Peru: Receiving More by Giving Back

Submitted by Gercy Abad on the 2017 summer session program in Peru sponsored by the School of Nursing…

Hola from Peru 2017!

This week’s adventures includes a long ride and hike up from Cuzco to the last Inca tribe of Q’eros. They are known as the “wise” people in Peru. We were staying up at 14,000 ft and with families in their homes. The temperature there was freezing and it ended up actually snowing one night. The highlight was truly the time we spent with the children and people there. On June 27th, we woke up early in the morning to the sunlight. The lack of electricity, running water and other “essentials” of modern day society gave us all a reality call. It was a chilly morning and we layered on our clothes to start the day. After breakfast, young children began showing up, and we played multiple games with them with a parachute and ball. We had a blast!

A little later on, we began our teachings and interventions to help the community. We realized the great trouble of getting resources especially for the women. Being so high up there and with the nearest hospital/city being an 8 hour hike down, the women desperately needed pads for their menstrual cycles. So after teaching sex education to some of the parents and young adults, we made reusable pads for the women using various fabrics. For a few hours, we sat outside of the community house at a big table sewing pads together.

We attracted the attention of young girls and mothers who wanted them for themselves or in the future. To our surprise, husbands also came to make them for their daughters and wives! They were so supportive and made them quicker than we could. We found out that couples there are very egalitarian and will share everything together.

Later on, when we slept in home-stays, the family, especially the man of the household were so hospitable. They would sacrifice their beds for us, make them and tuck us into bed with humbleness in their hearts. They are the kindest people I have ever met.  I learned that when you truly give back to people, they will give back to you in ways that touch your heart. Even though they had very little, they’re willing to give so much more. This is an awesome experience that I will never forget. I will never forget how the people of Q’eros made me feel.