QUISPICANCHI PROJECT
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Mission Statement
Supporting and empowering families and organizations of indigenous and rural communities through the cultivation of culturally responsible sustainable solutions in the Quispicanchi Province of southern Peru.
About This Cause
The Quispicanchi Project is the result of years of relationship development with the people living in the Quispicanchi Province of Southern Peru. We are a cohort of former short and long-term volunteers who have been deeply impacted by our time living in these communities. Some of us are currently serving in US based non-profits, some in the classroom as teachers, and some of us are young professionals. Collectively we realize that the relationships we began during our service in the region compel us to take action. Through this effort, our desire is to continue to dwell in a mutuality of grace and love. At the heart of our work are three pueblos on the Andean Baroque Route, a cultural route centered on parishes dating back to the 16th century, that are home to centers that host a vast array of after school, legal, vocational, nutritional, and health programs for individuals living in these communities. The parish centers provide a safe space most especially for the vulnerable. However, the need in the region is great. Our goal is to be a compliment to the mission of these centers and other partners in the region by focusing our resources on the many outlying communities whose members often go without some of the basic necessities of daily life. Through our relationships with local leaders in the parish centers and leaders in these outlying communities as well as established networks of support, our mission is to support and empower families and organizations of indigenous and rural communities through the cultivation of sustainable and culturally responsive solutions aimed at addressing some of the challenges of people living in the region. In a spirit of accompaniment, the Quispicanchi Project seeks first to develop friendships which lead to a deepening empathy for those who struggle and a greater understanding of the needs of others. It is out of these relationships that solutions are imagined. To facilitate this work, The Project maintains a Regional Advisory Council comprised of local leaders, pastors, parish priests in the Society of Jesus, social workers, teachers, and others living in the Quispicanchi Province. This council serves as the “think tank” for any and all work supported by the Project. Our goal is empowerment - where local individuals are equipped with the resources and knowledge to implement sustainable solutions they have designed to meet the needs and challenges they themselves face. The Quispicanchi Project seeks to partner with existing and trusted networks of support, social service agencies, organizations, and ministries in the region to implement these solutions. Our work is concentrated in three pueblos in the western part or the Quispicanchi province. Local parish centers are the heart of community life and the Quispicanchi Project provides support to centers in the Andahuaylillas, Urcos, and Huaro. In addition to these three pueblos we provide critical support to Sullyumayu, a community of roughly 100 families living in the remote highlands above Huaro. The project is guided by four primary objectives which represent both the critical health needs of communities in the region and an effort to empower local organizations and families to develop sustainable programs for addressing the unique challenges they face. Objective 1 - Provide critical nutrition and support sustainable agriculture development. The Quispicanchi Project seeks to provide local organizations with the resources necessary to offer proper nutrition to families and children living in the region. The primary diet for many individuals living in highland communities consists of potatoes and rice. As a result, many children and adults suffer from anemia and other conditions caused by a lack of access to the critical nutrition provided by fruits, vegetables, and proteins. In addition to food aid, the project encourages communities to develop sustainable systems of agriculture and farming which can provide a long-term source of locally grown produce and affordable protein. Objective 2 - Work with local organizations to promote best health and hygiene practices. In addition to providing proper nutrition, the Quispicanchi Project supports the work of organizations and parish communities to educate local children and adults of the importance of proper dental hygiene and personal health care. From the basics of hand-washing and tooth-brushing, to limiting the consumption of soda and other sugary drinks we seek to increase the basic level of health and wellness of families throughout communities in the region. Objective 3 - Support and empower local organizations working to improve education and childhood literacy. Local parish communities throughout the region offer a variety of after school programs to locally educated school children. The Quispicanchi Project works alongside these local organizations to encourage and promote a love for reading and the use of culturally representative children's books and other critical learning resources. Objective 4 - Celebrate and promote local and indigenous cultures. The highlands of Peru are home to some of the most vibrant and colorful cultures and traditions of any in the entire country. The communities we support are no exception. Recognizing that a rich cultural heritage is essential for a community's health, the Quispicanchi Project seeks to celebrate and support the region's heritage through the promotion of, among other things, the indigenous language, art, and religious practices unique to the region and its people.