Today I had a really informative conversation with the obstetrician from the health post in regards to some of the issues facing the youth of Poroto. As I’ve mentioned before, teen pregnancy is a huge issue here in the town, so the obstetrician was able to offer really valuable insight into this trend. So far this year there have been 16 teen pregnancies of the 52 pregnancies total, which reflects about 31% of the total pregnancies. Several of these adolescents are only 15 years old, which just breaks my heart. There are several girls around town who are clearly very young and have one or more children. For example, I was playing volleyball with a group of girls last night and one of the girls (who couldn’t have been more than 17 years old) took a break from the game to breastfeed her infant. The number of teen pregnancies is apparently down significantly from last year when there were a total of 48 in the district of Poroto. Although it is obviously an incredibly complex issues with a myriad of influences, the obstetrician attributed lacking education, values, and long-term planning. In an area that often subsists based on the day-to-day production of crops and agricultural success, I can understand why long-term planning isn’t instinctive for the youth of the area. Self-esteem and confidence also seem to be lacking in many youth, which can influence the decision making capability of the young people here. Also, if a young couple gets pregnant, the father often has little interaction with the child and will not take responsibility in its life. This leaves the mother dependent upon herself and her family and as the obstetrician said “many children without last names.” Marriage is becoming less and less common in Peru, especially in areas with high poverty levels, so even couples who have been living together for years with several children are very seldom officially married. I have so much to learn about the specific dynamics of this issue, but I hope I will be able to approach it and have some impact during my two years here.

Hiking with the Jovenes through the Chacras

Later in the evening I went on a hike with a bunch of teenagers from the community; I was expecting to go on a stroll through the fields, but it turned into a pretty epic 3 hour hike. We wondered along the road, stopping at different houses and picking up new friends to join us. We ended up climbing through the fields of pineapple and sugar cane to the top of the mountain. I’m still amazed at the way pineapple grows in long lines along the steep mountain terraces. When we made it to the top they used a giant 15 foot stick to knock a fruit called “guaba” from the trees. This fruit may be the most interesting I’ve seen. It grows on trees and looks like giant pea-pods; when you crack it open it resembles cotton, which you eat, but has giant black seeds that you spit out. The whole process of harvesting and eating the guaba is definitely an experience. The hike was a good way to relax and get to know some of the youth from the community, and also enjoy some beautiful views.