We have all been touched by this experience. Everyone has been affected in different ways, but each person has gained something positive from this spectacular trip. What is most important, and one of the things we all realized while being here, is that this was not just a trip where we helped kids. We got an impression of the people we have been helping, and we realized that we need to continue to support these projects. To conclude this blog, we have all written a Statement of Intent, where we mention what we have gained and what we plan to do in the future and when we get back to Denmark.



I gained more from this experience than I could ever have imagined. While at Mama Cocha, I realized how important it is that we sustain the centre and continue to give kids who come from desperate situations a safe and loving home. This is important because we cannot let them return to those conditions now they’ve been given a new life. My goal is to raise awareness for the cause outside the CIS community through presentations, and thereby finding sponsors for Mama Cocha. I have also learned that young people can make a difference, and I want to encourage teenagers to do so.

Helena


For myself, this trip has been a whirlwind of amazing experiences, indescribable emotions, and extraordinary people. I will never be able to fully describe the extent that all of these experiences have touched me as well as how much they have woken me up and realized I can, and will make a change. Everything I have seen throughout this trip has really showed me that there is hope and smiling faces even in the darkest of situations. I cannot wait to get back to Denmark and spread awareness about our cause. Thanks to everyone here, I am as motivated and determined as ever to encourage everyone to take the time and support and understand this amazing cause. It really does change lives.

Madison


Coming to Peru has been an eye-opener for me. Seeing the horrific conditions present in Peru and how harsh the life, which is supposed to be a privilege, is in many places within the borders of Peru are has made me realize that I need to make a change. However, I believe that many more can be motivated to help out as well, and not only within CIS and in my own community, but around the world. I will keep donating money and devote much of my time to spread awareness for Kiya Survivors.

Oliver

During this trip, my loyalty towards Kiya has done nothing but strengthened, as I realized, not only by physically seeing and being able to touch everything we’ve worked towards, but by meeting the children, and talking to them as well. After spending 17 unforgettable days at Peru, I am even more inspired to continue to support Kiya. Back at home, I will strive to make sure to get as many people as involved as possible, and convince people that they can make a change, whatever it is.

Silvia



My first set of feelings when first experiencing the reality of Kiya were guilt and depression. However, Benjamin Ward, the team and the sight of how volunteers such as Alex Sund Nielsen worked with the kids showed me that volunteering isn’t about feeling sad for others other wise you don’t get any work done and helped me channel those feelings into positive energy and inspiration. This showed me that I have the capabilities and opportunities to do great things but I don’t try hard enough so as soon as I get back to Denmark I will work harder on school work and my personal skills.

Achille



Coming to Peru would be an eye opener, I knew that before I came, but to really gaze upon the faces that Kiya aids, wow, what an elixir of feelings. Depression, guilt, a sense of helplessness and then an overpowering feeling of zeal. The important part or experiencing these feelings is that you can make them into a good or a bad thing. If one focuses on the bad emotions, it is hard to escape the sensation of not knowing what to do. However, if you use these feelings to fuel yourself you can really make a change to these children. I will offer continuing, long term support to Kiya Survivor and The Next Explorers in my adult life either through my ideal profession or financial aid through my ideal profession.

Sebastian




Seeing Luis was one of the most harrowing moments of my life. I left Mama Cocha very affected, with a lot of conflicting emotions. But in all these emotions, I find overtones of determination and motivation. A lot of the motivation that I leave Peru with is going to be channelled into humanitarian work, trying to provoke concrete and social change. Whether that means working harder in school to get my grades up to a level where I can put myself into a position of power as an adult, continuing working with TPDK, or using my gap year to work with organizations similar to Kiya, I am determined to do it all with fervent dedication. In the long run and in the short run, indirectly and directly, I'm going to keep striving in my efforts for individuals like Luis.

Philip P



When I return, my goal is to spread awareness. I love children and I could work with them, but my energy is better spent in public relations. Getting my point across is what I’m truly good at. And that is what I am going to do. I’m going to support Mama Cocha by getting others to support it, through awareness and long-term support.

Benjamin VD



This trip has woken me up from the “hibernation” I’ve been in for the past six months. It has made me believe fully in the concept of teenagers being able to make a difference in the world and it has made me want to fight more for the children in Peru. In particular, I want to fight for the children at Mama Cocha since they truly were my greatest source of inspiration. Therefore I intend to support the idea of “The Next Explorers” in any way I can when I get back to Denmark. I also intend to, through various methods, make people understand the way I felt in Peru – as I believe this would persuade people to want to help more than a simple presentation.

Sara




It is so hard to even begin or describe the massive impact this trip has had on me, while the lessons and unforgettable experiences I have had will stay with me, forever. Being at the centers, interacting with the kids, and seeing the physical developments has just been so inspiring, and has motivated me to fight even harder for Team Peru and Kiya Survivors. Seeing some of the horrible conditions in which many of the kids have come from, I have made a sort of list of personal goals and things that I would like to work on when I return to Denmark. Firstly, Spreading awareness about this cause is a number one, but finding a permanent sponsor for the Mama Cocha Center and the Rainbow Center, is one of the things that I will try to work on. Secondly, is to act as a sort of representative for the “Next Explorers” as the voice of a teenager, to show how young people are and can make a difference. Finally, a personal thing that I would like to work on, is to try and personally raise the money to support Alicia every month, to ensure her safety and keep her in Mama Cocha and out of the streets.


