WFP Success in Peru

I just got back from Peru on early Wednesday morning. It was truly a life-changing experience. Before this trip, I would always say, “I can talk about global hunger and the work of WFP until I’m red in the face, but I won’t truly understand it until I see it firsthand.” Well, this turned out to be true. As we were visiting the operations in Peru, I just couldn’t get over how impressive and efficient WFP was in implementing its programs. I saw how WFP does more than just feed people; it helps people feed themselves.

I was fortunate enough to visit a tile-making factory while I was in Peru. The factory was in the village of En Puruchcku. The factory looked very different than the ones we have in the United States. It was an open area, with a couple of huts and a big oven like building. Most of the work was done outside. The factory opened in 2007 and started out as a food for work project. WFP and ABA (WFP’s non-governmental partner in Peru) taught the factory workers different methods of tile production. In 2007 and 2008, the project was able to provide roof tiles for 180 homes (with 400,000 tiles), 9,000 block tiles used for the flooring of homes and 1,000 tubes needed for a sprinkler and irrigation system used throughout the community.

The factory has had so much success that they are now receiving money, instead of food, for their work and are selling these tiles to other communities in the area, as well as several companies in the nearby city of Ayacucho. Prior to purchasing tiles from En Puruchcku, factories in Ayacucho were buying tiles from the capital city of Lima, several hundred miles away.

I found the people who worked in this factory to be truly inspirational. They were extremely hard workers and had a passion for their craft. It really shows you what someone can do with a little bit of help.

Listen to our Behind the Scenes Conference Call from Lima.


Brian J. Ward
Outreach Associate
Friends of WFP

Child in Peru

Photo by Stella Metsovas

Music Industry News

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=117699

Link above is to a nice article in Music Industry News Network about MFM and Kelly's trip. It reads, in part:

“Kelly Moore’s dedication and enthusiasm to this cause has been highly beneficial to our work,” said Karen Sendelback, President and CEO, Friends of the World Food Program. “Through his efforts, we raised awareness and funds to help feed hungry people all over the world.”

From Ed Smith

Photos by Ed Smith

Wednesday March 25, 2009

More than two miles above sea level, a gracious people live a rugged life in harmony with their land
The people we visited migrated to the high Andes Mountains of Peru 6,000 years ago. They suffered horrible atrocities from 1980 to 2000 during a civil war started by a group known as the Shining Path. The World Food Program, by providing food for work and food for education, has helped them put their lives back together. This initiative by WFP is set to end in June. As a volunteer for Friends of the World Food Program, I was very fortunate to be able to experience their culture, share their food, and see the tremendous work they have done in cultivating their fields and building their communities. These gracious people will forever be in my thoughts. I would like to introduce these people to you.

Friday, March 20, 2009
WFP in Peru--Making a Difference
When I think of the most typical WFP operations, I think of programs in which food is provided to ensure that people survive until tomorrow and WFP food is the only food people have available. The programs we saw this week were not the typical WFP programs. They provided so much more: training and projects to help improve people’s lives.

This morning, we climbed high into the mountains again, this time to visit a man-made lagoon that helps people in local communities harvest rainwater. Without the lagoon, these families have water only five months or so out of the year. With the help of WFP and ABA, a local, non-governmental partner, the construction of these lagoons has ensured that people in the towns near Union Potrero have access to water for themselves and their animals throughout the entire year. They have even begun installing irrigation systems on their farms to make better use of the water and increase their harvests!

At the lagoon, we were joined by ABA and WFP staff, along with many of the villagers from Union Potrero. We got to watch and participate in a water blessing ceremony, very similar to the agriculture ceremony Meredith discussed in her latest blog post.

As the leader of the community stepped up to speak, he explained that when they first had the idea of creating the lagoon water reservoir, nobody believed it could succeed. The idea of building a lagoon with walls made of stone and land, rather than cement, seemed like an impossible idea. But they didn’t give up and even began building it themselves, using their bare hands to scrape away the land to create a large hole. This was extremely difficult work.

