"Quispicanchi"

Urcos, Suyumayu, and Cusco, Peru

March and May/June

Requirements:

• Students should be enrolled in Spanish or be willing to commit to an intensive language preparation program through the service and justice office.
• Students should be in the possession of a valid passport that does not expire before October of 2022. If you do not have a current passport, please apply and select the expedited feature.
• Must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19

Program Description:

The Quispicanchi Peru Immersion Trip is open to seniors only. Participants will stay at the Saint Peter the Apostle, Jesuit parish retreat center in Andahuaylillas and will support the ongoing relief operations of the center as well as two additional centers in the region.

West of Urcos is the remote community of Sullumayu perched just above 14,000 ft. The center of the community is its school. This is also one of Peru’s poorest regions. During the summer of 2019, Jesuit Dallas formed a partnership with the school, committing to long-term support of the school’s nutrition program. In a recent health study of the community, 100% of the school’s students were diagnosed with Anemia, a condition which results from malnutrition. A portion of the student fee for this trip directly benefits the funding of this vital nutrition program. The team from Jesuit will spend the mornings with the community building relationships, delivering critical food aid, and assisting the school in a variety of ways. 

The trip will conclude with a daylong tour of the region surrounding Cusco city. The team will visit several archaeological sites of cultural and historical significance, including: Pikillacta, Sacsayhuaman, Maras and Moray before returning to Dallas. Our final afternoon in Peru will also include a farm to table picnic lunch overlooking the city of Urubamba and the mountain, Ch’iqun, rising over 18,000 feet.  

Important Information:

• This is a high altitude experience. We will live at an elevation of 10,500 feet and visit elevations between 15,000 and 17,000 ft.
• - A high degree of physical fitness is required for this experience. Students will walk/hike up to 10 miles a day or will be asked to complete physical labor at high altitude. 
• Due to limitations locally we may not be able to accommodate special dietary restrictions.

Questions?
Please direct questions to program coordinators Dr. Riemer (MRiemer@jesuitcp.org) and Mr. Eduardo Pinto (ceduardopinto@jesuitcp.org).