Fe y Alegria- the school

While I was not at the school as much as some in our group, it did leave me with a lasting impression. ¨Fe y Alegria¨ or ¨Faith and Joy¨ is actually a network of school founded by the Jesuits in Peru. The concept is not too different from charter schools in that the state pays the salaries of the teachers but other groups, especially religious communities, run them. In this case the ¨26¨ is the number of this school in Canto Grande run by the Christian Brothers.
The thing which is most obvious about this school is the joy demonstrated by the young students in particular. As soon as we were spotted, we were mobbed by a number of school children. There was hugging, and talking, and lots of playing. We felt like movie stars and were even asked for autographs. As Mr Daly noted, contact with us was one way of ¨traveling,¨of having contact with another world, of ¨touching¨a new reality, much as we were there to witness to their reality. Given the poverty, many of these student would never even leave Canto Grande, not to mention travel to the US or experience a drastic change in their economic future. Sure, there have been plenty of ¨success stories,¨people who have done well in the world who are alumni. But most will be in anto Grande for their whole lives. And, even if they leave, most will always be affected by their experiences at¨Fe y Alegria.¨ For instance, Friday, after the bonfire we had with the high school students, a woman who was the mother of two very successful alumni of the school traveled on the bus with us home. She remains committed to the community, supplying meals and support to the students as well as the brothers.
Perhaps one of the most striking things about the school is its large footprint. I mean that in the sense of the area it takes up to be sure, for it is a large compound with a wall which claims territory way up the hill into the community where we built the house. But I also mean ¨footprint¨ in terms of the educational and spiritual well-being. The students are engaged in activities there at all hours of the day and night. It is a kind of youth center or haven in a community which has little else to offer them. It raises the spirit and brings ¨faith and joy¨to the entire area. It is a kind of sanctuary, a holy place of escape and renewal. And, surely, our spirits were renewed there as well.
It is my hope to have other participants add there own reflections here. Allow me in the meantime to mention the topics yet to be covered: Our touring, the people of Peru, the Hogar de San Francisco in Chaclacayo, and our day today in a women´s and children´s shelter.