THE DREAMERS AND THE DREAM

I believe that Dreams are always looking for Dreamers that can hold a sacred space in order to be able to manifest itself into physical reality. The Dream looks for us in our physicality, identifying all the pieces that it needs, and it looks for dreamers that have similar vibrations in order to make itself a reality. The Dream, the Universe, our Great Creator organizes everything in a perfect and synchronistic way and all the pieces of the puzzle find themselves drawn together with the same mission, with the same Dream.

We might have the idea that we are creating this project or this organization. I must say that, we all have been called by the Dream and that we are just instruments, facilitators in this adventure that is so needed in the center of Peru; the adventure of helping in the blossoming of the Children of The Andes through education.

As a dreamer I was able to be directed by the Dream and found lots of dreamers looking for their counterparts. Every one of us, and the new friends getting involved in this project play different but complementary rolls and are part of the big puzzle.

I was born in Lima, Peru. I left my country to pursue a musical education in the United Estates. After spending half of my life in Los Angeles, California I felt the need to go back to the highlands of Peru in order to reconnect with my roots and with the indigenous people of my country.

In October 2003 I went to Cusco looking for an Inca Paqo, a high priest I had met almost 12 years ago. Synchronicity of events led me into finding who is now a very close friend Martin Pinedo.

During my stay in Cusco, Martin took me to a sacred site up in the highlands called Araypallpa and initiated me in the Andean cosmology tradition. A strong shift was the result of this beautiful ceremony. I was literally embraced by Mother Earth, “Pachamama” and committed myself into helping the children of this beautiful and magical land.

For the last two years I have gone back to the Andes several times hoping to find the right location and a way to start a Waldorf inspired school. Originally, I wanted to bring American teachers to Peru to start the school, but I soon realized that the language was a real challenge. Not only they needed to be fluent in Spanish but they also needed to have a clear understanding of the culture.

Little by little everything started shaping by it self, as being guided by a magical hand. One thing led to another, and a friend to a new contact that led me to something else. So, that’s how I found myself in Ollantaytambo, just one hour away from the world renown Machu Pichu meeting with Elvis Farfan and Dona Julia.

Dona Julia is Elvis’s mother, a great Peruvian herb healer owner of a retreat center in Rumira. After talking with them about my intentions regarding the school I found a lot of interest and support for the ongoing project. Elvis is our contact person in Rumira, he is our project coordinator overseen the construction of the Art crafts Center and the school.

My next step was to find Peruvian teachers that could teach in Spanish and again it was magic playing itself one more time. Lourdes Jibaja was referred to me as a possible contact. So I met her and found an incredible dynamic women willing to work together on this noble and venturous pursuit.

I was lucky I didn’t have to look for Lourdes in Lima or fly her to Cusco, nor I had to convince her to leave her comfort life in Miraflores in pursue of idealism. Lourdes is idealism itself, she lives and breathes Waldorf and follows Rudolf Steiner education to the t’s. Having graduated 2 classes in the Lima Waldorf School and with over 20 years of experience she came on board as if her prayers had suddenly been answered.

Lourdes is certified to teach and qualify teachers in the Waldorf education. Not only did I find a great Waldorf teacher but a fantastic teacher trainer.

Lourdes was already teaching in the public school of Taray, 20 minutes away from Rumira. She went to help the children with no pay while taking her sabbatical year. In no more than 2 months the community started noticing a big difference in the self esteem of the children. She was totally embraced by the villagers of Taray to the point that they built her an adobe home where she now resides.

Lourdes is a dedicated teacher. She has always put education as the number one priority in her life. She is adventurous, a pioneer in her field, and a compassionate and spiritual human being.

Lucia Justo is Lourdes’ fine and dedicated daughter; she is also a Waldorf teacher specializing in kindergarten and nursery schooling. Lucia is very excited about Kuychirumiyoc, our first initiative for a Waldorf inspired school in the Andes. She will bring experience, dedication and love for the children.

Thanks to the Dreamers

I want to thank my friend and healer Martin Pinedo for inspiring me with his great ideas. He is always thinking about improving the living conditions for the Andean people, as well as helping them create new sources of income, not available in most villages in the Andes.

Martin has the power to talk to the Apus and to listen to Mother Earth when she cries out for help. He is the spiritual force behind this project.

Another incredible spiritual force and inspiration is my good friend Carla Monge, who I got to meet at the beginning of 2005 while fighting breast cancer. I was very lucky to know her during this precious time in her life.

Carla was the active element of this plot. With her incredible enthusiasm she move me forward from the thought of creating a Waldorf school into a tangible reality. A very talented woman, with incredible love for life, never lost a second of her time without creating excellent results or having fun to the maxed. Carla, after fighting cancer for over 3 years, in her last two weeks of life was able to pull together her network of friends and family and fundraised over $16,0000.00 dollars for the Art Craft Center. Her energy, love and dedication to this project will always be remembered. Dan Wallis, thank you for continuing Carla’s vision and constant support.

Julia Garreaud, special thanks for always being a support system; for loving the children of Peru and for embracing my culture as your own. Thank you for your great ideas, your inspiration and for fundraising for this project. To my son Andres thank you for always inspiring me with your love and great talent.

To all my friends and donors for your support Thanks and more thanks. To Pablo Patrono for helping create this wonderful website…. Muchas gracias.