Between changes in membership, various fundraising efforts, a gradual shift in identity, and constantly evolving methods to help our Peruvian friends, it seems like Project Suyana is an ever-changing entity. But above all this, there remains one constant – a summer trip to Puno.
Back for our sixth year, Ken, Erin, Clare, David, Melissa, Jon, Michelle, and Jillian compose this year's group of traveling members. Our to-do list for the next two months includes a continuation of the clean-burning stove iniative in the rural countryside of Huañuscuro, teaching at elementary schools (El Colegio San Jose and El Colegio de Educación Intercultural Bilingüe en Puno), meeting with and mentoring the brilliant journalism students of the APEPCO organization in Ilave, visiting the orphanage in Salcedo and perhaps improving upon our work in their greenhouses, doing rounds at the Puno regional hospital for those interested in the medical professions, continuing to research and hopefully implement a water-filtration system in communities without clean drinking water, and a plastic pop bottle lighting design intended to illuminate houses without electricity.
This daunting collection of tasks not only shows the ambition of our organization, it clearly illustrates our commitment to the region of Puno and the importance we place on sustaining ties to our many contacts here. Instead of viewing this strategy as a way of spreading ourselves too thin, we take the perspective that every connection counts and each new door that opens is an opportunity to both teach and learn from our Peruvian friends.
Our accomidations this year are in the same house we've stayed in for the previous two summers, but much improved. Our hospitable host Fredy just finished up his engineering degree at La UNA in Puno, but has decided to allow us to stay in his house once again.
Always using our rent money to improve upon the house, the four-floor structure now has no less than nine bedrooms, four bathrooms, three showers (with hot water!), two kitchens (with a refrigerator and microwave for the first time!), two outside rooftop patios with breathtaking views of the city, a completed roof enclosing the common areas, a fresh coat of paint, and beautiful plants throughout. Check out the before and after below.
Most importantly, Fredy's neighborhood is extremely safe and his neighbors are now familiar with our returning faces. Overall, we all feel lucky to have such cool digs and it has been so rewarding watching the improvements unfold over time.
[Written by David Riva | Photos by Clare Toeniskoetter and Erin Wiley]
Back for our sixth year, Ken, Erin, Clare, David, Melissa, Jon, Michelle, and Jillian compose this year's group of traveling members. Our to-do list for the next two months includes a continuation of the clean-burning stove iniative in the rural countryside of Huañuscuro, teaching at elementary schools (El Colegio San Jose and El Colegio de Educación Intercultural Bilingüe en Puno), meeting with and mentoring the brilliant journalism students of the APEPCO organization in Ilave, visiting the orphanage in Salcedo and perhaps improving upon our work in their greenhouses, doing rounds at the Puno regional hospital for those interested in the medical professions, continuing to research and hopefully implement a water-filtration system in communities without clean drinking water, and a plastic pop bottle lighting design intended to illuminate houses without electricity.
This daunting collection of tasks not only shows the ambition of our organization, it clearly illustrates our commitment to the region of Puno and the importance we place on sustaining ties to our many contacts here. Instead of viewing this strategy as a way of spreading ourselves too thin, we take the perspective that every connection counts and each new door that opens is an opportunity to both teach and learn from our Peruvian friends.
Our accomidations this year are in the same house we've stayed in for the previous two summers, but much improved. Our hospitable host Fredy just finished up his engineering degree at La UNA in Puno, but has decided to allow us to stay in his house once again.
Always using our rent money to improve upon the house, the four-floor structure now has no less than nine bedrooms, four bathrooms, three showers (with hot water!), two kitchens (with a refrigerator and microwave for the first time!), two outside rooftop patios with breathtaking views of the city, a completed roof enclosing the common areas, a fresh coat of paint, and beautiful plants throughout. Check out the before and after below.
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| 2010 |
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| 2012 |
[Written by David Riva | Photos by Clare Toeniskoetter and Erin Wiley]
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