Luckily, WFP and ABA came along and offered their support for the project. Together with the villagers, they brought in machinery to dig out the lagoon and then worked with the community to perfect it and maintain it while it filled with water from the rainy season. In exchange for their work on this project, WFP provides food assistance to families that supplements their regular diets.

I am just so fascinated by the large scope of the WFP projects we have seen on this trip. Not only do families receive food, but they learn the skills needed to sustain themselves.

Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Posted at 04:43 PM in Peru 2009 | Permalink | Co

Peru 2009

The incredible opportunity to travel as a UN Delegate to Peru with the Friends of the World Food Program for the United Nations World Food Programme is an incredible honor for me. To see and experience first-hand the beauty of the people and their country, and learn of their joys and their difficulties makes my efforts with Music For Mankind® (www.musicformankind.net) very personal. To help in whatever way I can touches my heart in a way that words may not describe.

I have produced a short video of the trip, included here (click here), which will later become a full documentary. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the beauty that we experienced.

My sincere thanks to the Friends of the World Food Program and my fellow travelers for an incredible adventure!

Kelly Moore

Photos from Peru

http://friendsofwfp.typepad.com/friends/

There are some wonderful images at this link of our Peruvian adventure.

Email Blast

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE.

This is a post with images of our trip.

New Heights!

Today we soared to new heights in many respects, as we embarked on an impressive, all-day journey to around 14,000 feet. Fortunately, the high altitude did not have a major impact on me, thanks to natural preventative measures. The maginificent Andes Mountains were breathtaking. Around every bend was a unbelievable display of color, cliffs, mountainsides and villages.

We experienced so much today it is difficult to get it all in, so I will share one of my experiences with you. When we arrived at Union Petrero, a small village about 12,000 feet up, we were greeted by happy indigenous people. You could feel the warmness from their hearts radiating. During the welcoming ritual, we were greeted by the head of the community and presented with beautiful music, delicious food and sombreros. I even got asked to dance. Who would have thought I would have been dancing with a villager in Peru! I think that best part of the dance was trying our best to learn their style of dance. Don't worry, we will have pictures soon!

Loving Peru!

Stacey Doremus

Visit to Chakiccocha

From 14,000 feet high in the Andes mountains, our group of nine Americans – five WFP Committee volunteers and four Friends of WFP staff – watched in awe as the Quechua people of the village of Chakiccocha shared their ancient ritual to bless and prepare their land for the next harvest season. This ritual was truly a once-in-a-lifetime insight into the indigenous Quechua culture, and we were invited with open arms to observe and participate in this beautiful tradition.

It started off with an invitation for men and women to sit, on separate sides of the land, and face two village elders, who sat in front of a blanket covered with a lovely woven basket and a variety of offerings that would play an integral role in this ritual. With the backdrop of the Andes mountains, brown rock and red clay and all shades of green, broken only by an occasional home or patch of yellow or purple flowers, the setting truly could not have been more stunning. As the village leaders began to put fruits in the offering basket two by two, followed by cotton, coca leaf (a traditional plant that is chewed or made into tea by the people of the Andes), flowers and seeds, one of the Spanish-speaking villagers (most speak only Quechua) explained to us what was going on. When all offerings were placed in the basket, a hole was dug in front of a stone, and the villagers sang a song asking that the land open up and accept their offerings. As one leader dug this hole, a sense of happiness could be felt. It was determined that the land truly did open itself to accept the offering, as the soil was soft and there were no rocks in the hole. The basket was lowered into the opening on a bed of straw and then re-covered with dirt and then stones.

The villagers then moved on to the second portion of the ritual – the preparation of the land. The men stood in line and used a tool invented by the Incas to break the land. The women faced them and, with their bare hands, pushed the freshly broken soil to one side, creating rows in which the villagers would later plant seeds. As this was taking place, a rumbling could be heard, and the skies opened up, first with rain and then with hail. Our group took shelter, groping for our ponchos and coats, but the villagers were unfazed. They explained that the rain was like a jacket for them, and they welcome it. The rain proved an important symbol to close out this ritual, guaranteeing a good harvest to come.

