The Association “Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano”
Beatrice Savà, president of the Volunteer Association “Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano” ODV, shares the origin of this alliance with Yanapanakusun and the path of solidarity that they have built from Italy together with communities in Cusco.
Beatrice Savà
The Association “Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano” (Let's listen to the voices that call) was founded in 2002, after a “solidarity trip” by Giovanni Di Maria and his wife Danila to Peru, where they met the Yanapanakusun Center and its founder Vittoria Savio. Di Maria, upon returning to Italy with the photos taken in those places, made a calendar that he put on the counter of his store, with the purpose of raising funds for the Center. While continuing to launch initiatives in favor of Yanapanakusun, together with other people from the National Confederation of Artisans (CNA) and some municipalities in the province of Udine, he founded the association “Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano”. Venezia Giulia (FVG) of Italy. There are several projects carried out in Peruvian territory: i) with the proceeds from a foot race from Rome to the North Cape, it was possible to build a school for working children in Cusco; ii) with other funds, the nursery school was built in the Perccaccata Community; iii) intervention was carried out to finish the Yucai house (Sacred Valley), a place that includes spaces to receive tourists, hold events and conferences with the purpose of self-financing.
Desde entonces, esta asociación se ha dedicado a realizar proyectos cuyo objetivo ha sido satisfacer necesidades concretas de niñas y niños del Perú, en algunas ocasiones lo ha hecho con el apoyo y financiamiento de la Región Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) de Italy. Son varios los proyectos realizados en territorio peruano: i) con lo recaudado por una carrera a pie desde Roma hasta el Cabo Norte fue posible la construcción de una escuela para niños trabajadores en Cusco; ii) con otros fondos se construyó la escuela infantil en la Comunidad de Perccaccata; iii) se intervino para terminar la casa de Yucai (Valle Sagrado), local que incluye espacios para recibir a turistas, realizar eventos y conferencias con el propósito de autofinanciarse.
Thanks to the commitment of the school community of Martignacco (Udine) it was possible to contribute to the construction of a school in Misanapata, which today is the headquarters of the secondary school; In addition, the Association supports nutrition through the “one fruit a day for girls and boys of Perccaccata” project.
Two groups of mountain bikers were organized with a tour in the Andes, two playgrounds were equipped in two different communities, a protective metal fence was placed around the Huancarani Culture House and thanks to the donation from the BBTEC company of Feletto Umberto (Italy), a water purifier was installed in the Cusco House.
In 2023, with funds from the FVG Region and other Italian and Peruvian partners, a project was developed to support the Houses of Culture of Accha, Omacha and Perccaccata, for the development of school reinforcement, artistic and recreational activities, as well as redoing the roof of the Perccaccata primary school.
Since its foundation, the Association, in collaboration with associations and schools, has developed activities, events, concerts, exhibitions and social evenings with the objective of raising funds exclusively to support the projects.
The volunteers of the Association regularly frequent Yanapanakusun in Cusco, during their visit they support interventions from which important relationships of respect, true empathy and friendship were born, therefore, every time they return they feel at “home”. Each one leaves with the baggage of their skills, their profession and the profound humanity with which they make themselves available to each need. All interventions so far involve not only girls and boys, but also their communities, families, teachers, promoters and municipalities. We always seek to find materials and collaborations locally.
For me, arriving in Peru, in the Andes, is always a source of wonder due to the beauty of a landscape that has no borders between land and sky, where the colors are clear and the profiles of the mountains stand out against that intense blue background. Being on the roof of the world inspires submission and euphoria, both because of the immense spaces and because of the awareness of being part of them.
Sharing the true reality made up of poverty, isolation, deprivation, modifies souls that stop judging and open themselves to understanding and respect. Each member of the association who visits those places returns transformed and ready to replicate the experience with the aim of “building” something that can improve the existing situation.
Beatrice Savà
