MAY 2008 NEWSLETTER
Letter from the President
Proactive volunteers help us achieve
Every week, our staff and volunteers get together to talk about the work completed over the last week and the plans for the week ahead.
Any issues, praises and positive suggestions are talked about together and advice is given and taken.
Here is a list of all the projects the May volunteers were working on together after just one week up at the school:
- New curriculum for English, Art and Physical Education classes
- Lesson plans for English, Art and Physical Education
- Music and a variety of activities with the kindergarten kids
- Hygiene program including nose-blowing
- Documenting our work with more photos
- Weeding out the hothouse
- Construction on the new kindergarten classrooms
- Working with the mothers to sew jumpers as part of the new school uniform
- Developing a new stocktake system for exhibitions
- Camp Puma plans with the mini-olympics
- Project for Life and the new sponsorship system
- Cleaning up and sorting out the storeroom
Our volunteers make Peru's Challenge so successful. The list above just goes to show that when our volunteers are proactive and show initiative, an amazing amount of work can be achieved in just four short weeks.
Jane Gavel
jane@peruschallenge.com
First impressions of Pumamarca
Snippets from the May 2008 volunteers
I was really impressed with the school upon seeing it for the time. It looks fantastic with its bright blue and yellow façade and colourful murals (which one of the previous volunteers had painted).
The facilities look great and it’s impressive as to what’s been, and can be, achieved in a short period of time.
Spending time with the children was definitely a highlight. They are so affectionate and happy and assisting them with their sports activities was great fun.
Written by Amanda from Australia.
Well here we are in the Andean Ranges. After settling into out new Cuzco home over the weekend alongside 14 other eager volunteers, it was time to visit Pumamarca School for the first time.
As the bus wound its way up and around the mountain, a colourful tapestry of sights and activities emerged, from eucalyptus to vegetable gardens, terraces, cows and pigs. As we traveled through the village of Pumamarca the locals on the road side beamed smiles and waves, giving us a glimpse of what was to come.
On entering the grounds of Pumamarca School, the children approached us with warm embraces and a chorus of “Amigos”. Beautiful and moving.
As Jane explained the history of Pumamarca and Peru’s Challenge I couldn’t help but wish I was here for a little longer. The open hearted nature if the children was an awesome feeling and I know I am in for the most rewarding and special experience of a lifetime.
Written by
Renae from Australia.
First impressions of Pumamarca – that the children are so incredibly friendly and welcoming. That the project Jane and Selvy run, and what they are achieving is truly remarkable and to come and contribute is a humbling experience.
Written by
Andrea from Australia.
Construction projects in Pumamarca
Construction projects for this month included the new kindergarten buildings, the green house and help with the Camp Puma Olympics to name a few.
The kindergarten building is nearly finished and will hopefully be completed early next month so the kindy kids can move in.
All the major structural jobs have been completed with our team helping with the bamboo for sills, lintels and eves.
Plastering has also been completed and it’s just the floors left to go.
The construction team has also built board for the Camp Puma Olympics so a tally can now be kept. The team also built a high jump stand for the Pumamarca school kids to practice.
The greenhouse also got a revamp with Stewart and Garry braving the heat to weed the hard clay-like dirt ready for the next crop of seeds to be planted.
Developing a standard curriculum for volunteer classes
Thanks to the efforts of Trevor, one of our volunteers this month, we now have a set curriculum for volunteers to follow when planning art, physical education and English lessons.
This now allows all volunteers involved in lessons, whether they have a teaching background or not, to follow the curriculum and to plan and report on lessons accordingly. Each month works on a certain topic such as: family, shopping, animals, transport, to name a few.
The local teachers are also involved in the process and work with the same topics where possible.
The best part is that with each new volunteer group arriving, they can pick up the curriculum folder and know exactly where the students are up to with each subject and pick-up where the last volunteers left. This ensures that we have continuity with the classes.
A big thanks must go to Theresa who volunteered with us in January for developing the curriculum structure and lesson plan and reporting templates. All our volunteers are finding them very easy to use.
