Project Yucay in Peru
Posted
by
David
on 28 Jan 2009
YUCAY Dining Room Project
A brief history of Yucay:
Yucay is a small town in the middle of the Sacred Valley of the Incas at an altitude of 2890m and about 80km distant from the city of Cusco. It is a town of Inca origin and the remains of the palace of Inca Sauri Túpac are to be found on the edge of the large grass plaza.
According to legend, in the mid XV century Inca Huayna Cápac was captivated by the magnificence of Yucay's setting and decided to settle there. Determined to make this the most fertile of all valleys, the Inca ordered the richest soil from all over the Inca territory to be delivered to Yucay. The results of this enormous effort are the huge agricultural Inca terraces that are still in use today.
The Aim of the Project
The aim of this project is to assist the children and elderly townsfolk most affected by poverty in Yucay. Initially, the "comedor" or dining room will provide breakfast and lunch for up to 16 children and 4 elderly residents. Recipients of these meals are chosen according to their means and any background consideration. Special consideration is given to children from the mountain community of the San Juan who have to walk 2 hours to attend school in Yucay. These children are tired when they arrive at school and often sleep in class, their teachers are concerned that malnutrition is affecting their ability to learn.
The Action Plan:
In November/December 2008, David Gordon initiated the Yucay Comedor project on behalf of VentureCo Worldwide. The Yucay Comedor Project was adopted by Patagonia Venture Team 26 as part of their Expedition through Peru to Patagonia. After David secured the use of the Comedor building, the team went to work to convert it into a kitchen and dining space. In the space of just 4 days, the following work was completed:
1. Partition off a kitchen zone
2. Supply and install a working kitchen
3. Paint the dining area with bright colours to create a happy and inspiring atmosphere
4. Supply and install tables and chairs for 20 diners.
The Comedor was opened on 18 December 2008 with a special "Chocolatada" for 150 children from Yucay, Chocolatada is a local tradition where a hot chocolate drink and cake are given as a pre-Christmas treat.
The Yucay project will provide ongoing volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups who would like to experience life in rural Peru. The project requires help from those who like working with children and who have basic skills in teaching and/or working in a kitchen. Please contact VentureCo for further information.