Philip S




It cannot be described. It being everything I have experienced on this trip. This trip has been a slap from reality, a wake up call that has made me and the amazing people around me realize that we can make a difference. I therefore intend to keep the bond between the group strong, because together, we can and will make tangible change.


Olivia




This trip has left a massive impact on all of Team Peru, and no one can truly express or reflect upon the emotions we have shared here in a piece of writing. We can however show it in our dedication and devotion towards Team Peru, and what Team Peru stands for. This is why; when I get home I will fight to achieve the personal goals this mindblowing experience brought upon me. I will strive to create a method to gain the communities support at the centers even further, and to work with improving the community so that the children at both centers also feel home, in their home. I will educate myself fully to gain a high power to therefore inforce my impact on the children down here.
 Their weakness is not our weakness but our strength can be their strength. 
From this trip I will of course also try to hold up the unique bond we in Team Peru have had. Never have I been in sucha large group where everyone trusted each other. We worked together, we cried together, and we laughed together. I have learned to care less for actual matter and more for the peace of mind and soul. Materials truly don’t matter aslong as you have good friends and a set of parents, which trust you enough to send you to Peru. This trip has changed my life, but right now all I have left to say is Mom and Dad I hope you’re reading this and I love you both with all my heart, see you tomorrow.


Fred





Peru has opened my eyes and made me more greatful towards my life. My main goal is to get people to understand that giving a little changes a lot and u really want to get people to care as much as we do. I want to show people how powerful Team Peru and Kiya Survivors are and how they better the life’s of children. I want to get more people involved and make them see the state that these children are in and how they are desperate for right-now help and long time support. I really want Team Peru’s family to grow.


Bea



People live in poverty, hunger, and abuse in too many places on our globe. It is unethical to take these people out of this hard and hopeless life just for a period of time to later send them back to where they came from. Sustainability is the only decent way to work with human rights. In this case, special needs children in Peru who are looked upon as God’s Curse. Through Team Peru, I will work to secure the sustainability of Kiya Survivors as it is a safe haven for abandoned Peruvian children.

Charlotte Zeeberg


To provide students the opportunity to learn through doing is, I believe, the most valuable education possible. The highlight of this trip for me has undoubtedly been the 13 Team Peru students: the pride they take in their work, the care and love they have shown the children at Kiya Survivors, the maturity displayed when times got tough and the lengths they have gone to make the impossible possible.
My future as an educator has been shaped forever. My promise to the world is to spend my time and energy to create student led opportunities for students from around the world to work collaboratively on projects that require them to look at themselves and discover the world they live in, to learn through sampling the different perspectives of the billions of people who live in Earth and to be able to see the rewards of their hard work. It will be a long long road.

Daniel Cooper


From reading the previous statements, you can see how powerful the will of young people can be when they want to help and have the opportunity to do so. Therefore, I will dedicate my life to provide a platform for young people to make the change they desire. I will do this by founding “The Next Explorers”: an organization with the mission to develop a dynamic learning community to inspire youth to take positive action towards real, sustainable change in the world. I will travel across the globe spreading the message that young people can make change, whilst giving them the support to see that change become a reality.

Ben Ward

Being at the Rainbow Centre was amazing, touching and very eventful. However, I was star struck when I saw Mama Cocha. It was a mixture of seeing the raw conditions that the centre finds itself in and witnessing the part of Peru that is neglected by its government and the rest of the world. Mama Cocha is an oasis in the midst of all this darkness and that is what struck me. I had taken part in building this centre and through my donations as well as Team Peru’s support, this centre is able to exist and sustain itself.
Oliver Petersen

In the midst of raw reality lies a house, an oasis full of love and laughter. The contrast between the barren streets of Los Organos and the compassionate Mama Cocha house is striking, and can be spotted even with an ignorant eye. Although not forgotten, tramautizing pasts are not to haunt the purity and happiness of this sanctuary.
Olivia

The hardest part of the day was meeting Louis’s mother. To give a bit of context, Louis is a child with Cerebral Palsy who was recently moved into Mama Cocha due to the conglomerate efforts of several of the Team Peru parents. When he moved into the home last week he was 11 years old and he weighed a meagre 12 kilograms. He was on the verge of death. Amazingly he is doing better, but nevertheless had he not been moved into the home last week he would have been dead by now.

But, to my story: On April 1st, I was sitting with Louis and chatting with the surrogate mother: the one overseeing Louis’s recovery. Then the surrogate mother told me that this lady I was sitting next to was Louis’s mother; and I was stunned to silence. I looked at her and made eye contact with the mother for nearly five full seconds. Anger: that was my first thought. I wanted to yell at her. To scream and make her understand what injustice she had done by abandoning her child. To show her she was in the wrong.

