Final Thoughts

"For me this trip meant a lot in many different ways. First and foremost, I was glad to be able to return to Peru after so many years, since it is my country of birth. On top of that it was really rewarding to give back to my country seeing as how I have been able to do service of this type here in the states with Bryant as well as with my high school. The experience itself was also rewarding in a way that I have never experienced before, this is because it was definitely the most hands on service I have done by far. Never have I had the opportunity to do such a difference in someone´s life. Even though, all we did was just helped out around the Casa in everything that they were in need of, such as painting, cooking, cleaning, watching over the kids in the nursery, etc. I love the experience overall and would do it again in a heartbeat. I have learned much from the trip, it was a big eye opener for me especially because it showed that as much as my life may get difficult at times, it cannot compare to how other people have it. Therefore, I should cherish it as much as possible."

-Chris Flores '12

Hartford, CT

"Aside from going to pre-Passport Canada, I have never left the country. While my service background is extensive at home, the Peru trip gave me the perfect opportunity to exercise my service abilities abroad. My first thoughts were that this trip, or at least the demands of the mothers , would not be that difficult (I have a four year old nephew at home; it can’t be that different). I imagined asset mapping, going through the 501 (c)(3) process (non-profit charter), and looking at the Casa de Mantay from a completely business perspective. I could not have been more wrong. The challenges faced by the madres on a daily basis, such as cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids, dominated most of the time and was equal parts exhausting and rewarding. To be a mother at twelve years old is something that I could never imagine doing. I got only a small slice of the time and effort it takes to do even simple tasks like washing the dishes. I feel rewarded in that we painted the outside wall, something they have wanted to do for a long time, but also in the simple things we were able to do over the course of the week. Going to school with Mark, playing with Carlos, developing an efficient system for washing dishes, trying (and failing, I might add) my hand at drawing the angels, and playing at the park with the madres are all parts of this trip that combine to make it an unforgettable experience. While our help to the mothers surely gave them a break from their daily rigors, I feel that we were able to take away much more from this trip than the help we may have provided to them. Molly talked about Maccu Picchu being a “life-changing experience,” and along with the rest of the service trip to Peru, I can confidently say I came back a different person. Thank you to all of those who made this trip possible: to Katrin for seeing the need for volunteering in the first place, to Professor Gomez for taking on the role of responsibility, to Melanie, Marcia, Chris, Molly and Bridget for all of your hard work, to all the donors, the supporters, our families and our friends. This trip could not have been made possible without all of your help."

- Chris Brida '12

Southampton, MA

"This trip was a lot more than what I first imagined. Even from day one, I knew it was going to be the adventure of a lifetime. The ability to help the Casa Mantay first hand was something I didn't imagine. At first, the madres at the casa were very hesitant with us, but after a day & some playing soccer they were more than excited to see us. Its hard to imagine that just being able to spend time, play and listen to these woman and their children mean the world to them. By doing the tedious painting we are able to brighten their day and make them smile. Going to the Casa Mantay was much more than helping out and doing work. It was being able to bring a smile to children faces, relieve the stress of the regular daily duties and make a little impact without even knowing how many hearts you've touched. I miss the madres, the children, and the sound of their laughter."

- Melanie Simas '11

Swansea, MA

"The conclusion of our time in Peru definitely made me think about everything we had accomplished there in ten days. It's amazing to think that we helped paint a wall (no short wall either), helped prepare lunches for over fifty people, helped to feed hungry babies and even entertain some very energetic kids! Honestly I didn't know what to expect before we landed in Peru but now I can understand how performing small acts, like those I listed before, can really help and encourage a group of women to trust and relate to eight "strangers" from America. I had an amazing time at the Casa with the women and children and it really made me understand how lucky I am to have everything that I do and to appreciate only having to worry about my needs on a daily basis. These women are powerful and strong to be able to deal with what has happened to them, work at the casa and raise a child all at the same time. Not only did I meet wonderful women there but I made seven new friends who I might not have met otherwise. I can also safely say that I have the best Spanish professor at Bryant who helped to make the trip so amazing for all of us."

