Round Square International Service

Peru 2015

Team One and Leadership Project Report

by Chad Detloff, Project Leader

Team List
Name

School

Country

Emma Porter

Ballarat Grammar

Australia

Veronika Soloveva

Salem

Germany

Aamir Tufail Ahmad

Indian School Oman

Oman

Josephine Fadani

Windermere

UK

Lena Burmester

Louisenlund

Germany

Clarisse Koch

Louisenlund

Germany

Rick van den Brink

Herlufsholm Skole

Denmark

Vellar Zhou

Glenlyon Norfolk School

Canada

Sau Man (Jenny) Shaw

Cobham Hall

UK

Ingerid Madersbacher Eide

Landheim-Schondorf

Germany

David Figel

Chadwick School

USA

Kyi Par Tun

Regents Pattaya

Thailand

Dawson Reckers

Athenian School

USA

Sylvia Omollo

Brookhouse School

Kenya

Kira Christensen

Herlufsholm Skole

Denmark

Youngyun Kim

Cobham Hall

UK

Flora Hamilton

Cate School

USA

Chad Detloff, Project Leader

Chadwick School

USA

Debbie Borley, Deputy Leader

Woodleigh School

Australia

Nina Peters, Accompanying Adult

Salem

Germany

Leadership Students

Adults

Itinerary
July 11, 2015

Team One Arrivals

July 12, 2015

Apulaya Music and Art Lessons

July 13, 2015

Via Ferrata Climbing

July 14, 2015

Travel to Yuncachimpa

July 15 18, 2015

Project Phase One

July 19, 2015

Local Wedding Celebration

July 20 21, 2015

Project Phase Two

July 22 24, 2015

Cultural Phase

July 25, 2015

Group One Departures

* * *

July 26, 2015

Leadership Workshop

July 27, 2015

Team Two Arrivals

July 28, 2015

Leadership Day #1

July 29, 2015

Leadership Day #2

July 30, 2015

Leadership Day #3

July 31, 2015

Leadership Day #4

August 1, 2015

Leadership Day #5

August 2, 2015

Leadership De-Brief

August 3, 2015

Leadership Departures

Project Objectives
Round Square International Service teams have been working in the Andean
community of Yuncachimpa since 2013. The first year of project work was dedicated
to building a schoolhouse for primary-level education, and last years team
constructed an adjacent building to serve multiple functions for the community and
school.
In order for the school to be officially recognized by the regional government, a wall
must be built around both buildings to protect the area from animals. This was the
task for our team. In addition, many of the local families keep guinea pigs, a local
delicacy, in their kitchens, so the second team that came after us built stables for these
animals outside of two local homes to provide a more sanitary cooking and eating
environment.
As these rural communities rely on local agriculture as a primary food source, the
participants also assisted in preparing or planting for the upcoming rainy seasons or
with various chores around the houses. Rooms in the schoolhouse were also painted.

Arrival and Acclimatization

The project team arrived in Cusco without much trouble or delayonly a few bags
were held in Lima but were promised to arrive the following day (as they did!).

As waves of students arrived at the lovely Casa Campesina, bags were unpacked to
ensure everyone had the proper gear while others took showers or played cards with
their new friends. Those who had arrived by lunch went out for pizza at a caf off of
the Plaza de Armas and did some sightseeing and early souvenir shopping at the
Mercado.
By 8.00PM the final team member had arrived, and the group sat down for its first
meal together, the national favorite aj de gallina. With a full day of adventure to follow,
the team got to bed shortly after.
The following two days of acclimatization began at the Apulaya Art Center in Calca, a
town known for its preservation of Andean folk music and dance.

The students learned about the indigenous conception of the natural world and
decoded representations of the seasons and cosmos. They also learned to play the
panpipes by learning two songs as well as a third that involved wooden flutes that are
typically played in the rainy season. We also enjoyed a delicious meal cooked in an
earthen oven.

After a restful night at the lovely Qawana Lodge, the group ventured deeper into the
Sacred Valley to take on the Via Ferrata, a series of climbing staples that allows the
adventurers to climb high above the valley and then zip-line down.

The entire group succeeded in scaling the mountain, and upon landing back on the
ground, it was clear that the group had really come together as a team.

That night, we shared stories that we had learned about each other around the bonfire.

First Phase of Project Work

While leaving the comfortable lodge was difficult, the group was excited to begin its
adventure in Yuncachimpa. We ascended higher into the mountains with anticipation,
passing a glacial tarn and finally arriving at the foot of the hill on which the
community is situated.
We were met by what seemed like the
entire community, smiles beaming. We
unloaded our bags and climbed, quite
winded, to the schoolhouse, where
were introduced to all of the
community leaders and shared our
own backgrounds with them.
The team then met their new families,
set up their tents, and enjoyed their
first home-cooked meal before
heading to bed.
The majority of the building
work occurred over the next
three days, as the team was
very eager to get to work, and
the community was also very
active in participating.
In just two short days, the
majority of the wall had been
raised, which involved hours
of mixing mud, carrying water,
shoveling and lifting buckets
and bricks, and smoothing out
the surface of the wall.

Each day we sat down to a veritable feast for lunch, which began with an appetizer of
avocado or a quiche, followed by a soup, and then a main course with lots of rice or
noodles and finally a dessert.
We returned to work after stuffing ourselves and then played with the local kids or
chatted before dinner.

On our last work day before the mid-project break, four students began to create a
plan to clean up and paint the murals in the school that the two previous teams had
begun, which the group would finish during the final phase of project work.