But I caught myself. I realized she had no comprehension or awareness of what had been done wrong. To her no social injustice had been committed. And we sat in silence: my head spinning. The world stopped and my heart skipped a beat. I looked down at Louis. Gazed at his frail body and his hollow eyes as he laid there fighting off the Reaper.

Then I looked back up at his mother and managed to choke out, at a barely audible pitch: “Tienes un hijo bonito”. In English: “You have a beautiful son”. The only thing my wasted soul could do after that was stand up and walk out of the room.

How could she do this? Even a mother can be made to forget the pain of her own child with enough ignorance. My only hope is to one day eradicate this ignorance. To make people understand that disabled children are not a curse or part of some Divine Will.

And he is beautiful. I meant it. I can only hope that Louis’s mother will one day come to understand that.

Ben VD

A giant he sits,
paralyzed by ignorance.

Care grabs his small hand,
a testament of Man’s hope.

Soon the cripple moves,
after passing through nightmares.

Now he laughs all day,
Jose Antonio plays.

Seb G

Jose Antonio was discovered three years ago, and has been living at Mama Cocha for two years now. Fighting cerebral palsy, Jose has made stunning improvements. Having started off not being able to move his limbs at all, it was incredible to see him finally be able to feed himself, after intense therapy. His immense achievement was awe-inspiring to everyone at the center.

- Silvia Allikmets

Yesterday, we arrived at Mama Cocha full of energy to work on the painting we had started the day before. We finished painting the walls of the courtyard, which immediately brought life to the place, as it was bare and a bit dull before. It is amazing what a bit of bright-colored paint can do!

After a morning of hard work in the heat, we had a surprise celebration, organized by Suzy, the kids and the staff at the center. They gave us a huge cake that said “Gracias, Team Peru” and handed us certificates for our contribution. We presented them with pictures that the PYP children had drawn, and gifts for the center, such as clothes, stuffed animals and equipment for arts and crafts. We enjoyed the kids’ company and expressed our appreciation towards the staff for putting so much energy and dedication into the center.

When we got back to our amazing beach house, we had a barbeque with Suzy and the Kiya volunteers to celebrate all the effort we have put into Mama Cocha. Although we are very proud of all the work we have put into the center over these past eight months, we are determined to keep supporting this project. In the two days we were at Mama Cocha, we made some amazing connections with the kids and it was incredible to see how we made it possible for them to be happy and have a positive future.

Today, we are processing all our thoughts and experiences of the trip, as there is a lot to take in. It has been an eye-opening experience for everyone.

Bea & Helena

I knew from the moment I first walked through the wooden doors of Mama Cocha that it was truly a special place filled with nothing but love and happiness. Seeing the children as well as their home for the first time was a moment that will stick with me forever. I couldn’t help but smile and stand in awe of everything surrounding me, the children, the staff, the home, my team, and of course all of the smiling faces. Knowing that I myself had personally contributed my time, money, and heart to build this project was an overwhelming feeling that words can never do enough justice. It’s amazing to know that the community back home in Denmark has contributed everything to make this project run and after seeing the outcome and the joy that runs throughout the home, I can never thank anyone enough for anything and everything that they have contributed throughout the existence of Team Peru, So with that, I would simply like to say, thank you for everything.
- Madison

When we visited the Rainbow Center, many of us grew strong bonds towards individual characters. As I entered the center I stumbled upon a kid almost instantaneously, and new I had to “hang” with that guy. His name was Udel the coolest “G eva”. As I left the center to then never return, he gave me a card and told me he would never forget me, and that I would always be in his heart. Well I wish I could see him again, and he will definitely always be in my mind and heart.

- Fred

Mama Cocha is amazing because it is the face of Team Peru! The children’s home was built and painted by Team Peru. And I feel a great connection because we fund for their home. Mama Cocha is filled with a great staff and positivity as well as love and happiness. It was eye-opening for me to see Mama Cocha because it allowed me to see what we’ve been able to accomplish. It allowed us to see the out-come of our hard work and after seeing how amazing the children are, it has inspired me even more to keep supporting Mama Cocha.

Bea

You better check yourself before your wreck yourself.



Lyrics:

I'm here to tell ya bout Kiya Survivors,
Metaphorically fixing broken tires,
The volunteers here are on fire,
But watch your tone, or Nigel will get you fired.

Helping kids with special needs,
Putting up roofs and planting seeds
Don’t impede good deeds
Never stop funding 'till the project succeeds.

Playin' with Fernando at the Rainbow Center
The happiness flows in as soon as you enter
Don’t dissent, uh, from your mentor
Hele Kiya er gode venner.

Lyrics by Marotta
Phat beats by Pfeiffer

The C.I.S community knows Team Peru raises awareness of youth living with terrible disadvantages; it bakes cakes and organizes fundraisers to help provide these children with shelter, food and happiness.
We all know this.
So what don’t we know about Team Peru?

