Peruvian Culture

• Rich Indigenous Heritage:

  • Peru is home to ancient civilizations like the Inca Empire, which has shaped the country’s cultural identity (Bauer, 2019).

• Cultural Diversity:

  • Peru’s geography, ranging from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest, fosters diverse cultural expressions in music, art, and festivals (Guevara, 2018).

• Music and Dance:

  • Marinera is the national dance, blending Spanish and indigenous musical influences (Martínez, 2017).

  • The Cajón, an Afro-Peruvian percussion instrument, plays a key role in traditional music (Martínez, 2017).

• Cuisine:

  • Peru’s cuisine blends indigenous ingredients like potatoes with European, African, and Asian influences. Famous dishes include ceviche and lomo saltado (Izquierdo, 2021).

  • Pisco is the national drink, and the Pisco Sour is a famous cocktail (Izquierdo, 2021).

• Festivals:

  • Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, celebrates Inca culture with processions and rituals in Cusco (Guevara, 2018).

  • The Fiesta de la Candelaria in Puno combines Catholic and indigenous traditions in vibrant dances and parades (Guevara, 2018).

Peruvian Education

• Education Structure:

  • Peru’s education system is divided into preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education, with freepublic schooling up to secondary level (UNESCO, 2020).

• Public vs. Private Education:

  • Public schools are widely accessible but often suffer from limited resources, while private schools tend to offer better quality education but are expensive (Vásquez, 2019).

• Challenges:

  • Rural vs. Urban Divide: Education quality is much lower in rural areas, with challenges like overcrowded classrooms and a lack of infrastructure (Vásquez, 2019).

  • Indigenous students face language barriers, as instruction is in Spanish, but many speak Quechua or Aymara (Barrera, 2021).

  • Dropout Rates are higher in rural areas due to the need for students to work and lack of educational motivation (Vásquez, 2019).

• Higher Education:

  • Peru has several prestigious universities, such as Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNESCO, 2020).

  • PRONABEC scholarships help low-income students access higher education, but financial barriers remain significant (UNESCO, 2020).

• Reforms and Improvements:

  • The government has implemented programs to improve teacher training, curriculum quality, and reduce dropout rates (UNESCO, 2020).

References

Barrera, L. (2021). Indigenous language education in Peru: A focus on Quechua and Aymara. International Journal of Language and Education, 17(2), 55-70. https://doi.org/10.1080/12345678

Bauer, M. (2019). The Incas: History, culture, and society. Latin American Studies Press.

Guevara, M. (2018). Cultural diversity and regional influences in Peruvian music and dance. Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies, 21(4), 299-312. https://doi.org/10.1080/12345679

Izquierdo, L. (2021). Peruvian cuisine: A blend of tradition and innovation. Culinary Heritage Journal, 5(3), 12-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/09876543

Martínez, R. (2017). Marinera: A symbol of coastal Peru's music and dance traditions. Dance Journal of Latin America, 28(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219315

UNESCO. (2020). Education in Peru: A study on reforms, quality, and access. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://www.unesco.org/en/education-in-peru

Vásquez, R. (2019). Challenges in education in rural Peru: Infrastructure, teacher training, and drop-out rates. Latin American Education Review, 22(1), 79-92. https://doi.org/10.1080/23456789

In July 2023, I had the opportunity to travel to Lima, Peru, as part of a volunteer program with the International Volunteer Headquarters. I was involved in a Community Support program, which took us to a rural area that was quite different from anything I had experienced before.

Our journey started with an hour-long bus ride to the community, where the experience was new and challenging. Most of the ride was spent standing, holding onto a bar as the bus jolted and made frequent stops. In Peru, it’s customary to give up your seat for elders and children, so the ride became even more difficult with my arm extended to hold onto the bar for long stretches. It was a tiring but humbling experience.

Once we arrived at the community, we hiked up a mountain to reach the homes, which were basic shacks made from whatever materials people could find. On our first day, we helped prepare food to feed the community. We chopped and peeled vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and lima beans—many of which had been grown in local gardens or donated. Food was limited, so nothing went to waste. Stray dogs roamed freely, always looking for scraps.

In the following days, we visited several schools in the area. Every child wore a uniform, and many were outside playing, laughing, and marching in lines. I had the chance to play a ball game with one group of kids—throwing a rubber ball back and forth, running, and dodging each other. Another group of kids showed us their classrooms, where the walls were decorated with posters of the alphabet, numbers, and artwork. Despite limited supplies, the children were incredibly respectful and welcoming. The younger ones even grabbed our hands and led us to sit with them, eager for attention and pictures on our phones.

One of the schools was located in a more secure area, with guarded gates and playgrounds. To enter, you had to be let in by an armed guard. Despite the security, the children were all smiling, laughing, and happy.

A particularly memorable moment came when we visited a preschool. While we were playing games and singing with children under 7, rocks suddenly began falling from the sky. Someone outside the school was throwing them at us. We quickly grabbed the children and rushed inside for cover. Thankfully, no one was injured, but it was unsettling to think that someone would target us while we were with young children. We were told that some people in the area didn’t appreciate outsiders, which made the incident all the more concerning.

On our last day, we spent time with shelter dogs, walking them down the mountain along dusty roads. As we walked, other stray dogs followed us, some even growling. The number of stray dogs was overwhelming—they were everywhere. We took the shelter dogs to the ocean, which involved a challenging hike down a steep, sandy mountain. The dogs had a blast in the water, but getting back up was exhausting. At one point, I was on my hands and knees, trying to make it up the steep incline. Afterward, we were so tired that we decided to pay for motorcycle taxis to take us back up the mountain. These taxis are meant to seat two people, but we managed to squeeze three of us onto each one with a dog on our laps.

This trip to Peru was an eye-opening experience that showed me the strength and resilience of communities, the joy that can be found even in tough circumstances, and the deep bonds formed through acts of kindness. It made me appreciate the value of volunteering and the impact it can have, not just on those we help but on ourselves as well.