The Key People in Peru
"Each day, with effort and care, you continue to build a chain of support in the UK. We are the final link of this chain – the one which delivers this support to the children who need it so much."
Pilar - the director in Peru
Pilar
Director
Anyone who meets Pilar soon realizes that she is very special… Her boundless energy is infectious and her dedication is inspirational. She lives in the present and gives 100% of her attention to every moment. The majority of these moments she is surrounded by children, each of whom she makes feel equally special.
Spanish by birth but now officially also a Peruvian, Pilar first travelled to Peru in the nineties with her older sister Maria. In 1997, the two sisters set up the Amantani orphanage, which has now helped over 800 children in the Cusco region. She continues to work in the orphanage whilst overseeing the boarding houses with regular trips to Ccorca.
Rocio
Head-Teacher
Rocio is an amazing teacher, although you don’t need to watch her teach to feel her passion, enthusiasm and generosity. She has an incredible way with people of all ages. She is creative, innovative and makes good things happen.
Rocio has been teaching in Ccorca for the last 18 years. As the local kindergarten teacher, she is a pillar of the community. It was actually Rocio who first approached us, asking for us to do something for the education in Ccorca. She was pivotal in the establishment of all three boarding houses.
She has just finished a masters in Early Childhood Development.
Marleni
Housemistress of 'Las Chaskas Boarding House'
Marleni’s background is similar to the girls’ in her boarding house. She comes from a Quechua community near Quillabamba where her parents still live. She went to Cusco when she was younger and still remembers the abuse she got for not speaking Spanish. She went on to graduate as a teacher and has now been working with Amantani Peru for 10 years.
The close relationships that Marleni has formed with the smaller girls are remarkable. She is a primary school teacher by trait and her aptitude in this field is becoming increasingly apparent through the rapid development of her pupils. This is definitely what she is meant to be doing!
Jovita
Handicrafts Teacher
Jovita is a hoot!
She is an absolute bundle of joy with a wicked sense of humour that can bring community meetings to a halt with hysterical laughter! She moved to Ccorca 30 years ago, hailing from Andahuaylillas; a similar area. She is now an integral member of the community and of our team. Her weaving is beautiful, her heart is humongous and her energy is boundless! She is the lead caretaker of the guinea pigs which she has accommodated in her spare room.
She is also a keen walker and jumps at every opportunity to visit the children in their communities.
Marisol
Housemistress of 'Los Illapas Boarding House'
Marisol has worked with Amantani Peru for 5 years now - in the orphanage project as well as kindergarten projects in Cusco. She also has a similar background to the children in our projects and went on to become a trained teacher. Her beaming smile is sure to keep morale high in the boys’ boarding houses and her work ethic will hopefully inspire something similar in her pupils.
Eliseo
Director of Production
Eliseo comes from Tambporpuquio, Ccorca’s most distant community. Eliseo came to our attention having served as a leader for the last local municipality. He is currently studying agriculture at an institute in Cusco, where he is supplementing his experience with expertise. A man with a natural command of a group, his role is to look after the production side of the boarding houses, including the bakery, the greenhouses and the guinea pigs.
Tania
Housemistress of 'Las Tikas Boarding House'
Tania recently took over 'Las Tikas' when Eli (the former housemistress) left in order to start a family. Tania is Jovita's daughter and a testament to Jovita's parenting. She is kind-hearted, patient and very creative and has very quickly settled into her new role.