Is’s all about hope.

Team Peru is not an awareness and fundraising project, it’s a young person grooming machine, welcoming in students with big hearts and returning mature young adults with a solid head, aware of the realities of the world and ready for the future.

It has been nothing short of amazing witnessing the strength and composure of these students as the challenges have been laid before them at a rate that would spin the most worldly person’s wheels. There have been sights terribly hard to handle, moments beyond imagination, a language that is not their own, heavy construction in scorching Peruvian conditions, cramped living conditions, and a 4600m mountain to conquer… this to name just a few.

The gem of this program, and what makes it supremely valuable is the way the Team Peru’ers have been led through this with their eyes not on the suffering but on the future. Undoubtedly they are all affected by what they see and experience but they are all encouraged in spectacular style to vocalize their thoughts and emotions, to lean on each other, to visualize themselves in 5,10, 20 or 30 years and ask themselves what should or could be done and how can I help make it happen.

Team Peruers have been given the gift of looking into the future and finding their place, right here right now.

The actions, thoughts, dreams, and intentions these fine C.I.S students spray hope wherever they go and that is what it’s all about.

D.Cooper

Lesley - a beautiful 11 year old girl who lives at the Mama Cocha house, ran right into my arms as i stepped through the doors of the centre on the second day. "I missed you" she said.
That completely blew my mind. Although I had had amazing moments in Peru before, nothing could beat this.

- Sara

The Rainbow Centre was beautiful and inspiring, but the motivation I felt after being at Mama Cocha was completely different. Seeing how happy Maria was amazed me. Despite her traumatizing experiences, she had a huge smile on her face and laughed non-stop.

Maria and the other kids at the centre are the reason we are here, and Team Peru’s support has changed their lives. A quote I value is Gandhi’s “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. We can never make these kids’ terrible pasts dissapear, but we can make change happen. I saw that change in Maria today.

Helena

The life that we are given
The home that we live in
Is neither our choice
Nor what dictates our voice.
Guilt is a strong feeling
Which sometimes demands healing.
It should not be based on what you possess
Or on those who have less.
It is finding the balance in life
That seperates joy from strife.

Yet when seeing the children
I am filled with the re-occuring guilt.
An inevibility that is not to fault
But in order to persue true happiness
One has to channel that guilt
Look aside from what you or others possess
To channel your energy into positivity
Into thoughts of hope and creativity.
Because the only way to make change
Is to live in the moment
And work towards a brighter future.
Guilt. Shame. Disgrace.
Are all feelings we face.
But always remember to
Use the guilt to rebuild.

Philip S.

March 31st

The team awoke to the sound of waves crashing to the shore, ready for a day’s hard work. Everyone was a little tired after a long night traveling to Mancora. After breakfast the team was picked up by Suzy, the founder of Kiya Survivers, and a volunteer named Jamie. The convoy of taxis headed towards Los Organos, and the team was slightly shocked by the raw reality of the muddy streets of Los Organos. It is an extremely poor region, and it was rather difficult for the team to see the contrast coming from “civilized” Urubamba to the barren streets of Los Organos.

When arriving at Mama Cocha, a strong stench of garbage and decay surprised us. Suzy informed us that the hospital and town government has decided to use the area surrounding Mama Cocha to dispose of its waste . It was quite depressing to see such carelessness next to a center of hope and happiness. As we entered the center we were greeted by some of the substitute mums and a smiling Maria. It was incredible to see her with a smile on her face after all the cruelty that she was unfortunate to be surrounded by. In addition, seeing the amount of improvement in Jose Antonio was magical, as just two years ago he couldn’t move his hands and now he is both eating and playing with toys, in control of his movements.

Seeing the development and hope that there is at Mama Cocha, made us realize that we can and are making a difference. This is the project that Team Peru and the CIS community have been working so hard to support, seeing the result of our hard work motivated the group to continue fighting. We returned to our beautiful beach house and relaxed after the unexpected and somewhat shocking day. Now we are all looking forward to another day of hard work and spending more time with the happy children tomorrow.

By Philip S. & Olivia

Sorry, everyone! We are writing a day late because of a “wonky” busdriver (as Mr. Ward put it) and lack of Internet access.
Our day was, in a word, eventful. It started off on the shores of Lima, as we sailed to Los Islas Palaminos, to watch sea lions in their natural habitat with great amazement (and with significantly less amazement, smell the sea lions in their natural habitat). We sailed on a 30-foot yacht to the islands, soaking up the sun all the while – for some of our team-members, i.e. Pfeiffer, this resulted in extreme farmer’s tans and slight sunburns.

We made our way to Mancora, eager at the prospects of working with kids again, after a strenuous Lares trek. The journey there, however, would turn out to be almost equally as arduous. After a decent flight, and a relatively brisk arrival at the airport, we were freighted onto a Mancorian minivan. Being a Mancorian minivan, unfortunately it broke down around an hour into the drive. Luckily, the driver had a friend in a nearby city, who was able to help us out. He filled up the van with a bucket of mysterious fuel, which, despite all reasoning to the contrary, got the minivan magically driving again.

