Thank goodness. I managed to somehow stay dry most of the month and avoid the flying water balloons, but this weekend there was no way to avoid anything. This was the BIG celebration when dancing in the street lasts until the wee hours of the morning. Saturday brave young souls marched in the street for a day of throwing paint and ended the paint fights in all happiness in the central plaza under a rainy sky singing and dancing to carnival tunes. Yesterday the costume parade began. The 5 hour long parade included brilliant and elaborate costumes, more water balloon fights and lots of drinking. I don't know if this is the best mix for a party, but you can't argue with 10's of 1,000's of people all drinking, dancing, and throwing water. Hugo and I participated in every activity with could; prepared my camera in a zip lock plastic bag, put on our rain ponchos and headed to the street. Yesterday we were dancing with the passing bands, the passing people in costumes, all while passing the rum and coke. Just as a band of singing carnival sheep was passing our sidewalk station I reached for my camera in Hugo's vest pocket. I mean, how often do you see grown men dressed as sheep playing the drum, saxophone and flute? My hand searched and searched...nothing. In all the craziness we missed the little thieves that snuck into our group and snuck out with my camera.

Material loss happens. I can deal with that; it is losing a memory that was very specifically chosen to be captured that can't be replaced. I yelled, cried, collapsed. Today is a new day and I am trying to face it with a new heart. But, it is hard. I am using other images that I have from carnival to help me deal with the small material lose I experienced yesterday. I don't have a camera, but I have so many other things. So much more than other random faces I have encountered during carnival. The little girl, not more than 6 years old, selling peanuts on the street - any sale of 25 cents would help her out a great deal, then there was the old woman picking up plastic and glass bottles in the night time rain, leftovers from the drunken youngins' that "know how to celebrate carnival," and finally the guy who rain, shine or paint day, you find him in his wheelchair on the street corner begging for any spare change you might have. Any.

So I wish I could share with you the colorful side of carnival, but I have no physical evidence that I participated in any of the above and I highly doubt the little rascal that took my camera will be kind enough to at least return my memory stick with my pictures. You just have to take my word for it (and/or visit my Flickr page where I still have a ton of pictures from last year).

The moments like these are good reminders of what is important, what isn't, and when to be careful with your "stuff." This too shall pass, and until then I will just have to paint a better picture with words for all of my supporters out there.

A taste of Sewing with Ribbon

Just a little taste of what one of our classes is like. Keep in mind, not all classes are the same, and this is just a taste.

Test, Teacher, Triumph

When a new week starts, I never know what to expect. I have a clean slate when I awake on Monday and by Friday I am exhausted. I know that this too probably happens to most of you who are reading this. However, I believe that in Peru the unexpected factor level rises a notch.

Let´s see, this week....
Paula took her literacy test. All three students from the village bank El Triunfo have taken and passed! their literacy exam. I waited on the side of the road for 1/2 hour on Monday morning for Lorenza's daughter to meet me "where they sell plants" so she could show me Paula's house. We screamed Paula's name as dirty combi's passed us by and dogs came out to warn us of their presence. Paula eventually greeted us and let us into her holey house, where the doors and windows still haven't been put in because there isn't enough money. So the house has holes where the glass and rebar windows and wooden doors would stand and the air, chickens, dogs, and anything else just comes right in. Paula tells me, "I couldn't make it the day of the test, I was so sick, but I knew if you came here I would take the test." I left her house, clutching her test with the biggest sense of triumph there could have been had at that very moment.

I also went on a new teacher rampage the past couple of days. I went knocking on unidentified doors that lined the loud, busy market street in search of a T-shirt stamping teacher. And, I found him. And it turns out he works with my boyfriend's uncle, who reassured me that together the two of them would put together the best T-shirt stamping class ever. Triumph.

I encountered donkeys grazing on the front lawn in front of my house.

We held a sewing with ribbon class this week and the interest was overwhelming. We had bought material and had just enough space for 12 students. I must have turned away at least 10 more women that wanted to come and participate. With a little caring, I explain myself over and over again, next month, come early to sign up for classes, We'll have more room next month. I hear hammers, pounding and lots of other noises as our new, improved and bigger location is getting a facelift next door.

Tomorrow is Thursday, there are still many unknowns to be had before the week is over.

