Jacob and Landon are volunteering in Tarma, a delightful city of about 60,000 residents located in a fertile valley about 3,053 meters, or 10,016 feet, above sea level in the Andes mountain range. Jacob and Landon are enjoying their rewarding service assignments and warm host families. They also have taken time to get to know Tarma, which was founded in 1538 in the departamento (state) of Junín, between the central coast and the central Amazon rain forest.
A closer view of the main plaza and Santa Ana Cathedral in Tarma.
Because of its spring-like weather and natural beauty, Tarma was nicknamed the “Pearl of the Andes” by Antonio Raimondi, an Italian-born scientist and university professor, who traveled widely through Peru from 1850 to 1875 studying the nation’s geography, geology, botany, zoology, ethnography, and archaeology. Indeed, Tarma has beautiful scenery and charming, narrow streets along with year-round sunshine and rich soil ideal for agriculture.
Tarma also is referred to as the City of Flowers; flowers grown here are shipped to Lima and elsewhere and also are used during huge religious observances. For example, during Holy Week, residents make elaborate designs from flower petals on the streets, carpeting parts of the city with color. They also shower flower petals down on the images of Jesus Christ and Mary, which are carried through the streets on illuminated litters.
Jacob and Landon are doing volunteer work at the Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy) school #67. The school, part of a network of more than 2,000 such schools across Central and South America, provides quality education for students from poor families. Fe y Alegria schools are established and run by members of Catholic orders and partially funded by the government. Tarma’s well-run school is fairly new and situated on a hillside overlooking the city.
Jacob shares a fist bump with a student for a job well done.
Jacob assists in classes of English, computer skills and physical education. He helps the teachers with grading and preparing study materials. He works with second-graders and gives extra attention to three children who need one-on-one support. The teacher, Lila, says that Jacob has made a huge difference for one little boy who lagged behind his grade level. Jacob has taught him to recognize letters and he has begun to learn to read.
Students express their affection for Landon, who is known by his middle name of “Luis” (Lewis).
Landon is assisting in the third and fourth grade classroom with teacher Janet and is helping fifth-graders learn English. Landon is an education major who plans to teach math, so he is often involved with preparation and teaching of math lessons. When Janet was hospitalized recently following a car crash, Landon took the lead in math classes (with support from another teacher).
Jacob and Landon report to Sister Patricia Day, the school’s sub-director (vice principal). They’ve enjoyed her energy, positive attitude and Australian-accented Spanish. Sister Patricia and Sister Charo Zurita, the school’s director (or principal), belong to the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Their order raised the funds for repairs after a mudslide crashed into one of the school’s buildings last spring.
Jacob’s host parents, Deyadira (or Yadira) and Abraham Bañon are a nurse and municipal official, respectively, who have hosted a number of Goshen students. They live with their two children and Yadira’s mother in a small, second-floor apartment. They are a warm and welcoming family who enjoy conversation and watching sports and game shows with Jacob.
Landon is the first Goshen student to be hosted by Carmen Bañon, one of the Fe y Alegría teachers, and her husband, Juan Baldoseda Roca, who is a teacher at Colegio Stephen Hawking. Landon’s host family includes two young host brothers and a grandma. Landon’s host dad particularly enjoys conversation and cultural exchange, and his youngest brother enjoys wandering into his room and pulling things to the floor! Landon handles it all with good humor.
Jacob with his host parents, Deyadira and Abraham Bañon (right), his host grandmother (left) and his host brother and sister.Landon with his host parents, Carmen Bañon and Juan Baldoseda Roca, his host grandmother (left) and his two host brothers.Landon with his younger host brother.The gate marking the entrance to the Comunidad de Vista Hermosa, the hillside neighborhood that is home to the Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy) school #67 Maria Inmaculada in Tarma.A sign announcing the Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy) school #67 Maria Inmaculada in Tarma.The Fe y Alegria School in Tarma.The front of the Fe y Alegria school.The main entrance to the Fe y Alegria school.A plaque thanking those who made the school possible.Values promoted by the Diocese of Tarma include mercy, humility, goodness and love.An outside hallway at the school.A classroom at Fe y Alegria.A classroom at Fe y Alegria.Two boys at Fe y Alegria.Landon teaches a lesson to attentive students.Landon explains how to correctly reduce or expand portions in a recipe.The day’s lesson: how to correctly increase or decrease portions in a recipe.Landon helps students understand basic math concepts. Landon provides patient instruction.Students pay close attention to Landon’s instructions.To keep classrooms cleaner, students leave their dusty shoes outside.The Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy) school #67 Maria Inmaculada is situated on a hillside in the Comunidad de Vista Hermosa and has spectacular views.Servant leadership: Jacob helps a student put on his shoes.Servant leadership: Jacob helps a student put on his shoes.Second-graders at Fe y Alegria with their physical education teacher, Cintia.Physical education class includes some running.Second-graders run at Fe y Alegria.Second-graders run at Fe y Alegria.Second-graders run at Fe y Alegria.Fe y Alegrai schools were founded by Jesusitas (Jesuits).Second-graders exercising.Second-graders exercising.Jacob keeps an eye on four boys who have chosen not participate in exercises this day.Jacob counsels boys at Fe y Alegria.Jacob provides some one-on-one attention.Jacob helps Cintia, a teacher who coordinates physical education classes.Jacob assists with a running game.Jacob patiently explains that the boys don’t have to yell to get his attention.Carmen Bañon, Landon’s host mother, teaches young children at Fe y Alegria.Boys perform a dance from Tarma for three classroom visitors.Two children having some fun.A boy caught in a reflective moment.Children at Fe y Alegria.A boy pauses while playing with clay.Young hands molding clay.A young girl eyes a classroom visitor.The founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (or Josephites), who operate the Fe y Alegra School, was Mary Helen MacKillop, who was born in Australia. The order provides education and care for the rural pool. MacKillop was made Australia’s first saint in 2010. Sister Patricia Day is the school’s sub-director (vice principal).Sister Patricia Day at Fe y Alegria.SST Peru co-directors Judy Weaver and Richard Aguirre with Sister Patricia Day.Jacob directs students in a running game.Jacob assists with a game.Jacob focuses on the activity.Jacob and Landon at Fe y Alegria.Working with second-graders requires that Jacob adapt to their furniture.Jacob assists a student.A student concentrates on her writing.Jacob patiently explains letters to a student.Landon teaches a lesson on the correct English pronunciation of shapes.Landon repeats how to correctly pronounce words in English.Landon repeats a key point.Landon emphasizes another key point.Landon hands a printed word to a student.The view of Tarma from Fe y Alegria.The view of Tarma from Fe y Alegria.The view of Tarma from Fe y Alegria.The view from inside a moto taxi in Tarma.A street in Tarma.A closer view of a Tarma street.Jacob’s host mother, Deyadira Bañon, a nurse, with SST Peru Service Coordinator Willy Villavicencio and SST Peru co-director Judy Weaver.The plaza mayor in downtown Tarma.The Catedral Santa Ana de Tarma.
