Zurite is a community in the “campo” (countryside) that is about a 45 – 60 minute drive outside of Cusco.  In Zurite there is a school and agriculture community that was built and sponsored with help from Father Nicanor Acuña Yaca (who also started the Belen Clinic).  The school was built in 1993, with the goal of better educating youth in the local community of Zurite.  In addition to the school, there are several agricultural staples at the school site that the community can use for themselves, and also to sell.  Local youth in the community can also learn how to work in the agricultural industry, which equips them with occupational skills.

The side of the school house which reads: "If you want to do something good for the people for a year, plant wheat. If you want to do something good for the people for 10 years, plant a tree. But if you want so that the people can benefit forever, educate them!!" Pretty good advice if I do say so.

Janie and I had the pleasure of visiting this small community, as Father Nicanor and some of the other volunteers often visit during the weekends.  Sometimes they set up mobile clinics or health education sessions at Zurite, but this past weekend we went simply to visit and also to prepare a nice lunch for all the workers and youth.  While some of the other volunteers were preparing lunch, 2 of the youth were kind enough to show us around, and let us see some of the farm animals.

They had cows (vacas)....

...and pigs (chancos)...

...and chickens (pollos)...

...and rabbits (conejos)...

...and of course the famous guinea pigs (cuyes)!

They also had some little piglets (chanchitos) that we were able to hold….

Janie with her piglet (chanchito)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otE7n9hejrg?hl=en&fs=1]

After the tour of the animals, we had some fun with Julio and Christian, our guides for the day, who were having fun catching doves.

Julio holding a dove

Christian with his two doves

Cousins striking a pose

We also got to pick some fruit.  Although the strawberries were out of season, they had some delicious aguaymontes (which taste like apricots).

The aguaymontes look like this before you open up the flower....

...and then you get these sweet yellow fruits....yum!

Janie getting a taste of the local fruit

We ended the day helping some of the locals pick what look like lima beans.

Picking beans in the field.

Some type of Peruvian beans.

My pitiful contribution for the day...

We’ll be returning to Zurite often to work with the local community, so please stay tuned for more!