New Restaurant in Ccorao a Huge Success

A recent letter from Alicia Komar after visiting the new restaurant in Ccorao with Washi's wife, Pammela.

"I was elated with what we saw. There were over 70 students present while we were there. The cooks told me that there are actually more students, depending on the day, and depending on the time. You will see from the attached photos that the space utilized is filled to capacity. In fact, the students were rotating through as we were there. There are students from both the primary and secondary classes. Secondary students come during their lunch break and then return to school. Primary students come after their classes are finished.

I was thrilled with the behavior of the students. Everyone was respectful and orderly in their actions. There was no rough housing or adverse behaviors. I could tell that they were all grateful to be there, and treated the project with respect. I enjoyed a nutritious lunch of a quinoa mash with vegetables and mate with the students.

My overall comments are that the project is running beautifully. I can also comment that from living here and trying to get things done, I realize that it has been a lot of work to set up and to manage. I would like to thank and give the highest compliments to Pammela for the work she has done there. Without her work, this project would not be such a success. Washi also deserves kudos for all of his contribution."

If you'd like to donate towards the continuing projects in the region, please visit the donate/support page.

Chocolatada 2014

The Chocolatada event of 2014 was again a huge success, bringing people from all over to celebrate together. 

Letter From Washi: Christmas 2014

Dear Friends,

I sincerely thank you for your donations at this Christmas 2014 to make possible this beautiful celebration of the children and families in Ollantaytambo, Machu Pichu, and all communities served. Path of the Heart and www.pathoftheheart.org shared the love of Christmas with all who could participate in the celebration - children, mothers, fathers and grandparents.

Please enjoy the photos and video on my Facebook page (here) at: 

We hope this will bring deep joy in to your hearts and minds in those special days, multiplying the blessings for you dear friends, and your loved ones. 

Our prayers for you this Christmas 2014 and Happy New Year 2015.

Gratefully,

Path of the Heart family and Washi. 

Peru Dec. 2014.

Universal Heart Restaurant Moves to Corao

Path of the Heart is excited to announce that the Universal  Heart Restaurant previously in Ollantaytambo is moving to the village of Corao. The restaurant was started in Ollantaytambo to feed the children who walked hours from their villages in the hills to come to school in Ollanta. The schools did not provide lunch so the children were often without food and found it hard to concentrate, sometimes falling asleep at their desks. For years Path of the Heart has provided a free hot meal and often school supplies enabling the children to make the most of their school experience and giving them energy for their long walk back home at the end of the day. Happily the government of Peru is now providing food for the children at schools in Ollanta. Since the restaurant is no longer needed at that location it was closed at the end of December, 2014.

Unfortunately, other villages have not received food in their schools and Path of the Heart wanted to continue its mission to feed children and help them make the most of their educational experience. The village of Corao was selected at the site of the next Universal Heart Restaurant. Corao is located between Cuzco and Pisac and has a population of approximately 400 families. Like Ollanta, children who do not live in the village walk hours to attend school there. The new restaurant will continue to serve between 80 and 100 children five days per week all year long. The restaurant is located in a newly completed building with its own kitchen, bath and dining room. Our beloved Elizabeth who has operated the restaurant in Ollanta will continue to operate the new restaurant. It will be open Monday, February 2, 2015. The village of Corao is grateful to Path of the Heart and has welcomed everyone. As soon as the restaurant is opened, pictures will be posted to the website.  

We are so grateful to our donors and supporters for continuing to make the restaurant possible and invite you to visit and meet Elizabeth and the children and let us thank you in person.

Orchids of Light Solar Panel and Computer Installation

The installation site was in the community of Tio Grande. This community, located above the town of Calca is remote and has no access to electricity. There are 65 children that attend the school. There are 3 teachers plus a director at the school. The school has 3 classrooms + a storage room, as well as 1 living space for the teacher. We completed the entire installation on October 30, 2014. In attendance were: Washi (representative from POTH), teacher coordinator (Maxel), BPP technician and his assistant (Hafid and Yutaka), BPP Education Coordinator (Patrick McDaniel) and BPP Technology Teacher (Tilda Yeow.) Also present at the school were many parents who came to see the installation, the children, teachers and school director. BPP’s technician conducted a tutorial for the teachers on how to use and maintain the solar panel system. There were no technical issues with the system, and everyone was grateful to have access to light, computers, and the ability to charge their radios and cellphones, etc.

BPP’s technology teacher worked with the teachers and children to learn how to use the laptops. They were thrilled with the technology, and soon the children were taking self-photos with the webcams. They learned how to access the educational programs, and it was difficult to get them to stop doing the multiplication games on the computers! This project will bring a great value to the community of Tio Grande, as the children will now have access to technology to enhance their learning. They will also be better prepared when they leave the community to attend a high school in the larger town of Calca.

Alicia Kozuch
President, Buen Power Peru