English class for grades 3, 4, 5 and 6
Topic: Shopping for Fruit
Names of eight fruits were introduced with Spanish names. Banana, mandarin, pineapple, apple, orange, pear, strawberry and grape. Examples of each displayed and described by colour.
We then extended the language by asking students to say “one banana please” and “here is your banana”. Extension of this for Yrs 5-6 included “one apple and one orange please”.
We included a circle game called “Fruit Salad”. Children in circle, each child given name of fruit, when name called those children had to run around the perimeter returning to their position, last one back sat in middle of circle. When Fruit Salad called all children had to run – hence fruit salad.
For grade 3 and 4 we played a game by throwing a soft ball to the children, calling out the name of a fruit or a short sentence such as “here is a banana”.
Written by Trevor from Australia.
Working with the kindergarten kids at Pumamarca
First impressions
As we entered the kindy room, a sea of smiling faces and a chorus of ‘buenos dias amigos’ rang out. The room was bustling with little ninos buzzing around, engaging with their amigos and teachers. The teachers are enthusiastic and supportive of the children, with a good dose of humour and flexibility- essential for the 3-5 year olds!
The room itself was easy to decipher as the kindy classroom. The whiteboard, and colourful circular tables, with their name label on the table top and little chairs, posters and artwork around the room.
For myself, coming from an early childhood background it was amazing that there was only one cupboard of resources and one shelf of stationery. Credit to the teachers who we have observed to be obviously resourceful and industrious in providing the program.
So far we have seen the children engage in music, construction- mobilo, lego, shape sorters, drawing and craft.
The children are patient and calm overall, showing similar behaviour patterns to children anywhere, and although there are differences in resources, settings and routines, it’s the similarities that unite us; The classic ‘people’ drawings by the 3-5’s, peer altercations, sleepy heads at lunchtime, those that eat all their lunch and those that don’t. Tears, laughter and smiles.
What I have observed of real significance is the children’s eagerness to learn and their intrinsic motivation to explore, do new things and have a go.
If we as volunteers can channel and support that energy with additional ideas to build on their kindergarten curriculum, such as dramatic play and free expression through easel painting and play-based learning, the potential for learning outcomes is sky high. An exciting concept…
Written by Renae from Australia.
A lot is coming out of nose blowing… literally!
As nose blowing is only a new inclusion to the health and hygiene programme my first day on nose patrol I think was one of curiosity for the children.
Equipped with my paper serviettes, plastic rubbish bag and surgical gloves I set off in search of customers.
I didn’t have to look far as most if not all of the children require my services.
Initially the children were not quite sure what I was giving them and they were so fascinated with the paper serviettes and my surgical gloves.
I demonstrated nose blowing to them then placed the serviette in the rubbish bag.
Most children were happy to give it a "blow" all the while giggling and talking among themselves. Others I noticed just folded the serviette and put it in their pocket.
I am now a more familiar sight and often hear "paper amiga" as I walk around the school grounds. The children are now coming up to me and asking for paper to blow their noses.
The PE boys, Gerard and Claes are also sending me emergency cases (thanks guys!!)
All is going well on the nasal front. It's an all clear from "paper amiga" - Liz.
Celebrating Mothers Day with chicken and chips
More than 70 mothers escaped their daily routines for a couple of hours on Friday, May 9 to celebrate Mothers Day.
The mothers from the three communities Pumamarca, Miski Uno and Killa Huata came into Cusco to feast on a dinner of chicken and chips and recognise the importance of being a mum, hosted by Peru’s Challenge.
Seven volunteers, Peru’s Challenge President Jane, and their social worker helped the mums celebrate.
On the way down to Cusco, Jane explained to us volunteers that being a mother had not previously been considered something to be celebrated within the local communities. It was hard work.
But the work of Peru's Challenge was helping to change that view and the smiles on the mum’s faces was proof enough.
The chicken and chips was served in basket, leading some of the mums to be very excited and confused at the lack of a plate, thinking they were doing something very posh!
Many of these mothers attend the afternoon Talleres mothers group and as a mothers day present each received a battery operated torch which will help them get home in the dark after class.
