Simon is a Norwegian student with an interest in Quechua culture. He documents his experiences and findingshere.
I am a Norwegian student from Oslo, currently writing my bachelor thesis in Development Studies at the University of Oslo. My thesis concerns: Exploring and identifying essential factors to Peruvians of Quechua origin and their identity with or resistance to the Quechua culture.
Peruvians of Quechua origin either reject or uphold their Quechua identity. The main findings in this study demonstrate that cultural identity issues continue to persist, and are often inter-woven in complex structures affected by social, cultural and economic factors.
One of the most interesting findings is that gender should not be seen as an isolated factor but in conjunction with social mobility and rural-urban environments where males are less willing to uphold their cultural Quechua identity and females limitations in social mobility.
A female from Maca emphasized how connected she and the Maca community are with the preservation of their cultural identity by addressing the importance of wearing traditional clothes and arranging competitions rewarding young Peruvians who perform in their native Quechua language. In contrast, her male cousin visiting from Arequipa expressed his dislike for the sound of the Quechua language and his lack of association with its culture.
Among the main observations is that tourism may potentially function as a pull factor, helping communities to resist cultural degradation by providing possible economic gains through the preservation of traditions and language.
Religious differences also arose during interviews (Catholicism versus Andean spiritualism). These variances are worth further investigation regarding the manner in which they influence Peruvians of Quechua origin to reject or uphold their Quechua identity.
In short, my findings involved social mobility, gender, rural vs. urban residence, economic empowerment, tourism, hybridization of Quechua, and intellectual bilingual educational policy (IBE).
My Journey in Peru
I reached out to Quechua Benefit for the possibility of volunteering as an English teacher at Casa Chapi.
Dale, Quechua Benefit’s Executive Director, connected me with long time Quechua Benefit supporters Robert Els, Maria Belen Juares Del Carpio, Kathe Torres and Abel Santander. They were a huge help to me while conducting interviews in Arequipa, Canon del Colca, Cusco and The Sacred Valley.
The warm and welcoming people of Quechua origin gave me insight into their way of looking at the world, which left me humbled, and inspired. I believe the world would likely be a better place if their worldview was shared with more people.
Xeina is a recent high school graduate now moving onto college in Maryland. This is an interview about what the future holds for her.
Q: Now that you have completed high school, what’s next, Xeina?
A: My next steps are for me to go to college, my summer was busy but ready for college. I am either go into medicine to become a surgeon or any other type of doctor or I’ll be going to business. I am not sure yet, but whatever path I take my heart will be with it.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most while in college?
A: Well making friends, study hard to achieve what I want but also have a great experience.
Q: Why is education important for you?
A: Education is important to me because without it you limit your potential to become more than what you think. Also education is important because is this life education is everything and learning new skills.
Q: Do you have any words of encouragement for future college-bound students that may have reservations/hesitations?
A: I am not sure how college is going to be because I haven’t started yet, but trust me that college is not just study, is also the connections you make. The people you meet and the new skills you learn.
Q: Any other comments or remarks for our community at Quechua Benefit?
A: I just want to say thank you for all the people who has followed my journey until today. I am really grateful because if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be here ready to go to college and give everything of me, study hard, but also enjoy my experience. You guys are part of my life and I hope to make each and everyone of you proud of me. Thank you again!
Inspired by Xeina’s story? Your gift today will help her, and others like her, create opportunities to make an impact in their communities. Click the link below to give the gift of higher education.
Thank you, SimpliPhi Power! Quechua Benefit greatly appreciates the generous donation to keep Casa Chapi’s solar panels up and running! Read more about this amazing gift below:
SimpliPhi Power announces 2021 recipients: the IDEA that clean & affordable energy is key to economic growth, social equity & environmental sustainability.
[Oxnard, Ca] – Since its founding, SimpliPhi Power®, a brand of Briggs & Stratton, has committed 1% of its annual revenue to people and communities in need of access to energy. In December of 2021, the Company once again invited global partners to join in this IDEA – to Deliver Energy Access – by formally submitting their projects for consideration or by committing 1% of their annual revenue to the cause.
