Health Promoters- Youth Leading Youth

One of the most effective ways to internalize information or truly learn new material is teaching that information to other people. Through our youth health promoters in Poroto, we utilize this idea to facilitate not only the transfer of information, but also the development of leadership practices. The idea of youth health promoters is to train adolescent leaders in important teen-related health issues including teen pregnancy prevention, sex education, drugs and alcohol, and HIV/AIDs prevention. I work with the nurse and other staff from the health post to address these topics during our weekly meetings and the health promoters use this information to plan their own activities and replicas with their peers. The health promoters function as a youth group, facilitating community activities and events, but also transmit this important health information to their peers.

This past month we began health “replicas” with each high school classroom; the health promoters were divided into pairs , chose themes to research, and prepared presentations for their peers. In a survey I administered previously, less than 20% of students indicate they receive adequate health information. When sex-ed or other touchy topics are addressed in schools they often include very limited information or are skimmed over. Teen pregnancy, alcoholism, and other adolescent health issues are extremely prevalent in Poroto, so it’s imperative to distribute health information that will truly impact youth lifestyles. Utilizing peer-to-peer distribution of health knowledge, youth health promoters are able to hone their own leadership skills while serving as role-models for other students. The health promoters have a significant degree of autonomy over their presentations to insure the Information is presented in a way that is relevant and interesting to their fellow students.

Confidence and self-esteem are often lacking among Peruvian youth, but the adolescent health promoters demonstrate a significant degree of self-confidence during these presentations. Not only are they speaking publicly in front of their peers, they are addressing issues that are often considered taboo. Through these sessions a dialogue is being opened about various topics that affect their own personal development, family lives, and future. Together we decided the themes for the replicas, and in addition to the usual (teen pregnancy, STDs/HIV&AIDS, drugs/alcohol, etc) they also chose “love and illusion” which was quite a popular presentation as teenage boys were forced to share their ideas of love with the class. Although there is definitely room for improvement, these initial replicas were a good indication of the growing skills acquired by the youth health promoters. If these kids can stand in front of their peers and confidently talk about sex and other touchy issues, I think they’ll be able to stand up for themselves and their community as leaders.

Feliz Dia de la Mama

I never realized that Mother’s Day was celebrated internationally, but after a year in Peru I shouldn’t be surprised that this holiday also entails an elaborate celebration. Mother’s Day is celebrated on a community level in Poroto, and the teachers and students have been preparing festivities for weeks leading up to the big day. Each classroom prepared a special skit, dance, or sing-a-long to honor their mothers. Intricate costumes, well-rehearsed choreography, and enormous baskets of goodies were all part of the Mother’s Day traditions in Poroto. I attended the show, along with hundreds of other community members and was quite entertained by the performances. The day began with dances from the elementary school students, parading around in ridiculous costumes and dancing to popular Spanish songs. Heartfelt poetry recitations and dramatic prayers were also included in the program. As the high school students began their dances, the show turned PG-13. Girls wore bikini tops and high heels as they shimmied to Reggaeton music and the audience (primarily composed of mothers) looked on, unfazed.

In the spirit of the holiday, my youth groups and I decided to participate in the Mother’s Day celebrations as well. Each group collected canned food and other goodies to fill decorated baskets for mothers in the community. The local government raffles and distributes baskets of food for mothers, but the youth were really excited about providing their very own baskets to include in the celebration.

My health post and I also organized a Mother’s Day event for the pregnant women in our community. We made cake, played music, and the women received free diapers. Peruvians love “palabras” or small speeches for any occasions, so I often find a microphone shoved in my hand at events. Mother’s Day was no exception, so I found myself giving an impromptu speech about the importance of mothers in our lives and the impact they have on our development.

The longer I work in my community the more I realize how important a solid familial structure is. Home life impacts every aspect of a child’s development, and students who have supportive parents are far more likely to succeed than parents who don’t take an active role in their children’s education and social life. Women really are the key to development; an educated woman is far more likely to be able to support her family and make positive choices for her children’s life. Mothers have a huge impact in the health, development, and success of their child, starting even before they are born.

On Mother’s Day I am incredibly grateful for my own mother and the active role she plays in my life. She is strong, loving, selfless, and talented. Growing up with a mom who worked outside the home but made time to hike, do art, ask questions about my thoughts and opinions, go on adventures, and invest in my future made an incredibly huge difference in my life. Happy Mother’s Day!

