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I have been deeply enriched by the Heart-Links' Work/ Awareness experience. For one, it gave me the opportunity to experience, in an immediate and physical manner, the land, which is both spectacularly beautiful and desolate, and to understand that the connection
that many Peruvians have with their land is a fundamental aspect of their being. As well, I witnessed poverty and destitution, which was starkly contrasted with the incredible
affluence of areas of Lima, and I was awed by the incredible resilience and perseverance
of the people we met. I was also overwhelmed by their generosity and the way they shared with us their culture, their homes, their food, their laughter, their experiences,
their struggles, their knowledge, their faith and their hearts. I feel that I left a piece of me in Peru and I expect it will always be softly calling me back.
Shannon Calvert
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One of the nice things about digital cameras is that you can take a lot of pictures of memorable sites, events or moments that might otherwise be forgotten. Such was the case during our recent trip to Zana where I made a point of always taking my camera with me and by the time we left, had taken more than 2000 pictures! Because of this, one would think that I could readily show a picture of my most memorable experience of the trip. But I can’t. The most memorable experience for me was a gut wrenching one. So much so, that I didn’t need to snap a picture as the situation was indelibly and instantly recorded in my mind.s eye. It occurred during our visit to Cajamarca and involved sitting and listening to five campesinos describe the devastating impact that the Yanacocha gold mine has had on them, their families and others in the area. Gone forever is their traditional lifestyle and a physical environment that used to be among the most pristine in Peru. Instead, there are now a myriad of physical, social and mental health problems among the campesinos and their families, dysfunctional communities and a ravaged environment marked by a bare and topless mountain, polluted streams and rivers and contaminated farmlands that have robbed them of their food supply and livelihood. The image of anguished faces and body language of the campesinos describing their plight is a haunting one. There sat five grief-stricken men who have been victimized by political forces beyond their control and are powerless to do anything about it. Their despair was profound and sense of hopelessness overwhelming. Despite their tragic fate and all that they’ve lost, it was apparent that these five men have retained at least two admirable traits characteristic of campesinos in the Cajamarca area. They’ve retained their dignity and selflessness. When asked, by one of our group, “What can we do to help?” The direct but soft spoken reply was, in effect “when you get back home to Canada, be more aware of and appreciative of your own natural environment and do all that you can to protect and preserve it."
Mario Faveri
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In November 2001, a number of coincidences lead to the purchase of a small book, “Women of Zana”. I did not know then, that one day, I would actually meet most of these “Women of Zana” and how their lives would impact mine. Now, more than two months have passed since I spent an incredible three weeks in the Zana Valley of Peru, through the Work Awareness Program of Heart-Links. I sit, in my comfortable home, and reflect on the people that I met, their lives, their struggles, the harshness of their reality – how very different their world is from ours. I am humbled by their graciousness, their love, their willingness to share, their perseverance and their strength.
Highlights of our trip? There were so many! We had the opportunity to visit the various projects supported by Heart-Link and others. Among these were: three kitchens - Zana, San Juan and La Aviacion: the school (Nuestra Senora del Magnificat) for challenged or “educationally abandoned” students: a bakery “Panaderia San Martin de Thours” (managed and run by women): a youth center in Reque: various women’s groups: a welding apprentice program : the Rural Library System in Cajamarca - to name a few. We were given the opportunity to visit the homes and families of several of the residents of Zana: a seamstress, a teacher, a welder, a farmer, a miner, a vendor, and a candy maker. They welcomed us most graciously and answered all our questions about their personal lives and struggles with open frankness. These visits were a personal insight into their daily life and most definitely a highlight!
Barbara Boles-Davis |
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