Still, being Mancorian mysterious minivan fuel, it was not long before the van broke down once again. However, our spirits were not bleakened, and we spent the next 30 minutes group-singing and doing team-building activities, while waiting for Manuel (our driver) to get more fuel.

We arrived at our destination in high spirits; spirits that would soon be lifted even higher. The team had no idea of how nice our lodgings were – Mr. Ward had saved it as a surprise, and we entered el Casa del Muelle with great wonder. We have an ocean view and Wi-Fi Internet!

We went to bed late that night, excited to get up and go to Mamma Cocha for the first time the next morning. But all that’s for another blog – see you when we hit Denmark!

Paz y amor,

- Madee and Pfeiffer.

Yesterday, we arrived in Cusco after a very intense two-day hike. Today after exploring the city of Cusco, we flew to Lima, where we arrived in warm weather. So far, we are resting before our trip to Mancora. It is nice to relax after the work we have done, and we are excited to arrive at Mama Cocha tomorrow, where we will reconstruct the plumbing system. We are looking forward to see where the majority of our funds have gone and we cannot wait to meet the kids who live there. We are hoping to meet Louis and Moses, who are being supported by some of the Team Peru parents to move into the house. The weather in Mancora is expected to be between 35 and 40 degrees! :)

We will keep you updated on our work in Mama Cocha.

Fred & Helena

As you may have noticed there has been a certain absence in our blog over the past few days. Don't worry, we haven't dissapeared.
During the past two days the team has completed a trek through the remote mountain valley's of Lares, Peru.
The first day started off with an early wake-up call, followed by a drive taking us to the foot of the mountain. We then treked uphill for 5 hours until we reached a field of donkeys which was a small oasis engulfed by the mountians. Whilst there we took a 20 minute nap and had a small lunch. Already then our muscles were aching and our feet were blistering. We then continued our journey for another 2 hours until we reached our place of camp. The camp site was incredibly peaceful valley with rivers and llamas. We rested until dinner and then we all fell asleep at 8pm due to fatigue caused by the trek.
When we woke up the following morning a cloud had rested upon the valley and we couldn´t see anything but the eucalyptus trees which hung over our camp. It was terribly cold but our bodies were quickly warmed up when began trekking once again. after two VERY DIFFICULT hours up steep uphill trekking we reached the top which was 4600 meters above sea level. The exhausted yet motivated team then went down the mountain to an indigenous community called Copachamahui where we had some good old pasta and tuna for lunch.
We ate with rush knowing that there were only two hours away from the hot springs of Lares - and we were NOT dissapointed. The hot spring were boiling with sulphuric water, which depite the unattractive smell were luxury to us after two day of trekking. The rest of the night was spent in the 7 various pools by all of the team mates. It was amazing.

Today we woke up at 5am and have now arrived in Cusco.
Pictures will be uploaded soon!

Achille & Sara

:)

We are off on the 2 day Lares trek! There has been some trouble with electricity recently and we have therefore had a hard time updating the blog. The next update will be after the trek, on sunday.

24 March 2010

Today was another breathtaking day. In the morning we started off at the Rainbow center doing Brain Gym with the students. Brain Gym involved a lot of color as we played with a large multicolored parachute. This brought back memories of our own childhood as we recalled playing similar games in our own youths. It was fascinating to see a link between these children and ourselves as they laughed and enjoyed playing the games we once played ourselves.

After this, we broke up into groups to continue the project work we had done the past two days. One group went to complete the painting at the Rainbow House while the others helped complete the roof and walls of Fernando’s new room. The painting group managed to finish the two children’s rooms as well as put some final detail on it. The builders helped Jose and Maestro put tiles on the roof and plaster the walls of Fernando’s new room. Needless to say both these tasks were quite draining and by the end of it the workers were sun worn and weary; and the painters were covered from head to toe with the pink and blue paint.

After our busy tasks we managed to grab a modest lunch to refuel and continued playing with the children. We challenged the Rainbow Center staff to a friendly game of volleyball and managed to lose a case of Inca Kola. Never underestimate the opponent!

Later in the afternoon we were to get a little taste of what our coming two day hike would be like. As a group we hiked up 500 meters to one of the overlooking mountains of Urabamba. Already being tired from the project work, this was no easy task. However we were able to pull though and soon enough we were at the top safely and comfortably, with only a few bumps and bruises. We took advantage of the beautiful 360 degree vista and took many group and individual photos. It was a great team building experience.

We are currently sitting outside in the square in front of Delfina’s house in shorts and flip-flops at 20:00. The weather has been ideal so far and we hope that it will continue to be so for our upcoming hike. Aside from a few sunburns we are all doing well. Many thanks for the wonderful comments and a moral support. We’ll continue to keep you all posted and updated.

Hasta pronto!

Bea and Benjamin.

