Arequipa Project

Arequipa Project

Helmut Deussen, Hal Bouton, and Mike Hawley discuss Arequipa Project for their Committee on World Community Service.

In keeping with the goal of all Rotary Clubs to foster international understanding and goodwill, the Rotary Club of Charlotte has undertaken a joint project with the Rotary Club of Yanahuara (the Rotaract Club of the Instituto Superior Pedagogico de Arequipa) to address the adult literacy problem in needy sections of Arequipa, Peru. The project involves teaching 500 very poor adults (mainly women) that live in the "Ciudad Blanca" and "Cayma" settlements in the city of Arequipa, Peru to read, write and do elementary math. Programs for the adults will take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In order to more effectively impart those skills, the program is also designed to improve the self esteem of those adults by reinforcing their skills at weaving and sewing. This aspect of the program is intended as an enticement to those adults who might be reluctant to join the group without that enhancement.

Funding for the program will be supplied by the Rotary Club of Charlotte and the Rotary Foundation through a joint grant.

This project furthers the emphasis placed by the Rotary Club of Charlotte on improved literacy, in Charlotte and the world. It also enables us to work with a club in Arequipa, Peru, the original "sister city" of Charlotte, which relationship dates back to 1962.

Arequipa Project Update
August 11 - 21, 1999

Charlotte Sister Cities, which established its first partnership with the city of Arequipa in 1962, sponsored a delegation visit August 11-21, 1999. Two Rotarians were members of the delegation (Ray Killian and Peggy Wesp) and they took this opportunity to present a check in the amount of $1700 from the Charlotte Rotary to the Rotary Club of Arequipa. This money is being used to help support an Arequipa Rotary project, which teaches illiterate mothers from very poor suburbs to read and write. This is accomplished through a partnership with a local teaching university which offers teaching experience to the students as part of their curriculum through participation as RotarAct members . Currently there are 120 young adults teaching in a total of 10 centers scattered in out-lying districts of Arequipa. More than 500 women from 18 to 75 years of age are participating in the classes, which also teach basic hygiene and child, care. Furthermore, funds are used to purchase scrap materials used to produce crafts, which the women can sell to obtain a small personal income. Basic math and money management skills are also being taught to these women, many of whom were unable to write their name prior to this project. The classes are being held in donated spaces such as homes, churches, or empty stores. One location is trying to raise sufficient capital to build a child care facility to enable the mothers to concentrate more fully on their schooling. After completing a month of classes, the mothers receive a small subsidy for food, which encourages them to continue the next month. Several other area Rotary clubs are involved in similar projects with Arequipa including medical projects and salt fluoridation. The district group study exchange project of this Rotary year will be with Arequipa - The Peruvian delegation will be in our district in October (1999) and the return visit to Arequipa will be in April (2000). The Charlotte visitors had a chance to tour three of the ten facilities and meet and talk with the teachers and the mothers. Afterwards, the Rotary club sponsored a lunch meeting with the current Project Chairman (Mr. Ricardo Zavala) and his wife, the President (Ms. Carmen Cantelly), the President Elect (Mr. Cesar Fang), and the RotarAct Chair (Mr. Herminia Torres). All expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation of the participation of the Charlotte Rotary.
Arequipa projects Chair Ricardo Carvala at a Rotary supported school for mothers.	Ray Killian surrounded by mothers who attend the school in the late afternoon to learn to read.
Peggy Wesp and Ray with mothers displaying some of their crafts which earn them a very small income.	Another school location but similar project also supported jointly by Arequipa and Charlotte.
Teachers come as volunteers from area colleges.	Lunch with Rotary members and their spouses.
Incoming Rotary President for Arequipa - their first female president!	Unfinished dream - a place for the children so that the mothers can concentrate 100% on their studies. This project is the first time many have ever been to school in their lives. Most could not write their name or any figures when they began to attend.