Today was the most emotionally difficult day that I have had so far in Peru. We visited three projects, all in Cusco, but this blog will focus on the first project, Camino Nuevo (New Pathway), as it is the one that left the most impactful impression on me.
Phil, Octavio, Andrea, Alma’s Bolivian representative, and I left from Plaza Regocijo at 8:30 in the morning and arrived at the bus station shortly afterwards. Naturally, Phil and I were outliers on the public Communidado, and most of the other passengers chuckled as we struggled to fit onto the buses tiny seats. After 20 minutes of a bumpy ride, we arrived in San Sebastian, a neighborhood in Cusco. We walked for about 5 minutes to the location of Camino Nuevo, which is a partner project between Alma and Manos Unidos, another not-for-profit operating in Cusco.
We were greeted by the head of the program, She explained to us that this project focused on working with young children with cognitive disabilities; specifically, intellectual deficiency, Down’s Syndrome, and cerebral palsy. The goal of the project is to provide an education for these children, who otherwise would not be able to attend school. Phil and I exchanged uneasy glances; we had both witnessed how difficult life is for underprivileged children in Cusco, we could hardly imagine what it meant to be both underprivileged and to suffer from such debilitating conditions. The head of the program told us that the school is divided into classes of 4 students for each teacher and suggested that we take a look around. We headed downstairs to meet the kids and walked into the first classroom, uncertain what to expect.
As I took my first step into the classroom, four beautiful first-graders turned their heads to see who had come in. Immediately, they jumped out of their seats, smiling ear-to-ear, and began hugging my legs. Shrieking with joy and begging me to lift them, the children covered my cheeks with kisses. This was without a doubt the warmest welcome I have ever received in my life. The next 30 minutes flew by in a flurry of smiling, laughing, and pure, unfiltered, childish joy. The children, three boys and one girl, kissed us, kissed each other, and relished every opportunity for interaction. I can’t say I acted any differently.
After an enchanting goodbye, we left for the next classroom. Here we met four kids with cerebral palsy learning about words used in the kitchen. I listened attentively, as my knowledge of fruits and vegetables in Spanish was far inferior to theirs. Interaction with these kids was more difficult. The teachers of this class and the next were highly competent at engaging the children in their studies. This was quite impressive. Cusco is not a city that is easy for those with cerebral palsy. The city has minimal wheelchair access. I will never know the challenges that these kids face every day; a sobering and humbling thought.
Finally, we met a group of children who were slightly older. These kids were in the middle of doing their homework. We observed for some time, and for the most part the kids paidd little attention to us, until the end of their homework. One boy, Carlos, stood up from his table and walked right next to Phil. Carlos, opening his notebook just enough for Phil to see – and no one else – showed off the colouring work he had done.
Then, one after another, Carlos proudly, yet secretively showed his work to each one of us separately.
-Ben