¡Mira Mira! The kids would say, holding out a piece of paper with their school assignment or a beautiful craft they had just made. Everywhere I turned, I would see smiling faces on loving people who were excited to see someone new.
Over the summer of 2024, Jesuit students from the classes of 2026 and 2025 flew to Cusco, Peru with Jesuit faculty on a service and justice immersion trip. They worked in the communities of Andahuayllilas and other parts of the Quispicanchi Region to provide education and heath support to local schools. While there, they experienced the livelihoods of people who live and work in the region, broadening their perspectives.
Every year, the service department works hard to provide amazing opportunities for Jesuit students to engage in our Catholic mission of being God’s hands and feet around the world. As we approach the application season, I would like to share a recommendation for a trip I took. Last summer, I had the privilege to serve the communities of Perú’s Quispicanchi Province. Initially, I was unsure whether this trip was the right one for me; I had never been out of the country without my family, and I was sure that I wouldn’t be good enough at Spanish to communicate with the many kids who did not speak english. On top of that, I was unsure about taking a trip through a partner organization instead of just a Jesuit service trip. In hindsight, though, it made no difference. The Quispicanchi Project did such an amazing job, and my group was only Jesuit students. Everyday, I felt safe, understood our schedule, and loved by those around me. My pre trip worries evaporated quickly as I began to understand just how amazing this experience would be.
Service Trip Highlights
Some of my favorite times on this trip were spent working in classrooms with the schoolchildren of Fe y Alegria 44 in Andahuayllias. This Jesuit elementary school, overlooking one of the most amazing views one could ever expect, was spread out around a central grassy area, with an assembly area and gym on one side and classrooms on the others. The middle section had a beautiful garden and playground. This school provided complete education to its students. During my time in the classroom, I sat with Paulo, Joaquin, Benjamin. In class, we learned about anemia and how to prevent it. In rural areas of Peru, like Andahuayllias and other cities in the Quispicanchi region, blood and waterborne diseases are a very real threat. Fe y Alegria worked hard to make sure that the kids knew from a very young age to be on the lookout for diseases and ways to prevent them in the first place. Chiefly, the school ensured that the students had a healthy breakfast and snack to make sure their diets would assist in their fight against the many diseases that may threaten these small towns. I loved this classroom and miss all of the great people in it to this day, but my memories with them live on and guide me as I make more conscious choices about future service projects.
Though I mention diseases, attending this trip is very safe. Most of the diseases come from diet and unclean water, which both the Quispicanchi Project staff and Jesuit staff are very much aware of. The Quispicanchi Project made sure that the food us Jesuit students had was all good, and we were alerted of the water situation. Bottled water was still safe to drink, and it was readily available.
Another thing that stood out to me about this retreat was our evening reflections. Every night, the group would meet in the parish “sala” and read scripture, reflect on writings of theologians, and relate their thoughts to our personal experiences. It was so wonderful to have this time to share and be open about our struggles and our joys. Taking this time at the end of the day was so important; the days were full of activity, and time to wind down really helps the body to relax in the beautiful surroundings of Peru, preparing you for a next day full of fun and fellowship.
The parish Jesuit students stay at is great. The few chores students have throughout the day are very manageable, and the people there are very friendly. The parish offers a wonderful view of the valley and houses a afterschool program for kids leaving the Fe y Alegria school. Frequently, I made crafts, played games, and listened to stories with the kids who attended. We spent many afternoons and evenings playing soccer and volleyball at the parish and other afterschool programs around the region.
A few cultural experiences stood out to me in Andahuaylillas, too. Near the parish, a family of artisans worked tirelessly to make sliver Jewelry. It was a family business. Eva, the woman who runs her family shop, was a very kind woman. Her husband and son were running a live demonstration, and they helped us to make our very own, handmade, crosses. We began by heating and bending the silver, and then applying a thin back plate to it. After the shape was all sealed and correct, we cut the excess silver off. Then we switched stations and sat at a grinding wheel. At the wheel, we shaped pieces of a navy stone into triangles that would fill the inside of the cross. This experience was so different from anything I had ever done, and I am grateful to see how another family in a completely different part of the world supports themselves. Continuing the immersion into impoverished livelihoods, The Quispicanchi Project planned a time for the Jesuit students to experience traditional bracelet weaving on a loom. This was a project that i was not very good at, but the process was very interesting. The way the loom was set up was so intricate, magically having the 20 or so strings all together and all separate at the same time. The women who assisted us were so incredibly skilled, and their work was phenomenal. They are supported in part by the another branch of the Quispicanchi Project, Fábrica.
