One of the most important tasks we’ll be carrying out during our first 3 months of service is conducting a community diagnostic report. This report seeks to identify the resources, dynamics, trends, and issues occurring within our site. A significant portion of this diagnostic is conducted through informal conversations, attending organization meetings, and living within our new towns. I’ll also be conducting interviews, surveys, and utilizing other tools to compose a report that will help me formulate projects and work plans for the following months. I’ve been attending various meetings, organizations, and schools and I’ve begun to organize some data and observations for my report.

I had a session with the director and teachers from a local school this week and uncovered some of what they identify as pressing issues within their community. As we work with the local population it is important to realize what strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats they encounter in their community and it can be interesting to hear their perception of current issues. It seems like parental support is one of the most significant problems within this school. Parents often don’t place great emphasis on education or school work because the long-term benefits are more difficult to understand. In a district where 90% of the economic revenue is generated through farming, parents often rely on the assistance of their children in the fields. The necessity of immediate help in agriculture often takes precedence over the long term payback of studying and educational advancement. Additionally, many parents do not have high education levels, so even if they support their children’s academic pursuits they are often unable to provide assistance with daily homework or projects. The link between parent involvement and student success seems to be extremely relevant in this community.

Another aspect of the community diagnostic and my future work will be partnering with the local government and programs supported by the municipality. Today was the “Dia de la Alfebetización” or “Literacy Day” in Peru, so I was able to participate in a celebration with the community and representatives from PRONAMA, which is the national literacy program in Peru. Among other things I helped hang balloons, befriended an incredibly precious 90 year old woman, and was spontaneously interviewed on someone’s video camera.