Day 6 in Primopampa, Peru;
Guinea Pigs and Empowerment

Day 6 dawned clear and bright at the Eccame Hotel. It was to be our longest day (and that’s saying something), and we prepared with a familiar breakfast of delicious café con leche, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and rolls along with scrambled eggs.

By 8:00 a.m. we were on the bus, a large-ish vehicle that we were told would hold the mountain roads to the district of Shupluy more reliably than a smaller van. Fran, who had started the trip with a lifelong fear of heights, got over them that day! (Way to go, Fran!) 

Our first stop in Shupluy was Primorpampa, where we visited families raising Guinea Pigs. Guinea pigs are native to the Andes, and their meat is considered a delicacy, something I can affirm firsthand. High in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, guinea pigs can be bred, raised, and taken to market in as little three months, making them a very efficient source of both food and income.

CARE's intervention included hygiene, segregation of the animals in pens for better hygiene, and construction of a common sanitary facility for processing the meat. Families now use the composted animal waste  to fertilize feed crops such as barley or alfalfa, which are used in turn to feed the animals. Some families have been able to cultivate substantial organic vegetable gardens in addition to the feed crops.

We observed two significant systemic changes related to the changes in guinea pig production. One is the improvement in overall hygiene as sanitary practices related to raising the animals are applied to other aspects of everyday life. We rubbed our shoes in a tray of lime before entering the houses, for example, to control the spread of contamination.

The second systemic change has to do with empowering women, who are the primary providers of care for the guinea pigs. As their ventures prosper, the women enjoy greater standing in the community and command more respect. One woman told us that the men in the village used to sometimes hit their wives, but that this has stopped as the women have attained more economic power.

The highlight of our visit was a feast of guinea pig and spiced potatoes (a plate full of them for each of us) with a bottle of super-sweet Inka Cola, a popular soft drink. Imagine the pride these villagers must have felt at being able to offer such a rich repast for nearly 20 people. (Our group of 11 intrepid woman was augmented by CARE-Peru staff and our beloved translator, Tito, of Langway Language Schools in Huaraz.)

Our next stop was Huaraz, where we spent an hour or so in the wonderful markets admiring handmade sweaters, scarves, hats, and other handicrafts. Then we headed to the Chequio Community, where we visited artichoke production fields.

At Chequio we witnessed similar shifts in the social structure as well as the economic life of the community. Women were the primary movers in developing the artichoke fields, and they enjoyed a larger role in making family and community decisions as a result.

Perhaps, like me, you recall the black and white television and magazine ads for CARE circa 1960 featuring the ubiquitous CARE package. If so, you have some catching up to do. CARE's approach to aid has changed dramatically, shifting from the provision of direct service to providing technical assistance, analysis, and start up funds for systemic interventions that result in long term improvements that are maintained by the community rather than by ongoing outside support.

This kind of systemic intervention is not as sexy as direct relief, and as a result, CARE faces fund raising challenges today that it did not face in the past. It's ironic that now that a dollar donated to CARE has so much more leverage, it is harder to attract support. Not to worry. I know 11 alpha women who came home last week with a bee in their bonnets, a bee that is going to be spreading the CARE buzz for a long time to come. -- Molly Gordon, MCC

10:24 PM - Jul. 30, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment
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