- Molly Sweeney '13

Ridgewood, NJ

"My final thoughts after leaving Peru and the Casa are with the mothers of the children in Casa de Mantay. I went into the experience imagining them as victims. I could not fathom the trauma they had been through, let alone learning to love a child that was a result of such a horrible experience. However, after spending time at the Casa I quickly realized things I had never thought of, such as; where the "mothers" had come from, and their age. After spending so much time helping take care of the babies and children I soon learned that the mothers are children themselves. They were playful, laughing, and just young girls who needed attention and someone to take care of them as well. They did not seem to shy away from boys, but instead seemed like typical school girls. Additionally I never thought about how many of them are not actually from the city of Cusco, but from remote areas of the mountains or jungle. Many probably were never educated about sex, especially at such a young age of 11 or 12, let alone the fact that rape (often times by family members) is even wrong. The girls are not only learning to care for and love their children, but they are learning how to properly care for themselves.

I am so proud that in addition to learning what many consider to be the basics, the Casa provides schooling for the mothers and their children, as well as counseling and additional care takers. I am most excited about the fact that we were able to not only paint, cook, and help with the kids, but mainly the mothers. Giving them time away from their kids, and the pressures of preparing for the real world, and allowing them to play soccer and go to the park. I truly hope the mothers were able to feel like normal teenage girls again, if only for a short time."

- Bridget McNulty '11

Madison, CT

"It's surprising to me that my second trip to the Casa was just as emotional, informative, and influential in my life as the first, if not more so. This time, I came back to see changes that had occured over the past twelve months, kids that were a little bigger than I remembered, and remnants of what we accomplished last year (an exquisitely painted dining room, for example, or the mothers' and kids' clothes and shoes that looked oddly familiar from their days in my own closet). It's weirdly comforting to know that an experience like this is still life-changing and meaningful, even the second (or third, fourth, etc. - hopefully) time around.

As much as I'm proud of our group for bringing double the amount of money as last year, and for making a meaningful impact with our work again, the best thing for me was noticing how the experience affected us as individuals, students, and as a group. Our conversations went from revolving around Celtics games and movies early on, to discussing the issues the Casa deals with and asking important questions about such issues (just as an example: "What the f**k would we do if we were eleven-year-old rape victims, pregnant with our attacker's baby, with no social support network whatsoever, hostility from family members and the community, no access to abortion and limited access to state-sponsored adoption (not to mention legal obstacles to such an option), no money, skills, or decent job prospects, and nowhere to turn for help?").

In their book, Half the Sky, New York Times reporters Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn make an important point about volunteer trips like ours: that they serve the dual purpose of providing aid to communities and organizations in need, as well as changing the outlooks and attitudes of the volunteers themselves in positive ways, by exposing them to diverse people, families, and populations with many goals, but also many obstacles that aren't necessarily encountered in the U.S. I think our project is a case in point - I know that the experience changed every single one of us for the better."

- Katie Gorham '10

Baltimore, MD

"Reflecting the planning and organization of Peru 2010 has involved a lot of hard work and persistence. The project went forth thanks to several departments and people at Bryant. I have been committed to this project since its initiation last year, but definitely not alone. I am thankful to Kilo, (Katie) who has been the heart and soul of this project since day one. She is to be admired for her dedication and never giving up, without her constant assistance we would not have made it happen.

Peru’s 2010 students made my job easy and I am thankful to them for being dedicated students and never losing site of our goal for being in Peru. They knew from the beginning that the women and children of Casa Mantay was our purpose for being there. All of our students this year were energetic from the moment that they were chosen and did a fantastic job in raising funds in such a short time. For this reason we were able to double numbers from last year for the Casa. I am sure all of this year’s group would agree that this is a trip that will be difficult to forget. The group bonded in ways as we were faced with challenges along the way, Mel getting sick in the hospital is just one example, but I found that they never lost sight.

Going back to the Casa and seeing all the improvements that have been made in the last year is something that really made me happy, it was like going back and visiting friends. Seeing some of those children and mothers from last year and how they have grown and how happy they were to welcome us back; it was quite a treat. They celebrated their 10th anniversary this last May and it was the icing on the cake for us to live a little of this with Raquel and Sergio, owners of the Casa. We left this year with our biggest job completed, a 1000 foot wall painted purple with 10 angels, representing their 10 year existence. This has given the Casa a better representation when walking into this community of hope for the women and children. It was satisfying for all of us knowing that they are proud of their home and that we could make that happen. I lastly want to thank my 7 kids, Kilo (Katie), Cinnabon (Chris B), Mel, Molly, Chris F, Marcia, Bridget (Vicky) and Bryant for the opportunity; it is this part of my job that I thank God for everyday and for this reason wouldn’t change my profession for anything."

- Professor Gomez