Tarma

Tarma - Sister Dorothy Stevenson

I live in a house that has a practical space for the garden. A group of thirty or so women of the neighbourhood meet with me and they are getting to know each other while they work together.  These people are from diverse areas, giving them the challenge of extending their understanding and trust in others and being themselves more open towards others.

We are trying to organize ourselves in a different way from other groups where they are very much undervalued, their opinion is ignored and they are oppressed and controlled by fines.  It takes time to change.

We make ponchos and other accessories to sell; we work in a vegetable garden and grow alfalfa for the guinea pigs which we are breeding for restaurants and export to Spain. 

Solar ovens are another project in the pipeline and of course, we sometimes prepare ourselves a “pachamanca” (earth oven of cultural importance in Perú) for fiestas.

The hope is that we can make a little money to take home; that there are times for friendly celebrations which strengthen the bonds of the group; and that they themselves recognize the benefits of working together to achieve what society at large does not give them.

The feeling of community makes these benefits possible.  This is one of the positive outcomes of welcoming others into the group as Jesus always did.