One Year Post Grad...

One year ago today I was walking across the College of Charleston cistern, wearing a white dress as I shook hands with the dean and clutched my diploma with a smile. During my four years at college Charleston became my second home, and the memories I shared there will stay with me forever. I can remember the flood of emotions running through my body on graduation day. I couldn’t have asked for a better college experience, so saying goodbye to a place that meant so much to me wasn’t easy. The “real world” loomed ahead, and so many uncertainties remained. At this point I knew I would be leaving for Peace Corps in a month, but the concept was still vague and my expectations were hazy. I could have never anticipated the experience that lay ahead; this past year has been filled with so many changes, growth, and new experiences.

Charleston is a beautiful city with so much character and an endless supply of entertainment; beaches, restaurants, music, nightlife, and thousands of people who share similar interests. Although I worked hard and did well, my college experience was a bit of an extended vacation: living in a beautiful historic house, taking weekend beach trips, enjoying friend’s boats, and spending countless hours with my best friends. I can think of few places that contrast more significantly with rural Peru than downtown Charleston. However, in many ways Charleston prepared me for the past year in Peace Corps. In my four years at Charleston I developed my interests and skills, formed meaningful friendships, and most importantly grew confident in myself. As I look back at college and the years before, I can now see the small decisions, relevant conversations, and influential experiences that led me to where I am today.

As I live in a small community without American friends or family, I occasionally find myself longing for the comfort of college and the stability of home. The ability to speak my own language, express myself to people who understand me, and enjoy the basic amenities of America sometimes seem appealing. However, these occasional moments are far outweighed by the new and exciting experiences I’ve had over the past year. The challenges have made me appreciate the little things in life and the successes have allowed me to gain confidence, and the highs and lows have allowed me to grow and change in a positive way. This year has been full of changes and transitions, but it has also been full of new experiences, exciting opportunities, and meaningful relationships. As I walked across the stage on graduation day, I didn’t know what this year would hold. Now, although I’m completely immersed in my Peace Corps experience, I still don’t know what the upcoming year will bring. However, this past year has taught me to take one day at a time, be patient, take risks, and embrace every opportunity and experience.

Mirador Cleanup & Festival de la Cruz

A little kid finishes a candy bar. What do they do with it? Throw it on the ground. An adult finishes a soda. What do they do with it? Throw it on the ground. I have encountered very few people here in Peru who have acquired the habit of disposing garbage properly. Even in the most beautiful places trash is strewn haphazardly in the streets and rivers. Seeing someone throw garbage out the window, on the ground, or in the river strikes a nerve with all Peace Corps volunteers I know.

The question is: what can we do about it?

Telling someone to throw their garbage in a trashcan seems like a simple enough task; however, this basic habit requires several other key components. First of all, a trashcan would be nice. Personally I have found myself clutching a sticky popsicle wrapper for an entire morning, never passing a garbage can. I don’t believe Poroto has a single garbage can in a public location. Access is clearly a problem: we’re working on this issue now with the mayor.

Recently the youth group I work with and I decided to help spruce up the town’s mirador, which is the lookout point at the top of Poroto. The youth wrote official documents requesting paint and brushes, garbage bags, and other supplies. The mayor agreed, and we launched a three day clean-up activity in preparation for the “Festival de la Cruz” which is a town party located at the mirador. After several hours of picking up broken bottles, plastic cups, and snack wrappers I believe all the youth agreed on the importance of proper garbage disposal. This is a small step to address a large problem, but if young people learn the value of caring for their local environment this knowledge will be transmitted through their peers and impact the community.

The “Festival de la Cruz” was celebrated with a fresh coat of paint and a garbage-free atmosphere. True to most Peruvian celebrations, religion and heavy drinking were closely intertwined. The event began in the afternoon with a church service and the distribution of huge quantities of food- including a new plate, patasca, which is essentially boiled corn with animal insides. Not my favorite dish, but I’m becoming quite used to anything. The celebration was accompanied by a large band, who played music throughout the evening as I was shuffled between dance partners. The night continued with a procession through the town and a Castillo of fireworks before I escaped and the partying continued.