I can barely put into words how special it felt to be welcomed with so much love into the lives of a people practicing such a magnificent, ancient culture. I can’t wait to sleep in another such village tonight and really experience a full day in their lives.

Meredith Slater
Development Associate
Friends of WFP

WFP in Peru-Making a Difference

When I think of the most typical WFP operations, I think of programs in which food is provided to ensure that people survive until tomorrow and WFP food is the only food people have available. The programs we saw this week were not the typical WFP programs. They provided so much more: training and projects to help improve people’s lives.

This morning, we climbed high into the mountains again, this time to visit a man-made lagoon that helps people in local communities harvest rainwater. Without the lagoon, these families have water only five months or so out of the year. With the help of WFP and ABA, a local, non-governmental partner, the construction of these lagoons has ensured that people in the towns near Union Potrero have access to water for themselves and their animals throughout the entire year. They have even begun installing irrigation systems on their farms to make better use of the water and increase their harvests!

At the lagoon, we were joined by ABA and WFP staff, along with many of the villagers from Union Potrero. We got to watch and participate in a water blessing ceremony, very similar to the agriculture ceremony Meredith discussed in her latest blog post.

As the leader of the community stepped up to speak, he explained that when they first had the idea of creating the lagoon water reservoir, nobody believed it could succeed. The idea of building a lagoon with walls made of stone and land, rather than cement, seemed like an impossible idea. But they didn’t give up and even began building it themselves, using their bare hands to scrape away the land to create a large hole. This was extremely difficult work.

Luckily, WFP and ABA came along and offered their support for the project. Together with the villagers, they brought in machinery to dig out the lagoon and then worked with the community to perfect it and maintain it while it filled with water from the rainy season. In exchange for their work on this project, WFP provides food assistance to families that supplements their regular diets.

I am just so fascinated by the large scope of the WFP projects we have seen on this trip. Not only do families receive food, but they learn the skills needed to sustain themselves.

Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Conference Call March 20

As Kelly's trip to Peru comes to an end and he begins to head home, it was great fun to hear him speak today on the live conference call. It was extraordinary, helpful, concise, packed with images and information about what the team had experienced throughout the past week and most of all, very hopeful and uplifting.

A recording will be available as a podcast in a about one week. If interested visit the WFP's site listed on other posts here on the blog.

Personally, I feel humbled and grateful to be involved in Music for Mankind in the very small way I contribute, as a member of it's board of directors and has someone who wants to help Kelly fulfill his vision of helping those in need.

Best to all.

Candice Wilmore
Lansing, MI

The View from Peru

Posted: 18 Mar 2009 07:52 AM PDT

There are so many incredible views here. Every turn in the road brought us to another different and amazing sight. We are up over 13,000 feet. Villagers here are so kind and loving. It There is such an incredible connection and love between the people here and the earth. We saw a beautiful ritual for the crops that should bring rain, which is considered a great sign for the growing season. There was food, music and dancing before and after. I'll have more about my experience in Peru later.

Kelly

Monday March 16

The Twitter link below is fun to read if you wish. I'm sure Kelly is having an amazing adventure.

Candice (VP Music for Mankind)

This was posted on http://friendsofwfp.typepad.com/friends/

Our first full day in Peru started bright and early as we left our hotel for the airport around 5 AM. Even though we hadn't gotten much sleep and it was still dark outside, you could feel the excitement in the van as we went to catch our flight.

We flew in a tiny, 15-seater jet up to Ayacucho, a city at about 10,000 feet above sea level. I've never been a huge fan of small planes, but it's hard to complain when I look out the window and see the Andes Mountains sprawling before me and the other beautiful landscapes below. Not only is this my first time in Peru, but I realized it's my first trip south of the Equator!

After we arrived, we settled into our hotel to get some rest. With such a big altitude change, we didn't know how our bodies would react so we took it easy that day. I got especially lightheaded over lunch, but after drinking some matte de coca (coca tea, a local remedy for altitude sickness) I was feeling much better.