Wednesday

Yesterday, I spent the morning at Kiya Survivors´ newest project, Pasitos Drop-in Centre (translation: little steps) in Chinchero. Here, I saw a class in progress and physiotherapy as I was given a tour by Kiya Survivors social worker, Iris. This project is only ten months old, and as the only centre for special needs children in the area, it already has 32 students. All these children come from very isolated and poor rural communities and have even harsher backgrounds than children at the Rainbow Centre.

After being introduced to the centre, I joined Iris and Nigel, Kiya Survivors´ UK co-ordinator, in two house visits, which are part of the Quality of Life project. This project involves Iris visiting very poor families of students at the centre and teaching them about hygiene and staying healthy to improve their situation. Armed with a bag of food supplement provided by the government, Alex, Martin and Juan Carlos joined us, as we were going to visit their houses.

Even though i had been on house visits before, I was not prepared for the level of poverty that these kids live in. I was shocked by the primitive conditions and the lack of basic necessities. Both the families lived in one small room, which contained a bed, a small kitchen and a tiny living space. When entering the room, I was overwhelmed by the smell, the damp, the dirtiness and the fumes from the fire.

This experience left me speechless, and I found it very hard to talk to anyone in the next few hours. It made me feel helpless, because even though I have worked with children in desperate situations, I had a the feeling that the need was endless. The deeper you go into rural Peru, the worse the conditions are and the less attention is paid by anyone. Even when the community suffered from the recent flood damage, no media attention or aid was given, even though many people lost their houses and livelihoods.

Despite the fact that this difficult experience shook my foundations, it filled me with a desire to fight harder for people who are overlooked by the world.

Ben Ward

Tuesday – 23 March
Today was exciting, awesome and filled with beautiful and magical moments. We carried out the same routine as yesterday; however, groups 1 & 2 reversed roles. So today group 1 were to paint the girls’ room in the Rainbow House, while group 2, which painted the boy’s room in the Rainbow House yesterday, continued the construction of Fernando’s new home in the Rainbow Center. Since we were both in group 2, we constructed and let us tell you, it was some messy business. Sliding about in the mud, attempting at making cement that would be used to build Fernando’s house, and carrying countless heavy bricks can really tire one. However, after constructing for a couple of hours, it was a relief to spend the rest of the day with the children and creating postcards, which we will sell upon our return to Denmark. This brought out the artistic skills that the children possess. I am sure that we all , felt that we connected with the children at the Rainbow Center as we constructed the postcards.
Relaxing at casa Delfina after a long day of hard work was very enjoyable. We ate a delicious meal, and afterwards we all gathered outside in the beautiful, serene courtyard for some “circle time”. We experienced a very touching and emotional session where we all bonded and shared our feelings regarding the trip as well as how we felt towards each other. We truly established a connection and a sense of family through tears of sadness replaced with tears of joy.

MOST AMAZING DAY EVER!!!!! :D

Sebastian and Oliver

It’s 7pm. The thoughts swarming through one’s head are overwhelmingly powerful. Tears are running down every face in the circle. A bond, which previously was built upon wood, has now been soldered into unbreakable metal chains. Although not related by blood, the team will always be our family.

Sara & Olivia

I was standing in the sun looking at the spectacular scenery surrounding the tranquil Rainbow Centre when Fernando came over and took my hands into his. Smiling, he gazed at me with his brown eyes and suddenly burst out laughing. The intense happiness that both of us felt at this moment was incredible. I could feel his joy and love through his wonderful laugh, which continued to grow stronger and happier. In response to this, I joined him, and we did not let go of each other’s hands. As our laughing continued he began to jump up and down, and I couldn’t help but jump as well. I thought he would get tired but he just kept going, and I followed. The moment seemed too magical for either of us to stop. I was filled with an emotion so great that I couldn’t stop smiling as we were in our own little bubble for those ten minutes or so. It was the most memorable experience of my life. The sparkle Fernando had in his eyes, despite all the pain and suffering he has endured, is something I will always remember.

Helena

Fernando is my inspiration. I was sitting alone with him on the bench and we were holding hands while I was stroking his hand with my thumb. It was the most magical moment when he opened his beautiful brown eyes and looked into mine and smiled as if he didn’t have a care in the world despite his horrifying story. Nothing can top how this boy makes you feel when you are around him. Even though you can’t hear him, you can see how much love he has to give. Fernando is my inspiration.

Bea

This morning, the team woke up around 6.30 more excited than ever, in sunny Urubamba. The day had finally arrived in which we would be able to meet all of the children who spend their days at the Rainbow Centre. We were all very fidgety at breakfast, and couldn’t wait to see the faces of the smiling children as we would walk under the colorful arch of the Rainbow Centre.

Meeting the kids exceeded our expectations. They were all so incredibly happy and welcoming. Within the first seconds of walking into the Rainbow Centre we all knew why we had joined Team Peru. The feeling we got when these children, who have suffered so much, ran up to us with open arms was indescribable.