1DEA recipients will be awarded PHI 3.8 batteries and other balance of system equipment for projects, ranging from health clinics to remote schools in far regions of the world. “The high impact projects we’ve selected represent the core of this initiative, to make energy access available even in the face of significant financial, technical, and logistical challenges,” states Catherine Von Burg, CEO of SimpliPhi Power. “We are not only donating critical energy storage systems, but we are creating a philanthropic community by bringing together other donors, equipment manufacturers and the technical expertise SimpliPhi Power is known for, ensuring these projects are installed and operate for years to come,” Von Burg added.
SimpliPhi Power is a member of the UN Global Compact and the Unreasonable Impact Group, a UN-sponsored consortium of companies committed to fulfilling the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address the major social and environmental issues of our times.
The 2021 project recipients provide a deeper insight into some of the complex issues surrounding energy access and the requisite level of commitment to make an impact:
Remote Island Solar Schools Project: Together with Its Time Foundation, SimpliPhi will empower schools in remote Fiji to significantly reduce their energy costs by eliminating diesel generators, repurposing precious funds for school supplies, electronic equipment, and teachers’ salaries.
The Gunchukwa Health Center Clean Energy Project: In coordination with Twende Solar, the health center serving the Gunchukwa indigenous community of Colombia, will be able to eliminate the intermittent power supply that undermines reliable health care services and have access to clean, renewable electricity 24/7.
Casa Chapi Lead-Acid Replacement Project: In support of Quechua Benefit’s ongoing development efforts in Peru, the Casa Chapi boarding school will avoid power disruptions by replacing their failing lead-acid battery bank (installed less than four years ago) with long-lasting, safe, PHI lithium iron phosphate batteries.
The Reserva Nacional Tambopata Project: In conjunction with Twende Solar, this small, two-battery system will provide power for emergency care and Amazon Forest preservation tasks, through the implementation of a communication system at the Sandoval Surveillance and Control Post of the Tambopata National Reserve.
Mobile Solar for High-Risk Communities Project: In partnership with Empowered by Light and the Footprint Project, two mobile emergency response solar + battery trailers will be constructed for California Firefighters and first responders to provide reliable access to power during wildfires, as well as planned and unplanned power outages to support charging critical communications, medical equipment and other operations.
Solar Triage in Navajo & Hopi Communities Project: In support of Native Renewables, this project will provide access to reliable off-grid solar electricity paired with energy storage for families of both Navajo and Hopi communities who live and work in rural locations.
“Twende Solar could not be more pleased with the opportunity to partner with SimpliPhi Power once again, this time on one of our signature projects for 2022,” remarked Marissa Johnson, Executive Director of Twende Solar. Marissa went on to add, “Twende is excited to share the impacts of both projects in full reports once they are complete.”
“One of the key elements of the IDEA initiative is to demonstrate how partnerships can make a positive impact on the communities where renewable energy systems are installed,” says Tom Rugg, SVP & President – Energy Solutions at Briggs & Stratton.
“The benefits of having access to safe and reliable renewable generation and energy storage in remote, often marginalized communities extend far beyond the projects themselves,” noted Matt Walker, IQ Training Coordinator with SimpliPhi Power after working with Native Renewables in 2021. The IDEA is integral to SimpliPhi’s mission and its commitment to the UN SDG’s and Global Compact.
For additional information and to track the progress of the projects in the coming months, please visit the IDEA program webpage.
SimpliPhi Power, which is part of the Briggs and Stratton portfolio of brands, is headquartered in Oxnard, California and has a mission to create universal access to safe, reliable and affordable energy. Simpliphi Power designs and manufactures efficient, non-toxic, and enduring energy storage and management systems that utilize environmentally benign lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry. SimpliPhi combines the non-hazardous LFP energy storage chemistry with its proprietary cell and battery architecture, power electronics, Battery Management System (BMS) and manufacturing processes and materials to create safe, reliable, durable, and highly scalable on-demand power solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, and government sectors.
If you ever get the chance to visit the district of Yanque, you may be entranced by the beauty of this authentic village. Pre-Inca ruins scattered throughout Uyo-Uyo Archaeological Park, off the beaten path day hikes that lead to breath taking viewpoints, it’s easy to get entranced at 11, 210 ft above sea level.
Behind the mist of all this beauty lies of the history of Yanque. Much of the population is of indigenous Quechua decent. 56.28% of the population here state Quechua as their first language. In case you were curious, the Quechua language dates back to the Incan Empire.