We as volunteers were overwhelmed at the appreciation shown by these mums for such a simple night out and gift. Hugs galore!
Preparation for Mothers Day however had begun much earlier in the day with volunteers leading art classes across a number of grades at the school. Mothers Day cards and hearts filled classrooms and hopefully made it home in one piece!
Female members of this month’s volunteer group were also presented with a poem and flowers as mothers and ‘future mums’.
Now we understand why the Sacred Valley is named so
On 12 and 13 May, the current group of volunteers, under the knowledgeable guidance of Selvy, embarked on their two day excursion to the Sacred Valley.
Although expectations were high from the beginning, nothing could have prepare us for what we were to see and experience.
Our first stop was Chincero where Selvy took us through the old Spanish church, built on Inca foundations, and the surrounding Inca ruins. The intricate baroque style interior of the church, primarily carved wood covered with gold, statues and paintings, were fascinating, as were the Inca ruins and the (successful) hunt for pieces of old Inca pottery, giving us a dramatic illustration of the clash of two cultures.
Our next stop was Urubamba in the centre of the Sacred Valley. As our bus dropped down into the valley the majestic mountains seemed to be surrounding and protecting the fertile valley floor and the Urubamba River. A great buffet lunch at a restaurant on the shores of the Urubamba River prepared us for the afternoon adventure.
We then moved on to Ollantaytambo. Even pictures, let alone words, could not do justice to something which really has to be experienced in person. The scale and technical expertise of the Inca constructions is incredible, and the uses and meanings of the forms of structures, as so ably explained by Selvy, really took us back to Inca times. Temple of the Sun, temples to the Moon and Stars, purifications baths, lookouts, defensive positions, food storage, etc.
As night approached, we were on the road again, now on to Pisaq, stopping only for a taste of locally brewed Chica (Inca beer), an explanation of how it is made, and a fun game trying to throw a coin down a frog's throat (cast iron frog).
At Pisaq we booked into the Pisaq Royal Inca Hotel, had a well earned shower after a full day, before heading off for a more than adequate dinner.
Next morning we enjoyed a buffet breakfast and took our time as we let the showers dissipate. Then off to the Pisaq ruins on the mountain behind the hotel.
It was difficult to imagine that anything could match Ollantaytambo for the extent and grandeur of the Inca ruins, but maybe Pisaq even topped Ollantaytambo.
As we walked through the ruins, Selvy kept up his fascinatingly informative narrative making the trip so much more meaningful. How many guides know a local caretaker who has caught someone extracting a mummy from an Inca burial cave (now on display at Arequipa); explain that the shape of the terraces as we approach Pisaq are of a woman's breasts; and point out from where the Inca's threw those who disobeyed their laws?
We walked up and through the Inca ruins, over the mountain and down into Pisaq, all the time following in the steps of the Incas.
And it wasn't over yet. First a lunch and a beer at Pisaq and then into the shopping at the Pisaq markets. All sorts of handicrafts were on sale and great bargains were negotiated for silver, alpaca, handicrafts, paintings, etc.
After a couple of hours purchasing gifts and memories, we boarded our bus for home at the end of a fabulous two days. Many thanks to Selvy and our patient, every present driver.
Thanks to our volunteers leaving us in May
A big thanks Pip for your help in getting this newsletter to us on time and with lots of great articles and photo.
Bubbles, thanks for spending a month with us and for all your hard work with the classes.
Thanks Wakey, wakey for all of your hard work with PE classes and Camp Puma. We look forward to your return in a couple of months.
Liz, you had the best job of all with the nose-blowing and the funny thing is that the kids loved to do it! Thanks for your constant support.
Amanda, thanks for all your hard work with planning and taking the art classes. The kids enjoyed them so much.
Thanks Lisa for all your assistance at the school with lessons and Talleres.
Renae, thanks very much for your calm attitude and assistance with the kindergarten kids. The teachers are very appreciative of you help.
Stewart, thanks for spending a month with us and for all your help with construction and the new Talleres system. Now we know that we never make mistakes!
To review previous newsletters - click here.
|