The Adventures of Semana Santa

Semana Santa, or the Holy Week of Easter, is an important holiday in Peru and we are given vacation days to enjoy the festivities in a location of our choosing. After considering various options, I decided to go to Ayacucho, a mountainous city in the Andes, which is known for its incredible Semana Santa celebrations. The bus ride from Lima to Ayacucho was about 10 hours, and the trip was beautiful. When we woke up on the bus we could see all the greenery, mountains, valleys, and scenic overlooks. The city is larger than I expected, and the high mountainous roads on which we arrived afforded an impressive view of the city below, with red-tiled roofs and countless church steeples enclosed surrounded by the Ayacucho is isolated deep in the mountains, and wasn’t accessible by paved roads until 1999. It was the site of some of the most intense terrorism in the 1980s by the terrorist organization Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path). During this era of horror and confusion, this group committed atrocities in some of the most remote regions of Peru, contributing to a continued legacy of fear and mistrust. However, Ayacucho appears to be recovering remarkably well from this scarred past, and was recently rated one of the top 10 come-back cities in the world.

Ayacucho hosts more than 33 churches within the city boundaries, and each church is unique and nestled in its own corner of the city, often accompanied by a small plaza. We spent Thursday wondering around the city, enjoying the Plaza de Armas as we soaked up the sunshine, blue skies, and incredible weather. Artesania and street food line most corners of Ayacucho, and I quickly found one of my favorite parts of the city; women in traditional dress preparing “queso helado.” These women prepare a sweet, frozen, milky, nutty/cinnamon icecream by swirling their concoction in large metal pots in a bath of ice water. The result is delicious, and I think I had at least 6 during my stay in the city. The city was beautiful, and our hostel had a rooftop terrace that was perfect to relax, drink a cup of coffee, and enjoy the sites below.

Peace Corps volunteers tend to congregate in large groups, which provides certain benefits for transportation and site-seeing. On Friday we decided to rent our own personal combi to do some exploring outside of Ayacucho. The first stop on our self-guided adventure was a famous battlefield, which was marked by a large white monument and surrounded by rolling green hills. We browsed the artesan market and sampled various typical Ayacucho dishes. My favorite was puka picante, a mixture of potatoes and other unidentified objects covered in a red peanut sauce, which was a different flavor than anything else I typically eat here. We also snacked on choclo y queso (enormous corn on the cob with fresh cheese and spicy salsa) as women and children in traditional dress chatted and giggled in Quechua as they observed our large mass of gringos. After wondering around the battlefield, we hiked up to a waterfall, which provided some beautiful views and a brief shower under the mist.

We continued on to Wari, the site of Pre-Incan ruins located outside of Ayacucho. Although I can appreciate the historic value of ruins, we were pretty tired at this point, so instead of focusing on a guided tour we decided to create our own history lesson for the archaeological site. My favorite part (which is not a fabrication of our own sun-induced silliness) was learning about small bugs that inhabit the cactuses in area. When squished, they produce a deep red dye that is used for everything from lipstick to red Gatorade. The cactuses also produce a delicious deep orange/pink fruit called tuna, which we consumed in large quantities during our visit.

On Friday evening the plaza was buzzing with people recognizing the traditions of Good Friday. The events began with artistic demonstrations called “alfombras” or carpets, which were enormous paintings constructed on the street. These paintings were composed entirely of colored saw-dust, spices, flower petals, glitter, and other fine particles formed to create intricate designs on a massive scale. The size and detail was incredible; the artists were able to capture expression and accuracy using tiny particles on a huge canvas. More amazingly, after hours of focused work, these paintings would serve as the “red carpet” of sorts for the Good Friday procession. As the night continued the plaza slowly became illuminated by candles and the procession began, led by pallbearers carrying a glass casket with a life-size Christ figure. Faithful devotees and choirs followed in a long march along the streets of the plaza, trampling the alfombra artwork.

Each corner balcony was filled with musical groups who serenaded the participants from above. Thousands flooded the center of Ayacucho to participate in this somber candlelit procession in recognition of Christ’s death.

