More About the Casa

Since we really haven't provided many details about the Casa and it's hard to find them on the web, we thought it would be a good idea to share a little more.

The Casa is located twenty minutes outside Cusco, and currently houses fifteen women and their children. The women each have very different stories, but most of them were impregnated as a result of rape. Here are some photos from the Casa:



Like many underdeveloped countries, Peru has a big problem with violence against women, both sexual and otherwise. Women who have not experienced some form of abuse in their lifetime are extremely lucky and in the minority. Furthermore, of the 14% of Peruvian girls under 18 who become pregnant, a staggering 90% of those pregnancies are due to rape (See Reproductive Rights in a Global Context by Lara M. Knudsen and "The Global Health Burden of Rape" by L. Heise, M.P. Koss, and N.F. Russo in Psychology of Women Quarterly vol. 18).

We also have some specific information about the Casa itself. Last summer, a group of studetns from Ohio State University volunteered at Casa de Mantay. You can visit their website http://www.mantayamerica.org/ for more information. There you can also find a great paper written by student Rod Swain, all about sexual violence in Peru. Rod's analysis is very insightful, and links risk factors like poverty to the prevalence of this sexual violence. You can find the paper directly by clicking here.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them. We hope you find this information helpful!

About Us

We are a group of twelve students from Bryant University who come from all walks of life, but are united in our passion for making a difference in the world around us.

On May 21, 2009, we will depart from JFK airport in New York for Cusco, Peru. We will be volunteering at Casa de Acigado Mantay, a home that shelters, orientates, and teaches useful skills to teenage mothers from 12 to 18 years old. Many of these mothers are victims of rape and other sexual abuse, and might have otherwise abandoned their children due to lack of support and the overwhelming demands of motherhood. The home’s mission is to give the mothers another option, as well as to promote the physical, emotional, and economic development of both mothers and children in an environment otherwise full of obstacles and, often, hostility from other community members. The shelter accomplishes this mission by providing resources such as food, clothing, and vocational training in their own onsite workshop. However, the shelter often lacks enough of these resources and is always in need of volunteers who can help.

As student leaders in groups such as Amnesty International, Alliance for Women's Awareness, Diversity Council of Champions, and the International Business Association, to name a few, we believe we have the skills and dedication to affect positive and lasting change on the Casa. While there, we will be engaged in work that might include household chores, upkeep of facilities, or even interaction with the women and their children.

We want to share our experiences in order to both to gather support and inform our community about what we see, do, and learn.

We appreciate your support!