Our day with the kids started with Brain Gym which incorporated motor skills and interaction between us and the kids. After this, the Team split up into two groups, one of which stayed at the centre to build Fernando’s room. The work was very intense and required a lot of physical labor as we were laying bricks which would turn out to be the walls of the room. The other group travelled to the Rainbow House to paint the various children’s bedrooms.

Following the project work, we all gathered back at the centre to begin individual work with the students. Each Team Peru member was paired up with one or two students, and had the opportunity to play, bond and interact with the child while taking pictures of one another.

Today was a very special day since we were able to connect with the children, which was a very rewarding experience for all of us. We can’t wait for tomorrow where we will continue to work on our projects as well as bond with these amazing children.

Hasta mañana!

Sara, Helena & Madison

All I need for this day to be the best of my life is a winning lottery ticket and a heart-to-heart talk with Bob Dylan. Bobby was busy, and I couldn’t find any place that sold tickets, but today was still a surefire top 10 day of my life.

First of all, the building work was probably some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done. It was an overwhelming contrast to sitting in the classroom learning about fractal patterns and Ivan Bulgarkov. Today I felt truly useful. The physical nature of the work actually turned out to be a good thing – as the bricks became heavier, the more satisfying it became to lay them down. And not only was this the first time in a while where I felt good for something, but I’ve also grown much closer to my group members today. Bonding (or “warm fuzzy feelings,” as Mr. Ward calls it) was encouraged by the working conditions, as we were working toward a common goal that we all believed in.

And the kids! There is no way I can describe the kids without it sounding like a cliché (so sorry for the following paragraph for all of you who have read other literature than Twilight). In those kids, there’s just so much happiness packed into such compact packages. It was incredible, almost spiritual, to sit with Fernando and caress his hands. It took so little to make him so joyful, bursting into giddy laughter every time his hands were stroked. It’s hard to put the intensity of the experience into words, because it was so overwhelming (I’m also still a little fatigued from the jetlag, so sorry if my vocabulary isn’t too sophisticated).

I once read a poem that would go a long way to describe what I feel right now. I don’t remember what it’s called, or who wrote it, but the poet talks about living with the thieves of Manchester, and scraping by in the slums of India, and all these other living conditions that he’s been through, and then in the end he discounts it all with a stanza about looking into the eyes of a child. “God,” he describes it as. I’m not quite sure if I’d call today a contact with deity, but I figure it comes pretty close.

Paz y amor,

Pfeiffer

My feelings as I entered the center for the first time were that of complete awe. While ‘indescribable’ would be the fairest way to characterize my emotions, perhaps I can attempt another discription.

The center was much different from what I imagined. Better; yes much better, but much different. It was breathtaking to see the physical manifestation of this team and the past teams’ work. A simple way to describe the center would be as a little oasis of green grass and cleanliness. The ground and buildings in the center radiate compassion and safety. Certainly this place was filled with an indescribable magic that came from the overflow of hard-work and unconditional love that each and every volunteer had left behind.

Benjamin

Today I met a young boy called Yelson. At fourteen years of age, and with the challenges he faces, social interaction does not come naturally to him. Using my limited amount of Spanish, it was difficult to make conversation, but we quickly found other methods of communication. Being extremely shy, Yelson did not feel like playing, despite his passion for football – nor was he very keen on taking photos, which was the day’s activity.
Patiently, I strived to find something to entertain him, something to grasp him, something to connect us. All the while, he simply stared at me with his beautiful eyes. I soon realized that that was enough; I was sitting down on a nearby bench, searching for inspiration, when he sat down next to me. Taking my hand in his, he smiled the most genuine smile – as if this was the most incredible moment of his life. We sat in silence for several minutes, watching the others, holding hands.

Silvia

As I gaze upon
The mountain line
Peru is filled with beauty

As I gaze upon
The humankind
Peru is filled with beauty

As I gaze upon
The Rainbow center kids
Life is filled with beauty

A beauty that cannot be understood
Til seen with ones own eyes

Frederik

Hola!

After a night filled with altitude dreams, the team quietly crept to the birthday girl, Olivia’s room, and attempted to surprise her with various songs; however, she was already awake. Delfina, our wonderful host, served breakfast at 8:00 am, which gave us energy for the upcoming events during the day.
Melanie and Nigel led us through the local Urubamba market, where after we proceeded to the long awaited Rainbow Center… The gates opened and a peaceful oasis of nature unfolded before our eyes. Before we had only seen pictures and heard stories of the center; however, it finally became a reality, and it was indescribable to experience it first-hand.
After becoming familiar with the center grounds, we headed off to the Sunday market in Pisac, an approximate 40-minute drive from the center. On the way we saw some of the devastation caused by the flooding in previous months. At the market we developed our bartering skills, and worked on our Spanish, as we bought many cultural items, such as hats, bracelets, jewelry, and ponchos. Tonight we will be relaxing and celebrating Olivia’s birthday by receiving a two-hour Spanish course and then practicing the play, which the team will be performing on Wednesday for the kids.

Hasta luego!

Philip and Olivia (the birthday girl)

Hola todos!

