Encuentro
Walk With Us
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Program Overview
“Riysisaq.” It’s a Quechua word that means “to go with someone as a companion.” This is a word you will hear often in the region. It also embodies the spirit of the Quispicanchi Project. We realize that the relationships we have formed compel us to take action. We seek to walk alongside our friends, working together to make this world a more beautiful place - “one step at a time.” Through this effort, our desire is to continue to dwell in a mutuality of grace and love.
Project “Encuentros” provides opportunities for friends of the project, both outside Peru and within Quispicanchi to build relationships, grow in our mutual understanding of each other, and to learn how we can better serve and love one another. By spending time in fellowship, working together, or by simply sharing a meal, we strengthen our foundation of trust and deepen our friendships with one another. These friendships are what makes our work sustainable.
Opportunities Include:
Retreats
Throughout the year, the Project collaborates with high schools, colleges and universities, and professional organizations to host 6 - 10 day Encuentro retreats. Retreats challenge participants to embrace the themes of solidarity, accompaniment, simplicity, community, and justice. Retreat participants will:
ACCOMPANY
A goal of the Quispicanchi Project is to practice a ministry or presence, making ourselves available to walk with others in their daily lives, experiencing joyful yet challenging realities. This is our grounding philosophy. Accompanying others will encourage retreat participants to challenge their preconceptions and grow in their cultural openness to another person’s ideas and perspectives.
SERVE
Retreat participants will spend their days volunteering in local schools and after school programs supporting on-going social services for insecure families. Additionally there are opportunities to better understand and support collaborative initiatives of the Quispicanchi Project and our partner organizations.
LEARN
The culture and heritage of the Quispicanchi region and the Sacred Valley is colorful and diverse. Through culturally immersive experiences, participating in local traditions, spending time in nature, and visiting local historic archaeological sites, participants will deepen their knowledge and understanding of the rural and indigenous cultures of the high Andes.
REFLECT
Each day concludes with guided reflection around retreat themes of solidarity, accompaniment, simplicity, community, and justice. Retreat participants will be joined by Project Summer Companions (university students from across the U.S. spending two months supporting our work in the region) to share about their daily experiences.
(INFORMATION: If you are interested in learning more about our retreat program, contact our Encuentro Program Manager)
Companions
DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS
The primary purpose of the Project Companions program is to serve The Project by helping to sustain and deepen our relationships in the region. The Project Companions program also provides participants the opportunity to explore their own passions, as well as personal and professional interests in the context of living abroad and working in under-resourced communities.
IN-COUNTRY EXPERIENCES
Project Companions are invited to spend between two months and up to one year living and working with one of our project partners in the region. Additionally, participants will work to cultivate their own opportunities to partner with individuals and entities in order to learn more about the region, and actively participate in local customs and traditions. In doing so they represent and promote the core values of the Quispicanchi Project.
FUNDRAISING & ADVOCACY
Companions are expected to fund raise a minimum of $3,600 to support their experience. In this way our Companions also serve as advocates for our work, engaging others in joining us on our journey. In exchange Companions are provided with air transportation, housing, insurance, and a monthly stipend to assist with transportation and food expenses. A portion of funds raised will go to support projects in the communities where they will work and serve.
Professional Interns
ADVANCING OUR MISSION
Interns and volunteers serve the project by applying their passions and skills in the advancement of our mission. Working and serving alongside our partners in Peru and our executive team stateside, volunteers and interns bring specific skills and talents which are vital to continue our work serving communities in Peru and which are necessary to sustain our organizational operations. These individuals may be assisting in various capacities with our social enterprise, media and communications, fundraising, research and advocacy work.
FIELD EXPERIENCE
Volunteer positions and Internships last anywhere between 2 to 12 months. In most instances, internships will include an in-country experience supporting our project work in Quispicanchi. Interns and volunteers have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in specific disciplines (public health, medicine, education, business and entrepreneurship) or integrate their experience into their current course of undergraduate or graduate school studies. An intern’s field experience in Peru equips them to advocate for the Project upon their return and throughout the length of their internship.
FUNDRAISING & ADVOCACY
Volunteers and Interns who wish to have an in-country experience or whose responsibilities require one are expected to fund-raise a minimum of $2,400 to support their field experience and to contribute to the needs of the project they are supporting. Additionally, volunteers and interns serve as advocates for our work, engaging others in joining us on our journey. A portion of funds raised will go to support projects in the communities where we work and serve.
THANK YOU, COMUNIDAD 4!
Our 2024 Project Summer Companions and Interns
COMUNIDAD 3, SUMMER 2023
(first row to top)
Sofia Meador-Safont - University of Texas
Tia Taylor - Southern Methodist University
Nathan Spencer - University of Texas
Jorge Rios - Fordham University
Ryan Bernal-Franco - City College NY
William Metz - Rollins College
COMUNIDAD 2, SUMMER 2022
(first row to top)
Olivia DeBoer - Creighton University
Juliana Stanford - University of Texas
Madi Marketos - University of Texas
Jake Taylor - University of Texas
Ryan Berg - Creighton University
Santiago Day - Springhill College
Zachary Freeman - Creighton University
Martin Day - Texas A & M University
COMUNIDAD 1, SUMMER 2021
(left to right)
Matthew Freemam - Creighton University
Silas Hartman - Southern Methodist University
Jacob Ennen - Canisius University
COMUNIDAD 4, SUMMER 2024
(first row to top)
Lizzy Chapa - University of Texas
Zara Barkowski - University of Texas
Marita Muller - Rockhurst University
Sophia Alameddin - Creighton University
Brian Mathis - University of Texas
Chrisopher Geisler - University of Oklahoma
Riysisaq. Companionship.
Launched in 2021, the Companions and Interns Program provides participants with unique opportunities for personal and professional formation while accompanying our friends in Quispicanchi and through service in a developing country. Learn more today!