One by One

So the literacy group that I told you about, where only Lorenza took her literacy test, well... another woman took her test on Friday.
One by One.
Lorenza had told me Antonia didn't want to take her test, so I thought, I'll go to her house, give her the first test she took (in which she did very well) and see if she won't change her mind.
She changed her mind. Took her test.
One by One.
It just breaks my heart if a woman that has gone to literacy classes for more than 7 months & decides not to take the 20 minutes to finish the final test and simultaneously the literacy program. And, take that step to receive an official certificate from the Ministry of Education that states loud and clear, "I am literate."
There is still one more woman that hasn't taken the test. Paula.
I will visit her on Monday.
One by One.
That is sometimes the only way to make a difference, reach a women, do what I came to do. It is more work, more travel, more energy. But, in the end if that is the way to reach someone, well then I will just have to go with it and make many steps for small changes, One by One.

First class...of Many

Today DiscoverHope held the first class of 2009. Jungle Jewelry. We had 12 women sign up, 11 came. Not bad. On Thursday we will hold the same class with 14 women. We can't offer the class to more than 14 women because they just won't fit in the small work space we got. Women learned how to make rings and bracelets today with painted seeds found in the Peruvian Jungle. It is the hot fashion here on the streets. I hope for the next Buy Day women will use these beads for their jewelry creations as they are very unique and very Peruvian. Jewelry was our most popular class last year and according to the 2008 year end evaluation the jewelry class participants collectively earned almost $800 in jewelry sales. To give you an idea, that is A Lot! of extra money generated considering our women only make a couple of dollars a day.

Last week DHF held a CodeBanco meeting, where representatives from various village banks come together to talk, share and find out what classes are in their future. They prioritized classes that most interest them...
1. Cake/Bakery classes
2. Making Appetizers (it is a hot business here)
3. Pinatas/Accessories for children's parties (also a hot business)
4. T-shirt stamping
5. Business assistance - marketing, sales, general business management
6. Sewing with Ribbon

Last year DHF created more than 300 classes, trainings, workshops for women in village banks. Do stay tuned as we will be creating more classes and opportunities this year for motivated women that want to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Curing the Cold

When you have a cold, everyone has an answer.
My groups this week all seemed to know different miracle cures to the common cold.

Drink warm water. Never drink cold water, especially at night.
Boil onions and drink the onion juice.
Drink Eucalyptus tea.
Stay in bed all day, don't let any cold air touch your body.
Eat garlic.
Eat green soup, and it will help with your parasites too.
Limes. Ceviche is good for you.
Put herbs on your forehead.

These are just a few of the recommendations that I received. I am actually feeling a bit better today. I actually didn't follow the advice of any of my women, but I did listen and take their recommendations with a grain of salt. Maybe next time.

And then there was One

Today I was out in the campo, carrying my cold with me. I think all the Peruvian bacteria and bugs are out to weaken my immune system, but they are not living in me without a fight.

I visited El Triunfo village bank who was due to take their last literacy exam today. The two other literacy groups finished in November last year, but El Triunfo had a number of classes to complete so they worked throughout December and January. We started with 6 women in this group, then downsized to 4 dedicated souls, and then today One. One women took her final exam. There are 2 others that will hopefully take it next week, but they are sick. Really sick. When I rounded the corner to Lorenza's house (the One) I was hopeful to see the whole group. But, my heart dropped when I didn't see a soul. Lorenza came out from behind her plastic tarp that hangs as the kitchen door. Senorita Nora. Paula and Antonia are sick. I have to remind myself that it is OK if only One women in a small group follows through with the literacy program. That is one more woman in Cajamarca that now knows how to read and write. One more educated woman. It is always satisfying to think of an entire group or community that completes a program and raises themselves up. Also, when you think of numbers on the outcome side, One doesn't seem like a whole lot. But, from what I know of Lorenza, she has taken advantage of DHF support like none other. She now helps her children with their homework, she can add and subtract to make perfect ponchos and to assist her in her business money transactions. Join me in congratulating her, not only in being the only one in her village bank that was determined to receive a literacy certificate that says "I am literate," but also for being a strong and steadfast example of what a woman in Peru can do.

Dedication to Dad

A couple of days ago it was my dear Dad's birthday. I call him on skype, but the video button wasn't working, so I just got to hear his voice and wish him well on his new year. Fitting that on his birthday he received the news that he was selected to be in the semi finalist group of Minnesota Teacher of the Year! That is a cool B.day present and much deserved, if you ask me. Whether or not he gains the official title, he has always been an amazing role model, teacher, and father to me. So, happy belated birthday pops. I am rooting for you down here.

This occasion is only one of many of those life events that I miss being in a far away land. I can't fly home, can't give a hug or even have a reliable phone conversation. But, I don't look at it as I give up one thing for another or that I left my MN life behind. I am living my integrity right now, doing what I believe in and following my passion. I feel purpose and inspiration here. If anything, my roots from home taught me to believe in myself and do right in the world. So, although at times while I am in Peru there is tug on my heart that misses the comfort that only family offers, I know it is family that has brought me here and will bring me home again.