Mid-Project Break
Our mid-project break was short but
well deserved and very enjoyable. We
began the day by sleeping in and having
an early lunch at the school.
From there, we walked up to the local
church, where we observed the
decorations inside and then sat down to
observe a baptism and marriage.
After the service, we watched the bride
and groom get showered with confetti
and then walked to the house where the
reception took place.
There, we danced, watched Rick catch
the lily and present us with his future
wife (!), and ate enormous portions of
food.

Once we returned home, we ate yet another

delicious meal and went to bed very full and
happy.

Second Phase of Project Work

During the last two days of project work, the group raced to finish the painting
project and finish all of the remaining elements of the retaining wall.

Inside, the students painted their countries flags alongside flags of Cusco and Peru
and added two new landscapesthe mountains and desert--to the panorama that
previous groups had begun. They also built a bookshelf to house some of the many
donations that they brought.

Outside, we worked to clear the

newly enclosed play area and to
add a tile roof on top of the
retaining wall.
After our final work day, the
group climbed to a nearby plateau,
where we were met by our
teachers from the Apulaya Music
Center, who helped us to practice our three musical numbers and to get into
traditional Andean costumes.
From there, we paraded down
to the village and performed
to begin the final celebration.
After ceremonially breaking a
bottle of champagne to signify
to opening of the new school
area, we danced with the
community members and
enjoyed a feast prepared by
the village mams.

At the end of the night, the students thanked the community by sharing a favorite
memory and presenting their donationsall in Spanish!

Cultural Phase
With many sad goodbyes, we left Yuncachimpa en route to Ollantaytambo, an ancient
Incan city where we would enjoy a walk around the town and a hot lunch. From there,
we took the Vistadome train to
Aguas Calientes, the home of
Machu Picchu. We enjoyed the
ride, as we were able to peer out
the skylights in the trains roof
and admire the towering, snowtopped mountains.
Once we checked into our hostel,
the group explored the vibrant
town of Aguas Calientes in small
groups, enjoying the time
together and the ability to choose where they ate their last meals together.
The following day, we woke up early to catch the bus up to Machu Picchu, where we
enjoyed a tour of the impressive, awe-inspiring site.

After the tour, we raced to make it

past the checkpoint to begin our hike
up Machu Picchu Mountain. With the
hot sun bearing down on the group
and only an hour before we had to
turn around, we made it to a beautiful
lookout point and then descended
back to enjoy some free time to
journal, meditate, or simply take in the
majesty of the ancient city.

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco, but we enjoyed
a vibrant salsa class before heading out to Tunupa for our final feast. We laughed and
danced, enjoying performances of local music and dances that reminded us of our
final celebration in Yuncachimpa.

After dinner, we headed back to the hostel with the vibrant stars and city lights
shining down on us, and at the Casa Campesina, we said some words about our

guardian angels, exchanged Round Square pins, and ended the evening by expressing
our gratitude for one another.

Leadership Phase
Goodbyes at the airport were difficult and sad, but the five leadership students were
already thinking ahead to the arrival of the next team.
During our leadership workshop, the interns shared their backgrounds, strengths
and weaknesses as leaders, and hopes for the following week.

We discussed leadership models and essential considerations of leaders. The students

worked out their various responsibilities with the incoming adult project leader and
deputy and then began to plan.
As the next team arrived, the student leaders both met incoming team members at the
airport as well as receiving them at the hotel. They assisted the adult leaders in doing
gear checks, showed the students to their new rooms, answered a multitude of
questions, and made the new students feel welcomed.

The student leaders

also took the new
team out to buy any
missing supplies,
have lunch, and see
the beauty of Cusco.
After dinner, the
first team of
student leaders
briefed Team Two
about the following
days activities and busy schedule, and all went promptly to bed.
Over the following five days, the student leaders were responsible for giving daily
briefings about the logistics of the day, the top five risks of the day and how to
mitigate them, and the various requirements for that day.
The project leader of the day took charge of all
concerns related to safety, and the deputy leader
generally facilitated activities and supported the
project leader.

Each night, the leadership team would present their reflections to their peers and the
adult leaders, receive feedback, and assist in preparing the next leadership team for the
following day. The student leaders would then meet to clarify goals and assign
responsibilities for the next day.

Final Thoughts
Students who apply to this project must naturally possess an adventurous spirit and a
desire to profoundly step out of their comfort zone, and this team not only
demonstrated these characteristics but also remarkably came together as a team and
supported one another throughout the experience. The tears and long hugs shared by
all on the last night were just one of many vivid signs that this group had formed a
family that will remain close for a very long time.

The work the students did in Yuncachimpa reflected this natural sense of teamwork
as well as a sincere interest in connecting with the local community and sharing of
their own cultures, further evidenced by the flags they painted beside those of Cusco

and Peru. While each student found his or her individual voice, they all left feeling
part of the community in Yuncachimpa and the Peruvian way of life.
This group also was not afraid to be
themselves, whether it be making silly
jokes over a game of cards, giggling at
the end of a long day of work, or
sharing personal stories.
Although some social groups did form
around common language or mutual
interests, each individual pushed him
or herself to meet new people until the
very last day.

This project has been rewarding

in a multitude of waysthe team
did impressive physical work that
the community greatly
appreciated, the students were
creative and flexible in generating
new work outside of what was
planned, individuals opened their
minds and hearts to a very
different way of life and left with
a genuine appreciation for the
community of Yuncachimpa, and
the group shared freely and honestly of themselves and came together with great pride
and love.

I sincerely thank the members of Team One for their incredible spirit and youthful
vibrancy; you have made the experience one to remember, and I know that you will
continue to shape our world for the better.
Leaders, keep up the incredible work you have begun, and dont lose sight of the
goals that you set for yourself. Remember your resources, myself included, and
always work hard.
I cannot wait to see what you will accomplish in the futurestay in touch!