Saturday, November 13, 2010

Change of Face












My work here in Peru has changed a bit since my last post. The organization that I am working for is looking for a Peruvian partner organization to work with on future projects. It's a pretty important connection to make, having a local non-profit that can help with communication, and local resources is very valuable. The directors of my organization decided to send me to two different potential partner organizations. I am currently in Huancayo in the mountains (approximately 11,000 ft.). I am working with Expand Peru, they are a fantastic organization and if anyone is thinking of volunteering in South America I would strongly suggest checking them out. I have been learning the ins and outs of how they operate.



We took a day in this bug to travel even higher into the mountains to check out some of the more rural impoverished areas.





This is one of the ways the people earn income. These hand made pots are made strictly from hand. They don't even use a pottery wheel of any kind








It's a whole different climate here the air is thin and dry, the land is dry, the culture is different as well. I can understand people better here.



This is the director and now a good friend of mine Bernabe.


It's been great to engage in Spanish with people outside of the small village that I have been living with for the last 5 months. It's also been great connected with another organization it's giving me a number of ideas about future projects I'd like to be involved in.

Next week I am headed back North to check-in with the projects in my village before going to the next organization.

Thanks for keeping tabs much love,
Brent

Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to take credit; on many our our expedition there has been a Peruvian photographer along and most of these pictures are hers.