Thursday, February 7, 2013

After hosting our most successful hat and glove fundraiser to date in December, we've started to focus our attention on the summer.



Most notably, we've set some concrete travel plans! This year, we've bumped up our departure date to shortly after school lets out on May 6th and will be returning a month later on June 6th. Even though this is a smaller window of time than we'd normally like to have in Puno, we've already commenced plotting the most efficient approach to continue our clean burning stove initiative. This includes possible collaborations with fellow UM student groups BLUElab and M-HEAL as well as longer stays with our friends in Huanuscuro in an attempt to minimize the lengthy commute to the campo. As always, we'll be staying with Fredy for a majority of the trip and — although our main focus will be on the stoves — we will continue to maintain our connections at the school, the hospital, and the orphanage, as much as time allows.

In preparation for the summer, we will be making a big fundraising push to raise money for project costs while in Puno. This will include a Bake Sale on March 22 from 9am-4pm in Mason Hall, and our annual Art Show on April 5th and 6th from 10am-4pm in the Pond Room of the Union with a preview night at Sava's on April 4th. If you or anyone you know has art they would like to donate, please contact ps@umich.edu. Any and all mediums are welcome.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

After working on the clean-burning stove project for the past three years, we've become fairly accomplished builders and can regularly install two to three new stoves each day.

In addition to the various projects we undertake throughout our trip, we also have a unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in many cultural experiences.

Thursday, August 30, 2012



While spending a substantial amount of time in the rural countryside of Huanuscuro (or as we simply call it, "the campo") during our past three trips, we've been constantly conscious of the relationship we cultivate with the local people. Aware that we're outsiders encroaching on their land and disrupting their demanding daily routine, we've taken particular caution while establishing our presence in the community.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

What happens when a giant megastore opens up in a town that has always been supported by small, local shops and street vendors?

Thursday, August 2, 2012


It's become a running joke among Project Suyana members that each year Dr. Ivan says he'll take our group to La Rinconada – a mining town about 4 hours from the city of Puno – but it never happens. This year he kept his promise and a simple overnight trip to "The Highest City In the World" proved to be an eye-opening experience for us all.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Although teaching is never the main focus of our trip, we all agree that exposing Peruvian children to a culture apart from their own (at the very least) and gaining knowledge of the English language (our ultimate goal) is time well spent.


This year, Dr. Ivan suggested that we visit a new boarding school  where Peruvian children advanced in learning are specially placed in – to consider teaching there.