Kely's greenhouse

A key part of Peru 19's Lima antics last week (aside from reuniting with far-away friends, celebrating the halfway point of our service, and listening to "Blurred Lines" throughout our entire two days of med checks) was Peace Corps's annual Somos Emprendedores, Somos Perú competition. Each of the volunteers chose the best project from their business plan course for youth, and those hard-working jóvenes got to accompany us to Lima to compete for start-up funding. Cajabamba's local winner was Kely, a 21 year-old who's in the process of starting her own organic greenhouse. 

Kely with one of her radishes

Her first greenhouse is now almost fully operational

To keep things organic, she uses homemade cuy fertilizer, no chemicals, and clean water from rain and a reservoir

Kely impressed me from day one with her quiet dedication and work ethic - she came to every single class, and turned in a business plan and presentation that far exceeded my expectations. Not only did she excel in the academic aspect of the business plan, but I personally think her idea is awesome - organic veggies that grow faster yet require less labor and water supply then regular field-grown. Kely lives in one of Cajabamba's outlying farming communities, about an hour walk outside of town, and is one of few women from that background who can say she's completed not only high school (that in itself is an uncommon accomplishment), but also technical college. As with the majority of the students we brought to Lima last week, Kely had never been further from home than the regional capital of Cajamarca.

I spent a good amount of time during the days of the competition trying to imagine this experience from the eyes of our students. For them, Lima was a whole new world, and one that was likely a bit bewildering. There are ten-lanes-wide roads jammed with cars, shiny skyscrapers that seem to touch the clouds, restaurants and stores with prices no campesino would dream of paying, and Peace Corps-funded per diem cash that I'm sure seemed quite extravagant. But wait - not only did we take these kids to Lima, but then we brought them to the whole other level that is the U.S. embassy: security guards, metal detectors, grand steel doors and marble floors, huge carpeted rooms, climate-controlled air conditioning, etc. etc. While to us volunteers, it felt like walking back into a little slice of normal America for a few hours, to our students every one of those aspects was a cause for awe and wonder.

Four of our 11 groups walked away with prize money that will fund their small businesses: a café/bakery, natural yogurt production, selling grafted wine grape vines, and a pharmacy of all-natural remedies. And although Kely didn't win, I know she will continue to try and grow her greenhouse idea anyway - and hopefully she'll let me help!