Quechua is an oral language so much of their history is passed down through traditional fiber handicrafts, spinning various fibers and weaving fabrics for both domestic use and foreign sales. Each community uses their own distinct patterns and anthropomorphic designs.
For Vidal and his family, they see a different Yanque. Vidal is one of six kids in his family. His father was the sole income earner in the family but suffered a traumatic accident and could no longer work. Vidal’s future would have been simple and traditional: drop out of school and start working to support the family financially. As this may seem like a noble route, this perpetuates the cycle of poverty for his family.
Instead, Vidal’s parents made the brave decision to send him to Casa Chapi several years ago.
Thanks to you, our generous Quechua Benefit community, he excelled in his studies during his senior year at Paola Frassinetti High School in Arequipa.
He graduated in December 2021 and hopes to attend university to major in culinary arts and nutrition and become a chef.
“To all the kids at Casa Chapi I would tell them to continue studying, make an effort and be dedicated in every activity they do. For me, education in important because it allows me to have development opportunities such a work and a higher quality of life.”
Vidal, we are so proud of your accomplishments and cannot wait to see what you will cook up in the future.
Sometimes, the cards just seemed to be stacked against you. For Quechua people living in the Peruvian highlands, that is the reality. Many of them lead isolated lives at 13,000 ft above sea level as marginal farmers. Much of the rural adult population is illiterate, not having studied past primary school. This fragmented education is not by choice. Many kids join the workforce early to help their families financially
Many of you are familiar with the name Maria Fernanda. If not, let me introduce you to this astounding young woman. Born in Caylloma, she is one of five kids in her family. Her single mother is an alpaca shepherdess who enrolled Maria Fernanda in Casa Chapi as a 3rd grader in 2013.
“When I was little, I was sad because I only went to school sometimes. My dad did not want me to study because I was a girl. [When I first started to study at Casa Chapi] I was afraid that my dad would come get me out or make trouble. But he died. When I found out I felt sorry for him, but I did not have that fear anymore.”
Maria Fernanda could easily have been another Quechua statistic who goes through life bearing the brunt of poverty in Peru. Thanks to the support of our donors like you over the years, we’ve been able to empower students like Maria Fernanda to break the cycle of poverty. From Casa Chapi to Paola Frassinetti High School, she has now graduated and plans to pursue a degree in Business Administration.
“Education in important to me because it’s the way we can change our lifestyle and be an example to our society. For all the kids currently at Casa Chapi, take advantage of this great opportunity. There is only one chance, don’t pass it up. Your future depends on it. Show that you are capable of change. Don’t fear success.”
Her true passion lies in her art. One of her drawings was commissioned to be printed onto a limited-edition luxurious shawl from Kuna by Alpaca Collections.
Maria Fernanda, we are very proud of you and cannot wait to hear about your studies at university.
The isolated life as a marginal farmer is the future for most Quechuan kids in rural Peru. With a long history of ethnic persecution and political conflict, solitary communities like the mountainous district of Lari, at 11,017 ft elevation, have been and will continue to be excluded from Peru’s economic growth.
Only 66% of 12-16 year old girls attend school in rural areas (Inter Press Study).
Born to two alpaca herders with four other children, a life of poverty is the reality for kids like Griset. Little did her parents know that the moment they enrolled Griset at Casa Chapi, she would be set on a different path, a brighter path.
Griset thrived at Casa Chapi. She enjoys volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics–activities she would not have had the opportunity to learn at home. Math is her favorite subject in school.
Thanks to years of support from our Quechua Benefit community, Griset has been provided the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. A proper education provided to anyone willing to learn, with the ambition to do better and break the norm, is the most powerful tool.
Throughout the pandemic, Griset persevered to keep up with her studies. She was grateful for the food her family received and the cellphone to stay in touch with her teachers. Like the other students, Griset was excited to return to Casa Chapi in Arequipa to continue school with her friends.
“To all the parents who are wondering if Casa Chapi will be a good fit for their kids/family situation – it’s a great opportunity for your children, and it will change their lives for the better. Have them dream and build their own path.”
Fast forward to present day . . .
Griset graduated from Paola Frassinetti High School in Arequipa, Peru in December 2021. She hopes to attend university in March 2022 to pursue a degree in systems engineering.
Griset, we are so proud of all your hard work and cannot wait to hear about your future endeavors.