Voluntary Activity @ "UN DIA DE ESPERANZA"

On Sunday 13 of november we visited an association called "UN DIA DE ESPERANZA" that means "ONE DAY OF HOPE". In this place boys and girls from 5  to 17 years old that are HIV-positive gather. They are afflicted by this decease and keeping their hopes up is what this place is all about. The people in this organization are doing a great job.

So we decided that we wanted to visit them and learn their situation. We organized activities that all could relate to. Starting with an improv game that quickly helped memorize that names of all of us. Then we did another game that was really fun that consisted in becoming a object or person and then rapidly someone else had to join in and compliment the scene. After this group games, we splitter in smaller teams. While some learn how to play peruvian instruments others learned how to Latin Dance. Then we had a great party with all that had been learned.

Then at noon we had lunch. Pepe using his cooking mastery prepared all of us an entrée and a main course. We all enjoyed it and specially the kids. We ate a lot.

This place has much to offer this kids and they are just beginning. In a near future they will be able to accommodate them here, so they can live and receive their treatment all in the same location.

This was just one of the many Voluntary Activities that we have planned. We wish to come back soon and help them out to set up the place for the kids.

We are getting ready for the National Presentation!

Our rehearsals are becoming funner each time we practice. We get to dances a lot and play tons of typical music! This time, we tried out our new red and white jackets and t-shirts and took a great picture as the peruvian flag, which was a gift of our sponsor Cuy Arts. Check out their Web Site, you’ll find awesome products!

Visit to the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru - IDEHPUCP

On november 2nd the Peruvian Delegation visited the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru - IDEHPUCP, where we received an interesting lecture in charge of Proffesor José Alejandro Godoy.

The lecture was about the political violence situation that underwent Perú between 1980 and the year 2000, that left a painful balance of serious crimes and violations to human rights, and about the work of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was created in 2001 as the instance in charge of clarifying the process and facts occurred, and proposing initiatives to strengthen peace and reconciliation among all Peruvians.

The IDEHPUCP was created as an University initiative "aimed at strengthening the rule of law, citizenship, the full effectiveness of human rights and institutions proper of a democratic system in Peru, through the dissemination, rising of awareness and generation of academic venues and non-partisan political reflection forums".

IDEHPUCP donated documentation about the political violence and the work of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will be socialized with participants of the SW24.

If you want to know more about IDEHPUCP, you are welcome to visit their site: www.idehpucp.edu.pe

Preparatory work - First meetings

The work meetings of the Peruvian Delegation began on September 19th, a few days after we received one of the best news of our lives: that we had been chosen to represent our country in the 24th Ship for World Youth!

We started meeting twice a week and distributed the responsibilities so that every one of us will be in charge of one of the activities that we have to carry on in the ship.

But, in mid-October, we realized that we had to push harder, so we began to gather four times a week to plan and rehearse our National Presentation, design our uniform, think about probable sponsors and get to know ourselves a little bit better.

So far, we are becoming experts on dances from the Peruvian jungle and the rhythms of the African-Peruvian community, so prepare for what you will see in the ship!

We are taking care of the last details of the script and beginning to produce all the material that we will need to amaze you all.

Up to date, we are looking for more sponsors that would help us share the wonders of Peru with the other 12 delegations on SWY 24.

Peruvian Delegation Logo

Our logo, is based in the iconography of the majestic walls that surround the beautiful citadel of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in Latin America and since 1986 declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

This citadel is located in the peruvian northern coast and it was constructed by the pre-Inca culture Chimu. Their beautiful walls are decorated by fish and bird figures, they represent their strong relationship with the sea.

Just like our destination is Japan, which flag is represented by the Hinomaru (the sun’s circle); our historical origins is Chan Chan, which in spanish means “the magnificent sun”. The fish, chimu iconography, represent our relationship with the sea and our identification with the Ship of World Youth’s culture and program.

Logo designed by Mikel Hoyle

Meet the Delegates: Maria Paula Brito

Maria Paula Brito (25)

Hello PYs! I am Maria Paula, I am 25 years old and am a political scientist. Peru is a multicultural country, and my curiosity in its diversity has lead me to give my discipline an anthropological twist, working with indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon and promoting intercultural dialogue. I love to travel, play capoeira, dance and en general enjoy life and its most simple beauties and its many mysterious surprises. I am a firm believer in what youth is capable of; in my country Political Science is a new career, and I have worked strongly in constructing its identity through youth collective action and academic investigation. My desire as a participant in the SWY program is to become part of an international youth community who feels change is possible, who doesn’t see barriers or frontiers, who has the courage and drive to work for common dreams. When I heard about the SWY program I was breath taken. During this experience, I know we will be amazed, that we will grow together, and that we will live a life changing experience that defies the obstacles of multiculturalism and makes it a reality and a spirit brotherhood.

Meet the Delegates: Paul Hoyle

Paul Hoyle (20)

Hey, I´m Paul. I´m a 20 years old musician and I love doing any kind of sports. Since before I exist, my life have been related to music. It´s my main passion.

Also, one of my passions is travelling. I believe this is one the best ways of learning about other cultures and really understand the diversity of thoughts, ways of living, etc. and through this, improve the way of living beetween all the people around the world.

I´m now studying music in the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas and I´m looking forward to learn and share all of our experiences with the other participants in the SWY and continue helping in the improvement of my country.