We spent the afternoon at the WFP Ayacucho office, and we met the staff who will accompany us on our program visits. We took this opportunity to learn more details about the journey. I just can't wait for tomorrow! We are leaving at 7 AM for the town of Union Potrero to visit the headquarters of ABA, a Peruvian NGO that works with WFP. Then we'll head into the field to see the incredible things WFP and ABA are accomplishing together on the ground.

Goodnight from Ayacucho!

Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Wanna Twitter?

A Twitter address you may want as well:

"I wanted to give all the readers one exciting update. For all you Twitter fans, we will hopefully be "tweeting from the field" as well as blogging!
Watch www.twitter.com/friendsofwfp to keep up with us!

Next time you hear from me, I'll be in Peru!"

-Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Kelly Invited to Peru

Kelly Moore (shown during earlier trip to Nicaragua) has been invited once again as a UN Delegate, this time to Peru, as part of a team from the Friends of the World Food Program to observe and take part in UN World Food Program field operations in the Andes Mountains for 5 days, March 15 to March 20. The group will be observing and assisting, in particular, pilot programs of the UN Millenium Development Goals www.un.org/millenniumgoals Of the 8 goals, they will be able to observe pilot programs which include 7 of these goals.

This will be an ongoing blog to update Kelly's adventures during the trip so stop back to stay in touch if you want!

He leaves Sunday, March 15. Below is a post from Kelly as he prepares to leave and from the World Food Program's Communications Assistant.

Happy Travels to all and stop back here for updates!

Note from Kelly: Next Stop Peru

It's still amazing to me that I get to go on this journey to Peru. The itinerary is stunning, and we'll get to see so much, and learn so much, and hopefully, help so much.

Today there came a moment when I realized that everything I'm attempting to get done here that doesn't directly apply to going to Peru, is done. I've basically stopped in the middle of several projects because what lies ahead really deserves my complete attention.

Almost everything is packed, everything tested and road-ready. I arrived at a moment today of calm, knowing that, while the maelstrom of preparation activity continues, the journey has already begun. I'm on my way to Peru.

I'll get to meet people I never knew before that I would get to meet, and learn a lot from them, and hopefully contribute a lot to them so that, as a global community, we grow closer and stronger and better.

Next posting will be from Peru. Till then,

Kelly

Notes from Friends of WFP

This Sunday evening, I will be arriving in Peru to spend 5 days traveling through the Andes with a group of Friends of WFP staff and volunteers. Over the course of the week, we will be visiting a variety of WFP programs to learn about what the agency is doing in the field. As I prepare for the trip, I wonder what it will be like and how the experience will affect me. Above all, I am simply thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in something like this. I lived overseas in the developing world when I was a child, but since third grade my travels have been confined to the United States and Europe, with only a couple exceptions. I’m not entirely sure how to write my thoughts down, so I’ll just start out with why I’m excited to go on this trip.

I am excited to experience a new culture. Although I have lived in Latin America, I have never been to Peru before.

I am excited to get to know some of our advocates on a personal level. I have met some of them briefly, but after we travel around the Peruvian countryside together, I can only imagine how much better I will know them.

I am excited to see WFP’s work in action, so I can truly grasp how important WFP assistance is to so many people around the world. At Friends of WFP, I read about what WFP is doing on a daily basis. I have access to a wealth of stories and photos of people who benefit from these programs, but I don’t think anything can replace seeing WFP’s work firsthand and actually meeting and interacting with the people who know what WFP truly means. I think the trip will bring me much closer to the people we help as employees, volunteers and supporters of Friends of WFP.

Guess what one of the best parts of this trip is? You will be able to follow along with us on our travels, I hope! Assuming we are able to access the internet from Peru – I have my fingers crossed – we will be blogging from the field in Peru as we take photos, meet WFP staff and food recipients, and learn about how WFP is making an impact in peoples’ lives. Stay tuned for more information about our trip

-Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP
http://friendsofwfp.typepad.com/friends/