During this time of year, as Winter Solstice approaches, there are many festivities held in the city of Cuzco. The calendar includes many religious festivals and processions as well as the re-enactment (put on by the city of Cuzco) of the coming in of the New Sun at Winter Solstice, celebrated by the ancient Andean peoples. Of course, since there are no written records passed down to us by the ancient peoples, we don’t know exactly how this time was prepared for or celebrated, but an elaborate ceremony has been imaginatively put together for the 24th of June each year. Having myself been spectator on a number of occasions, this celebration is truly memorable. Many tourists come to Cuzco at this time to enjoy all the events. In the village of Andahuaylillas, where the Q’ewar Project is located, June 17th and 18th will inaugurate the first livestock, farming and artisan fair held to celebrate the month.

Q’ewar is still host to many foreigners coming to Peru to visit. JoAnne Denee, Waldorf kindergarten teacher and Q’ewar doll distributor extraordinaire (Vermont, USA) came for the 4th year to visit, bringing donated goods and her generous talents for teaching in the Wawa Munakuy childcare facility. Julia Nunez, Waldorf teacher, visited also during the month of April, along with 2 other teachers and 5 students from the Great Barrington Waldorf School in Massachusetts, USA.

Julia’s group brought donated clothing to the Project – for both the women and the children, which were distributed on Mother’s Day. Q’ewar is thankful to all those who contributed to this generous donation. Additionally, the group of students helped out on the land, making adobe bricks for the new workshop that is being built. The Massachusetts group also went on a 5 day hike to Machu Picchu, using an alternative route via the sacred mountain called Salkantay. Director Julio, an avid climber and hiker, joined the group for this trek.

Dan and Annie, volunteers from Minnesota, USA will continue to work with the ladies until the middle of July, teaching literacy, basic skills in grammar as well as simple arithmetic. This skill implements the help Dan and Annie are giving to the ladies to learn to manage their finances more efficiently. The ladies are also benefiting from daily movement exercises which are done by all the doll makers – bringing a sense of well-being, balance and greater harmony. Additionally, as the internet connection has finally come to Andahuaylillas, several Q’ewar ladies have been shown how to use it!

Sally E., Ph.D. researcher visiting Q’ewar in March, donated a laptop computer to the Project. This donation is greatly appreciated as we are all hopeful that soon internet will be available to households in Andahuaylillas, and Julio will be able to do all his voluminous internet work at home. Additionally, a digital camera has been bought and so now we can send off photos via internet to all our friends around the world!

We close our news with warmest greetings and thanks to each of you, our dedicated supporters and friends of Q’ewar. May these next Summer/Winter months, promising much, prove full of adventure and challenge!

Carmen, Lucy and Julio