The festivities continued on Saturday with a “running of the bulls” through the plaza and main city streets. Thousands gathered in the plaza awaiting this event, and several of our friends bravely donned their sneakers and were ready to run with bulls. After waiting through several false alarms and watching countless horses go by, a bull finally emerged. However, the bull was far from ferocious; small, scrawny, and tied with a rope, the threat from the running of the bulls was minimal. Intermittent horse parades and the occasional bull continued through the morning as spectators dressed in red paraphernalia continued to swarm the city center. I think the tame version of running of the bulls contributed to the crowd’s desire to create their own excitement, and before long a full on party had began in the plaza. Human towers formed and bodies were being thrown in the air from every direction. Initially we were mere spectators, but before long we decided to partake in the fun. Demonstrating incredible team work and agility, we formed a solid 3 tier human tour in no time and quickly became the center of attention. Not satisfied with our initial success, we decided to aim for a 4 tier human tower, and after several tries, careful planning, and a few falls we were ultimately successful. Basket tosses and human-throwing was our next endeavor, and we successfully launched each other in the air, high above the enthused crowd.

Later in the afternoon we visited the mirador (lookout) located on a high point in the outskirts of the city. Thousands of people were also congregated in this area, enjoying the views and the artisan fair set up for the weekend. We made our way through the crowd, stopping frequently to sample a different selection of street food or browse the items for sale. Although Ayacucho generates substantial tourism for Semana Santa, this area of the city appeared to be almost entirely local visitors.

Although the day was already filled with activity, the real festivities had yet to begin. Around 10:30pm a fireworks show began and continued for over an hour. It was undoubtedly the most impressive fireworks show I have ever seen; the light filled the sky and covered the plaza in descending sparks. Each time we thought the finale had began, the show continued. Following the initial fireworks we joined the party in the plaza and enjoyed my favorite part of Peruvian festivities, castillos. Castillos are enormous bamboo towers constructed with fireworks. During the height of the fiesta the Castillo is lit and acts as its own “one-man show” because each level of fireworks is connected, so when one section burns out it incites the following section, providing an incredible show of waterfalls of sparks, whirling pinwheels, shooting firecrackers. As you can imagine this is a huge fire hazard, especially when people are congregated only feet away from these shooting sparks. Also, every time you think the Castillo has finished with its tricks, it manages to surprise you with one more deafening crack and boom and shoot more sparks into the unsuspecting crowd.

The castillos were accompanied by intermittent series of fireworks until 4am when the crowd assembled in front of the church for Easter mass. The iconic image of Ayacucho’s epic Semana Santa event is an enormous white float, lined with lights and candles where the resurrected Jesus sits on top. This float begins its journey in the church, and as the sun rises on Easter Sunday, 300 men carry Jesus on his extravagant throne out of the church and into the plaza. We arrived early and were located close to the exit of the church. The crowd was so tight we could literally stand up without supporting any part of our body. As the first rays of sun emerged above the mountains in the distance, the float exited the streets, officially celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. We narrowly escaped being trampled as we were carried by the enormous mass of people struggling to create a path. The entire experience was breathtaking; it was unlike any Easter I’ve experienced, and something I’ll always remember.

Following a brief nap, we loaded up on delicious Ayacucho treats and piled in a rented combi to Pisco. The 6 hour ride was one continually winding road through the beautiful green mountains until we arrived on the desert coast of Pisco. The city of Pisco was struck by a severe earthquake in 2007, and its effects are still incredibly evident in the city; the streets are desolate and the damage is obvious. We made our way to Paracas, a beach town just south of Pisco, and enjoyed a relaxing night in this small town, eating ceviche and parihuela (seafood soup) oceanfront.

The following morning we took a boating expedition to Las Islas Bellestas, which is considered the Galapagos Islands of Peru. We happily donned our ridiculous orange lifejackets and began our tour. The first impressive site was a huge candelabra image etched in the sand dunes a few miles off the coast of Paracas. The history of this 420 foot long design remains unclear, but has remained intact for hundreds of years. The boat continued to the islands where literally millions of birds inhabited the rocks and flooded the skyline. Penguins, Peruvian boobies, and other birds frolicked on the barren islands and dipped into the deep blue water. Thousands of sea lions were also found lazily sunning themselves on the rocks. We passed maternity beach, which is home to newly born baby sea-lions as well as enormous males that weigh over 700 pounds.
Following our boat expedition we continued on to explore the Paracas national reserve, which offered beautiful desert views and drastic cliffs overlooking bright blue water. We spent the afternoon exploring the sites at this expansive reserve and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the beach with some pelican friends. []

