Peru is a country with an enormous wealth of resources and Peruvians are well-aware of the universal appeal of their land. I think one of Peru’s most substantial opportunities for advancment is the sense of pride among its citizens. You can ask any Peruvian and they will undoubtedly agree that Peru has the best gastronomy, the most inspiring landscapes, the richest history, and the most appealing tourism destinations in the world. Any Peruvian will convince you that cuy and ceviche are the most delicious foods in the world, small school children will happily inform you of the mountain, coast, and jungle destinations in their country and ancianos will brag about the beautiful sites and distinct culture of their communities.
This pride is something that should be harnessed and utilized to support the development and advancement of Peru. This orgullo Peruano is something that could not be otherwise fabricated or externally manufactured, but rather an intrinsic strength that unifies a large and diverse country. Few Peruvians in our small towns have traveled outside of their own regions, but they’re able to share facts and details about the entire country as if they’d seen it all with their own eyes. Prior to visiting Machu Picchu I spoke with many Peruvians in my community and they described in immense detail the diameter of the rocks forming the ruins, the way the sun hits the mountains and clears the morning fog over the town, or how the strength of the Incas is evident in the impressive architecture. Their descriptions and obvious love and pride for their country is enough to make any tourist jump on a plane, but when asked if they’d personally visited this maravilla del mundo, they most often laugh and say of course not.
This Peruvian pride has emerged in many of my work interactions since arriving in Poroto, and is often most evident among youth. When I arrived to my site a year ago, teenagers were the first to offer a tour of their town, proudly highlighting the delicious fruit, green fields, impressive landscapes, and year-round sun. Their love for Poroto was not forced or artificial, but rather a genuine sense of pride in their hometown. As I explored my new home during the first few months, everyone’s favorite questions was, Estas acostumbrando? (Are you adjusting/getting used to life here/ feel at home?). When I responded that yes, in fact I felt quite comfortable and happy here, they always gave me a satisfied, knowing smile, and responded, “Of course- we do have a fabulous climate.”
As I’ve spent my first year here I’ve had countless candid conversations with people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Regardless of education, opportunities, or resources, one thing ties these people together: pride. Although the Peruvians I’ve talked to can identify countless problems, deficiencies, or opportunities for improvement in their communities and country, they almost always finish their dialogues with a comment on the positive attributes of their homes. These people are not delusional; they’re e certainly not blind to the rampant poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and continued exploitation of their resources. However, a certain sense of pride emanates from their conversations and evaluations of their situations, no matter how bleak they may seem to the outside eye.
What is it that breeds this sense of unified pride in their community? In my conversations and observations, I think one of the most significant contributors is a sense of belonging. In Poroto, for example, people can trace their roots back to the founders of the town. Everyone here is someone’s “tio” or “abuelito” or “hijo” by either blood or familiarity. These ties form strong connections between the community and give people a sense of ownership over their town, its history and its future. Additionally, people are connected to the land and the fruits of their labor are quite tangible. Over 90% of my community works in agriculture, spending long hours on their family chacras, carefully tending the crops on which their livelihood depends. The connection between their work and their sustenance is clearly defined, which seems to contributes to the pride in their local environment.
Although Peruvians are proud of their country’s heritage and wealth of resources, their pride doesn’t always translate into action, conservation, or advancement. The vast majority of resources here are exported in the simplest form for extremely low prices to external country markets. These resources are then manufactured to finished products and sold at a substantially higher value, boasting huge economic advantages for the countries importing raw Peruvian goods but very little for the country itself. Often Peru will then import these finished products, spending a great deal of money on products that originated within their own country. Innovation and creativity are traits not inherently enforced in the educational system in Peru, and this deficiency remains evident in the Peruvian economic market. Although people are proud of their country and work hard to produce its resources, very seldom are final goods prepared within the country, depriving Peru of enormous potential economic growth. Instead, foreign markets exploit the natural resources of Peru, provide packaging, marketing, and other finishing touches, and sell these products at huge profit margins.
The question remains; how can this collective pride be harnessed to contribute to the advancement of both the local community and Peru as a nation? I think the answer lies in innovation. Youth of Peru love their country and have strong ties to their local communities, so this enthusiasm and sense of belonging should be utilized to encourage the creative use of their native resources and local products. Infusing the school system with a more interactive, entrepreneurial way of teaching would help students seek creative solutions to existing problems; whether that be how to successfully market a new pineapple product or decrease teen pregnancy rates. The sense of unity among Peruvians should be strengthened to improve coordination between local and national authorities to grant greater autonomy over local decisions and products through decentralization of the national government. If citizens are given ownership over their resources, decisions, education, and future, they are much more likely to take an active interest in the future of their towns. Engaging youth in meaningful opportunities to express their creativity and showcase their talents will improve their self-esteem and open doors for educational and vocational advancement in the future. Instilling a sense of value is integral in the advancement of Peru; value in the local environment and resources, value in the local authorities and governing bodies, and most importantly value in oneself. If this sense of Peruvian pride is harnessed to breed creativity, unity, and innovation among Peruvian youth, I believe the future will be bright.
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