STORIES OF RESILIENCE: MATIASA

Matiasa Quispe Medina lives in the small, agricultural community of Rumira Sondormayo, about an hour and a half by car from the Sacred Valley Health headquarters in Ollantaytambo. She has been a promotora with SVH for more than 5 years now, making her an important asset for her community. This has been crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic as Rumira Sondormayo has very limited access to health resources. As Matiasa tells us, “It has been so important to educate my community and help them protect themselves from the virus and this illness. I really like to teach, and I’m excited to be able to better inform my community.” 

Matiasa feels hopeful that, with her support, people in her community will continue to exercise caution and practice preventative measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Her major concern, however, is the fact that tourism has come to a complete halt. For her and her family, this means no income for the foreseeable future. This lack of economic resources negatively impacts her children’s educational opportunities and puts the dreams she and her husband have for their family far out of reach. For now, her children have not been able to continue with their studies online because Rumira Sondormayo does not have internet access. “What worries me most,” Matiasa confides, “is the idea that I could get sick. And the fact that I have no work and no money for my children. I’m also very concerned that my children aren’t able to study.”

These are many of the same worries felt by parents around the world, regardless of your country or community. It is our goal to continue providing health education and employment opportunities to women like Matiasa in 2021. With your help, we can do just that.


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