Yes, it's real.

We stopped by Villa Martha (the orphanage where I worked before) today and since the first school is close by, we stopped by too. Fortunately the people who live here had the door open so we snuck in I suppose and I'm writing this on one of the computers that we bought. They've even got a few webcams that the computer place gave them so be prepared for some sort of videoconference in the future...

Anyway, we'll miss the last bus out of here if we don't go soon. Once Katie is here we begin! No aguanto la espera...

Matt

Let me tell you why I adore Peru.

Today I spent the afternoon in the market, sitting at a table that had been "varnished" with packing tape. A little boy and I spent at least an hour playing with two paper towel tubes, an empty bottle, and two bottle caps. First it's a telescope, then it's a tower. We played Jenga--see who can push it furthest before it fall over. We built houses and found ways to hide the bottle caps inside. We played 3-card monty with one tube and two caps: guess which is where. Then we started to flick them across the table at each other until he discovered a sort of foam tennis ball and now we're really talking.

I'm pretty sure the total cost of that was zero. Oh, the things North America could learn from this boy…

Touchdown!

I've arrived in Lima and all is well. Surreal is the best word, but slowly things feel second nature again, like the dogs and cats in the street, fruit vendors over bullhorns, and cutting electricity to our whole floor by trying to take a hot shower. Sweet, sweet Peru.

The computers are up and running, and everyone is fascinated. I will be going with Isaac to see the area on Fri/Sat, but we won't be formally introduced or start the actual activities until Katie arrives in a few days. It's all very exciting but ever so slightly overwhelming, too. My Spanish is catching up, but it will take a few days. The strangest thing is remembering that everyone will expect me to speak Spanish, compared to hopefully eavesdropping on Edmonton buses only to catch a couple sentences in my adopted language.

It will also take at least a day to recover from the 30 hours of travel, including sleeping overnight in the Edmonton airport to catch my very very early flight and then sporadic naps on the four planes that it took to get me here.

But it's real! I'm in Peru! How can't I love this feeling?

Matt

Computers to be installed this week!

I spoke with Isaac, our phenomenal Peruvian project partner (four p's in a row...), and it looks like everything is clear for computers to be bought this week Wednesday or Thursday, with full installation on Sunday. Now we see the smallest details come into play--how do we transport ten computers from Lima to La Libertad? They'll be filling up a taxi and driving them out. Total cost is about $40, or $4 shipping per computer. I'll take it.

Also in the past week: A full parents' meeting with the director at Villa Maria, our second location. It sounds like they are fully committed to the project and in fact already have a room we can use, so we'll save a significant amount on renovation costs. That said, so far we have been well under budget in La Libertad and we should come in on time also, so that the lab will be functional by the time Katie and I are together May 15.

Personally, today marks the two week point for my departure and Peru is constantly on my mind. Being back will bring a whole new set of experiences and I can't wait to see what's in store. I expect some bumps along the way, but I'm confident that problems have solutions and we will have a great result to look back on in August.

Thirty+five days.

As my countdown approaches the 30-day mark, I'm starting to feel the effects. I walk outside and close my eyes, imagining the sounds of Lima or the soft scrape of my shoes over Picapiedra's dirt streets. These episodes are inescapable, and I don't try to avoid my daydreaming anymore because the reality is close enough--exams finish, I move into my new apartment, and then there are four days until departure. I know how I'll feel that day, and I can see myself on the plane, at the gate, riding down Avenida Arequipa to the hostel where I'll stay for a few days to catch up with Joseph and all the others that made Peru a place to go back to. Then Katie will arrive, and we'll see Cieneguilla and Villa Maria for the first time. That's where my visions end: I have no idea what the following three months will contain, and that's why I can't wait to get there. The comforts of an old home plus the excitement of uncharted ground. Reacquainting my tongue with the sounds of Spanish, to the point that English will be a choice rather than the default. Conectados will be a great addition to my tales of Peru.

Matt

Newsflash

Newflash: Proyecto Conectados is selected to be one of the two projects representing International House at the University of Alberta. The project will receive 10,000$ from the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Foundation fund for 100 Projects for Peace, 2010 to implement the project during May-August 2010

Construction is complete on the first computer lab... Pictures soon

top: Kids from the school

middle left: Parent Meeting

middle right: La Libertad School

lower left: students in class

lower right: site of the first computer lab

Welcome to the Projectos Conectados Blog!

Katie Here. This is my first blog entry about Proyectos Conectados. I guess I should tell part of the story of where the idea came from. Matt was already working with the Peruvian NGO, Wasiymi Wasiki to install a computer lab in Cieneguilla (just outside of Lima) in before this became “our project”. A lot of groundwork was due to Matt’s efforts. Part way through October we decided we wanted to organize our own project that would draw on our strengths, let us take the reins on a project (rather than just doing another internship in an office) and ofcourse, help the community that meant a lot to Matt. After hours of Skyping, we came up with Proyectos Conectados. Essentially, we’re setting up two computers labs in La Libertad School in Cieneguilla and a school in Villa Maria de la Triunfo. After “Phase One”, we starting afterschool programs to teach personal skills/ development/ values to the kids using technology. This will be beneficial because hopefully, it will promote personal change while getting the kids more familiar with technology and computers. We were told by our partner at Wasiymi Wasiki that personal development for the kids was really important for the parents. The emphasis on teaching using technology was important to Matt and I because we know that as technology becomes more integrated and widespread, knowing how to use it is imperative to remaining competitive. We decided that this project was go in December. Matt and I spent most of our Christmas breaks working on the grant proposal for funding. After a suspenseful wait, we found out last Thursday that we were receiving the Davis Project or Peace giving us 10,000$ to make our crazy idea happen. This is an incredible opportunity, challenge and adventure. We’ve gone from 0 to 100, and we’re focusing on pretty substantive issues…where we’re going to live… getting in touch with teachers… sorting out technology… planning our sessions… sourcing the computers…. Setting up bank details etc. It’s all overwhelming, both in how much we have to do and how exciting this opportunity is. This is going to complicated and difficult… I’m won’t naively say that this is all going to move smoothly.
We’re going to keep a blog to track the project from start to end. So, this is the beginning Enjoy.
As the project progresses, Matt and I are going to be posting photos, videos and more blog entries with News and reflections on how the project is going.

Katie