Today started off early with a 5:40 wake-up call and a 9:20 flight from Lima to Cusco.

Total hours travelling = 7. Total hours being giddy from excitement = 7.

Upon arrival in Cusco we finally felt like we were in Peru, a notion further strengthened by the bus ride to Urubamba. On the way, we saw a different side of Peru – the beautiful mountain scenery juxtaposed by the difficult living conditions of the local communities. The high altitudes of the villages means that little subsistence can grow; the people live mostly on a diet consisting of potatoes. Therefore, there is a higher chance for a baby to be born with mental and/or physical disabilities, due to the lack of nutrition during pregnancy.

We noticed a significant change in altitudes, as simple tasks like climbing the stairs left us breathless – certainly an interesting experience! :P
We’ve been drinking lots of water and resting as often as possible, which really has helped us acclimatise to the conditions. The highlight of the day was a delicious Peruvian lunch in the centre of Urubamba, in the beautiful surroundings, while being serenaded by street performers. Delfina and her husband Julio have been very gracious in welcoming us into their home, and are very forthcoming.

We are now looking forward to a relaxed evening, and tomorrow it’s off to the fabled Rainbow Centre! We will be doing some training in how to work with the children, as well as brushing up on our Spanish. Look out for reports tomorrow – we’re sure to be very ecstatic! :D

Paz y amor,

Pfeiffer and Madee

Wonderful photo of our beautiful team at Plaza de Armas, in central Lima!
Time for bed - getting up early tomorrow!
- The team

The trip has been very overwhelming so far. Last night, we arrived safely at Lima Wasi Hotel, after a crazy and bumpy bus ride (but not to worry, no one suffered any bodily harm besides motion sickness), where we had our first team meeting in Peru on the roof. We tried our first grenadillas, the best fruit ever! After a nice, long sleep we had breakfast in the sun this morning, where we tried papaya juice and had tasty omelets with many different types of tropical fruit. Our day in Lima started with a bus tour with a guide named Gustavo, who taught us about some of Peru's history and the stories behind the buildings and areas of Lima. He taught us some interesting facts about their culture, for example that their favorite sport is soccer. Ironically, they are ranked the worst team in South America. We saw the national soccer stadium, which was half broken down and falling apart. We also saw 700 year old ruins opposite of brand-new buildings, which was a striking difference within a twenty meter radius. What we found very interesting was that there were so many huge, expensive-looking houses, but they were enclosed by electrical and spiked metal fences. There were even some houses which had broken bottles on top, because these people couldn't afford fences. It was shocking to see that what they consider rich areas still seem poor for our standards, and the difference between the rich and poor houses, even on the same street, was immense. After the bus tour, we visited a beautiful cathedral, which had dungeons with open graves that contained thousands of bones, an estimate of 200.000 dead bodies. We took a walk to the beach, which was stunning. We met up with Suzy and her family and had a lunch of fresh fish in Lima's most famous local fish restaurant. Dee-lish! We walked back past the beautiful ocean landscape where the sun was setting on the Pacific. Lima's atmosphere is very lively, with busy traffic, musicians playing upbeat music and many people selling food and souvenirs. So far, only one of our members is feeling sick, hopefully she will feel better and everyone will stay healthy. The weather has been AWESOME! It is very muggy, the temperature is around 27 degrees in the shade and 31 in the sun. Not too shabby! We hope everyone in Denmark is enjoying the cold ;)

We can't wait till tomorrow, where we get up bright and early for our flight to Cuzco! Relaxing has been fun, but we are excited to get to work, which is the reason why we are here.

See you later!

Helena & Fred

(pictures will be posted in a few hours)

WE MADE IT!

Indeed, ladies and gentlemen, we have finally arrived. This morning we let go of our roles as students and we have now immersed ourselves into an unfamiliar yet exciting world. We landed local time 18:08 (00:08 Danish time) and have now successfully checked into the hotel in Lima. The flight went extremely well and we all developed a strong liking for the tiny TV- screens, which provided us with countless of movies, games and TV series. Also, for the first time in Team Peru history the flights were on time and every ones luggage arrived. Tonight we’re all going to relax and recharge so that we have the energy for some sight seeing in Lima in the morning.
The way we’re all feeling is completely indescribable at the moment. It’s insane!!
We can’t believe we’re finally here. FINALLY, we get to do what we’ve been dreaming about for the past 6 months.

Well, enough for now. We’re going to go hang out with our amazing team members.
Tune in tomorrow!



ADIOS AMIGOS!

Achille and Sara

Good morning!
Currently, we are in Amsterdam. The team arrived here late last night, and everything went absolutely superb. We checked into the Airport hotel, and are now going to breakfast to get some energy before boarding our 12 hour flight to Lima! We are all dying to get there so that we can finally begin our journey in Peru.
We'll update the blog as soon as we get to Lima. But now - it's time for breakfast.

See you in Peru.

Hello there, Internet people!

Everyone is feeling very excited for the trip, and final preparations are currently being made! 

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