Getting Busy

Things have been picking up quite rapidly here in Poroto. During the first several months spent at site, I’ve been coordinating with community members and organizations in order to develop programs and projects as well as support existing efforts carried out in Poroto. Without a particular “job,” or “boss,”, work as a Peace Corps volunteer can be difficult. In an effort to ensure I would have a full schedule and various projects, I made various contacts and started plans for various programs. Fortunately, most everything I’ve tried to start have ended up working out, so I have been quite busy. Although I’m extremely glad I’m so involved in the community and able to stay occupied, I do sometimes feel like I’m pulled in a lot of different directions. I’m working with the health post, 3 schools, 2 youth groups, and other community projects, so it can sometimes be difficult to coordinate with each separate organization.

For example, here was today’s schedule…

7:30-9:00- Meeting and formal formation of my recycling and environmental awareness committee. We formed a group of 3 elementary school teachers and 3 high school teachers along with myself to continue with environmental activities at Virgen del Carmen. I’ve been working on an action plan with these teachers, and we’re set to start an extensive recycling project for the entire school. I’ll update you more on this process as it develops!

9:00-10:00- Tutoria hour with Profesora Elizabeth and Third Grade. This week we talked about sexuality and how it is distinct from sex- responsible decision making, expressing your sexuality and individuality, etc. The kids are definitely warming up to me and participating in the sessions in an active way, which is exciting.

Here's the bike ride route to the caserio....

10:30-12:00- English Class in Con-Con Caserio. First of all, this involves a 30 minute uphill bikeride in the extreme heat and sun, so I always arrive a little disheveled, but have no time to pull myself together because as soon as I dismount my bike the choruses of “SENORITA KELSI” begin and I have children attached to my side. I adore the kids in this caserio; they’re smart, well-behaved, interested, and engaged. It’s amazing!

12:45-1:45- Lunch time with my host family. Today it’s pot

atoes (surprise surprise) with lentils. I always enjoy meals with my host family; they’re super-talkative and always joking around about something.

2:00-2:45- Meeting with the Mayor. The youth group and I have been coordinating a clean-up activity for the town’s mirador, so the youth wrote official documents to solicit painting supplies and garbage bags from the municipality. Luckily the mayor contributed these materials, so I went with the president of the youth group to thank the mayor, pick up the supplies, and snap a quick picture.

3:00-5:30- Teen Mom/ Pregnant Women Cooking & Nutrition

Class- This is one of my favorite activities I do, so I always enjoy Friday afternoons. This week we made healthy banana pancakes with oatmeal, cinnamon, and whole grains. It was a lot of fun to see them try to form the pancakes, and I made each woman/girl, no matter how shy, take a turn flipping them. Everyone loved the pancakes and they’re easy to replicate at home, and can be prepared on a pan over firewood, which is how many families cook.

5:45- 6:30 Run- Also one of my favorite parts of the day. There isn’t much variety in terms of running routes, so everyone likes to wave and yell my name as I pass by. I pretty much equate obnoxious dogs and obnoxious men in the same category, so I carry a rock that I wouldn’t hesitate to throw at either. Other than those minor disturbances, I love my evening runs along the sugar cane fields.

6:30-7:30 Purple Corn Gathering- My host mom makes Chicha Morada, a purple corn and pineapple juice, everyday to sell in her kiosk, so today I walked with her and my host sister to a friend’s house to collect this week’s supply of purple corn. The visit always includes some sort of fruit picking along the way and catching up on the town gossip.

8:00- Dinner time. Tea and bread with avocado while watching my favorite classy Peru Telenovela, Al Fondo Hay Sitio.

9:00- Relax, Read, and Goodnight!

We were warned repeatedly by other volunteers through training and our first several months that site can become boring and that activities can be extremely hard to get off the ground. For all those who know me, you know I like to be on the move. I need to have a busy schedule to feel fulfilled and productive, so from day one I’ve tried to immerse myself in my community and get things going. While I’ve definitely seen challenges, I feel blessed to be busy and hope the programs and projects I have started continue to develop. Not all days are this busy, but I thought I'd share some of my most recent activities. Its always an adventure here, I’ll be keeping you all posted!