Projects Update

Work has been so busy lately! After the Social Theater In-Service Training in Lima, I came back to Tumpa and completed my Improved Stoves project. Now, 10 women are proud owners of their new stoves and will be cooking in a clean, smoke-free environment from now on. What's unique about this particular project is that my participants purchased their own stoves instead of receiving them for free as part of a grant or an NGO donation. The small and poor communities in Ancash receive so many donations, fueling the culture of dependency. I asked my participants to prioritize their finances, and instead of spending their hard-earned money on frivolous purchases, to spend it on something life-changing and worth while like an Improved Stove. They're happy, I'm happy.



This week, I'll be finishing the first draft of the Social Theater Manual. It involves a lot of writing and research and makes me feel like I'm back in college. I'm also finishing up a Peace Corps Partnership Program grant for my Healthy Schools Project. This project has the most potential to be sustainable and effective. I'm requesting a grant for materials and supplies to support healthy hygiene, nutrition and environmental practices among the youth in Tumpa. We're working with the Santa Fe school and its 500 students, training the teachers, giving classes and workshops on hygiene and nutrition practices, and forming student health promoters, all with the goal of improving and developing healthy lifestyle practices. Once the grant is on the Peace Corps website, I'll be sending out emails, blogs and smoke signals with more information asking for support and donations to my project.



On top of this paperwork, I'm still going strong with my self-esteem workshop. I've been working with 90 kids between 8 and 12 years old for the past 4 months. The favorite part of my day is walking into that Primary school and getting bum-rushed by what seems like a million screaming kiddies smiling and yelling, "Sofia! Sofia!"
Last week, I celebrated Global Hand Washing Day by giving 5 different workshops on hand washing. The kids loved it - think: soapy suds, water fights, and squealing children. Soon the kids will have soap and soap dispensers in their bathrooms (thanks to the donors of my Healthy Schools grant!), so they'll be able to wash their hands every day.


This week I organized a Nutritious Food Competiton in the Secondary School to provide a fun and interactive way for the kids to learn about nutrition. 257 students participated in 10 different grade sections by creating the ideal and nutritious meal. I invited 3 women from the Health Post, Rabbit and our new Regional Coordinator Nelly to be my judges. We tried delicious and creative nutritious local foods including mazamora de quinoa, tortilla de chocho, causa de verduras y pollo, and aguitas de manzana y menta. The kids did a great job, and the winning class (5B) will receive a private cooking class with yours truly! I'm going to teach them how to cook my favorite comfort meal - Spaghetti with a classic tomato sauce, garlic bread, salad, and desert. I haven't decided what to make for the desert, so if you have any simple and delicious ideas, email me!



I'm having a great time these days and making the most of my productivity until mid-December when the school year ends. I'll celebrate Christmas in Machu Picchu with BOTH of my beautiful parents, reign in the New Year in Ancash with Grant Picarillo and his +1... and do everything I can to stay busy during the slow, rainy months of January and February - I'm hoping to take Round 2 of Quechua classes for a couple weeks and develop a Summer School program for the kids that decide to stay in Tumpa.
October is almost over, and I'm looking forward to celebrating Halloween Huaraz-Style. My costume is a SURPRISE, but I promise to post pictures after our Halloween celebration.

As always, Sending lots of Peruvian love,

Sophie

PS: For more pictures of my little rascals... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2171787&id=7403642&l=2391b14eaa

Here's to Family

On August 11, 2009, Carlos Alberto was born into this Peruvian world and became the newest addition to my host family!
...Here's the story.
Angelica is my 38 year old host mom and works as a farmer in Ancash. She never graduated from high school because she became pregnant at 17 to Juan Carlos, my host brother who is in Army school in Lima. A few years later came my beautiful host sister, Maria, 14. She's got a couple more years of high school to go, and if I have anything to do with it, she won't be getting knocked up like her mother, and will be going on to University in Huaraz or Lima to become a professional young Peruvian woman. Alberto is my host dad. He really doesn't bring much to the family, and I don't want to badmouth him on my blog so I'll leave it at that. So earlier this year, Angelica started to put on weight. We all just thought she was putting on weight, but around June, she discovered that she was indeed 5 months pregnant! (Sex-ed is severely lacking in this part of the world.)
At 7 months, Angelica's water broke, and she gave birth to a premature Carlos Alberto. He's now almost 2 months old, eats ravenously, sleeps like a Dila, and cries just enough to let us know he's a tough little man.
Last night, in our adobe kitchen, Angelica asked me if I would be Carlos' Godmother. I squealed, accepted, and gave her a huge hug - something she's still not quite used to yet. I'm going to lay so much loving on this little man over the next year, and as his Godmother, he and this beautiful family will be a part of my life for the rest of my life. So Here's to Family, all around the world.