2016 NorQuest Practicum students with SUPC Board Chair and Vice-chair

Stephanie Gillanders, April Leblanc, Marcia Tait, Aisha Oboh, Senha Prakash, Brandy Berry and Leila Norton.

Five NorQuest Social Work students are heading to Arequipa April 27th for their Spring block practicum placement. Prior to leaving David Flomo, chair on the NorQuest Social Work Program and Craig Hart, Associate Dean Health and Community Studies, held a departure event for the students and guests. Three of the students will have a practicum placement at Cuna Jardin, Corazon de Jesus and two will do their placement at IRID. As well, all students will live with a local family and study Spanish at a local school. The practicum runs six weeks and in addition to their placement and studying students will visit some of the cultural sites in Arequipa, make side trips to some of the surrounding villages and also visit some of the main tourist sites: Nazca, Puno and the Colca Canyon. After the practicum ends several of the students will also visit Cusco, Machu Pichuu and the Scared Valley.

Aisha Oboh, SUPC founding member and vice-chair, will also be going to Arequipa for the last three weeks of the practicum to assist in providing information and support to the students based on her experiencing doing a practicum with IRID in 2011.

As part of the farewell, Flomo provided gifts for the students, Aisha and for me as will as a memento from NorQuest College for students to give for their home stay family.

More photos from the event can be seen at: http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2016_04_13_peru_students_

Tracy and I visited the Cuna Jardin to talk with the Director both about current activities with the children, and parents and about the three NorQuest College students who will be doing their practicum at the Cuna this coming Spring. The Cuna is accepting students for the upcoming school year -beginning in March. Most of the children are from female headed single parent families, many of these mothers work periodically in contract positions, making it difficult to budget and to meet all their financial needs. They realize though the importance of care and education for their children and often travel for two hours to reach the Cuna before starting their job.

More photos here: http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2016_01_29_cuna_jardin

Tracy and I visited IRID last week and noticed the many changes – more play equipment for the children and new spaces for the different therapies the children receive.

As well, work has begun to develop the adjoining field into a garden.

The Director and staff are looking forward to having the NorQuest social work students who will be doing their practicum at IRID this Spring.

For more photos, click here: http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2016_01_15_visit_to_irid

or click on one of the photos

We had a great turnout for the fourth annual Latin Music night held at the Yardbird Suite Oct. 25th.

As always, a huge thank you to the performers: Lisi Sommer, Chris Brown, Nico Arnaez and Caleb Hunt; tango dancers Vicente and Cristina Munoz and Pam Wight and Raymond; Jorge Vargas and Ereni Perez and Benjamin, and Marco Claveria. Photos from the event can be seen here:

http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2015_10_25_supc_latin_music_night_fundriaser

Also a thank you to all those that bought tickets donated silent auction items and purchased at the silent auction – your participation made the event.

Once again we have some sensational performers scheduled to perform at our Latin Music Night. Come out enjoy great music, a tango demonstration, and bid on some fantastic items. Finger food and non-alcoholic drinks included in the ticket price.

More than 70 people attended the fifth annual Peruvian dinner Sept. 12th at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. In addition to the wonderful food, again prepared by Carla Tamayo Aragon, we also were entertained by singer Jorge Vargas. Guests also bought at the silent auction including jewelry and alpaca wool  items from Peru.

Pictures from the event can be viewed here:

http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2015_09_12_peruvian_dinner

Our next Peruvian dinner fundraiser will be held Saturday Sept 12th at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Once again Carla Tamayo Aragon will be the marvelous cook for the dinner. We’ll also have a silent auction with many items from Peru as well as local businesses.

Tickets $35 each, two for $60, children 6-10 $15, under 6 Free. Contact me at supcsociety@gmail.com or 780-289-2405 for tickets.

Tracy and I have been living in Arequipa sine January and have visited the Instituto de Rehabilitación Integral del Discapacitado – IRID , the Cuna Jadin Corozan de Jesus and the homes of some of the families whose children go to the Cuna.

Arequipa has been growing dramatically since we first came here in 2009, with about 20,000 people coming in each year. Most, like the families whose children attend the Cuna and families who receive support from I.R.I.D., build one room houses on the outskirts of the City. The photos from the home visits show how many of the families live.

Although Peru and Arequipa are experiencing a “boom” and there are many more amenities than in 2009, these families are not benefiting and in many cases the cost of basic items, such as quinoa, has risen out of their reach.

Links to the photos:

http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2015_01_14_corazon_de_jesus_visit

http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2015_01_26_irid

http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2015_03_28_corazon_de_jesus_home_visits

Thanks to all who came out and supported the SUPC Society Latin Music Night Fundraiser. We had a great evening of music, tango demonstration, and companionship.

Click the image of Sebastian Barrera to see more photos from the event.

Thanks to all of the performers, volunteers, and those who purchased items at the silent auction.