Weekend On Tour: Sacred Valley
After the service component of the trip had ended, the group finished their time in Peru by immersing themselves in the culture of the ancient Inca peoples who once dominated the Andes mountains of Peru and other countries. This excursion, led by tour guide and friend of the Quispicanchi Project Alfredo, included multiple stops in the sacred valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu. Alfredo was an incredibly smart tour guide who clearly understood everything he was talking about. He explained the ways in which the Incan people made their iconic terrace structures as well as the stories behind the design of different buildings. The Incas built sacred meaning into all of their work, especially in reference to the location of doors and temples. Generally, they face the sun during sacred times of the year, like an solstice or equinox.
Upon arriving to Pisac, I was taken aback at the beauty of the area, the Incan ruins only serving to amplify the amazing image spread before me. Alfredo spoke about how the Inca honored the dead, pointing to catacombs that seemed impossible without modern technology. Words struggle to describe just how amazing this scene was. Another unexpected thing were the alpacas that were everywhere, just adding an extra touch of majesty to the beautiful environment around us. Ollantaytambo, too, amazed me. The town of Ollantaytambo rests in a valley, surrounded by mountains. On two of them, on opposite sides of the city, housed amazing ruins like grain storage vaults and religious spaces. We spent the night in the town of Ollantaytambo, excited for the upcoming day in Machu Picchu.
Early the next morning, our group piled into the train early in the morning, setting off for a day of adventure. The train ride was gorgeous, and upon arriving at the ruins, we were met with the most breathtaking sight. In this moment I truly had no words, only amazement. We explored the ruins by taking a hike up to the top of Mt. Machu Picchu, a challenging but rewarding hike that offered amazing views of the lush valley below. After spending a day here, I understood why UNESCO classifies this place as a World Heritage Site.
About The Quispicanchi Project
“At the heart of our work are three pueblos on the “Ruta del Barroco Andino”, 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, even with the services they provide, the need in the region is great. Our goal is to be a compliment to these centers’ mission and mission of our 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.”
-Quispicanchi Project website
The project has touched the lives of countless people through their efforts, based off of four main objectives. “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.” These objectives are bolstering nutritional intake through sustainable solutions, working with local organizations to promote the general health and well being of communities, support local efforts to increase equitable access to education and reach their full potential, and promote the rich cultural history of the region.
Recently, the project began their dental health plan in the Sullumayo, a community of families dispersed over many miles in the Andes near Huaro, another city in the Quispicanchi province. Sullumayo is one of the poorest communities in the country, and most of the people born there will never leave. When my group arrived to this community, we were introduced immediately to the poverty of this area. The windy dirt roads had a few children walking on them, and they all were going to the central school of Sullumayo, “Virgen del Rosario.” In some cases, attending school meant a 2 hour one way walk every day. Yet, these children happily did it, as the school offered them opportunities to remain healthy.
Fábrica
A social enterprise of the Quispicanchi Project is Fábrica. They are a store in which handmade items made by the women in rural Peru. “In many of the rural communities where [Fábrica] partners, women and families experience high rates unemployment, food insecurity, and lack access to opportunities to improve their basic standard of living. In many cases women also experience high rates of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their spouse or partner.” “[Fábrica] aims to provide consistent employment to women who live in the local, rural and indigenous communities of Peru. For many of these women, employment opportunities are limited, and families rely on what is known as the “informal economy” of street vending — an often inconsistent form of income.” (Fábrica website) By purchasing from Fábrica, people support the betterment of lives for the women in the underserved areas of Peru.
Final thoughts
Jack Stevens ’26 had this to day about his experience on the trip.
“Over the summer, I had an amazing experience traveling to Peru to work with the Quispicanchi program for Jesuit service immersion. Although I enjoyed the whole trip and experience, I would say playing with the lower school kids during their recess time left one of the most notable impacts on me. My group and I had the opportunity to play with these kids, games like volleyball, basketball, soccer and so on. To say the least, it was genuinely super fun. They helped me work on my Spanish speech and I’d venture to say I became friends with them. This experience helped me understand that we are all people deserving of love, everybody deserves a chance at happiness and everyone deserves to be loved equally. Later on in the trip, my group and I ventured to Machu Picchu, a breathtaking experience that illustrated the beauty of nature and that there is so much more in the world than just screens, this beauty, a catalyst for my desire to explore the world’s magnificence.”
Finally, what stood out to me most about this trip was the people of Peru. Everywhere we went, we were met with smiles and open arms. This trip is one that I will never forget, and I am so incredibly grateful for Jesuit Dallas and the Quispicanchi Program for making this trip possible. I hope my Jesuit brothers will consider taking a leap of faith and attending this program for themselves, it will change your life.
Stay tuned to The Roundup for more Jesuit Service and Justice News.