LIMA, Peru.
The staff of the University Residence for Women (RUF) in Lima shares the reorientation process undertaken since May 2015. The current project provides comprehensive formation, including human and Christian values, to young people from remote and vulnerable areas of the country.
Seventeen students have joined through a scholarship from the Peruvian government, with the commitment to return to their places of origin and spend some time there. They also share about the celebration of the feast of the Assumption on August 15, when they welcomed former residents who also participated in the Eucharist, poems, songs and dances.
This year we tried to re-orient our work at the University Residence for Women (RUF) in Lima. A team of members of the Teresian Association (TA) developed a project which aims to "provide young students with a comprehensive formation, including human and Christian values, for them to develop as individuals, as responsible and committed citizens to their community ... capable of recognizing the multicultural richness of our country ... and involved in its development and social transformation in an ethical manner, open to intercultural and interreligious dialogue."
In May we started the new project with young people from the most remote and vulnerable areas of our country. These students have received a full scholarship from the Peruvian government that allows them to complete higher education in Lima, with a commitment to return to their places of origin and devote a certain time to serve their people.
Young people from nine different regions
There are 17 young people from 9 different regions of the country, some from 48 hours away. They are majoring in Industrial Engineering, Psychology, Intercultural Bilingual Education (Spanish-Quechua), Economics, Environmental Management, Sustainable Tourism, and Telecommunication Systems.
Since its inception the University Residence has as its patron Our Lady of the Assumption. On this occasion, on August 15, we decided to celebrate the feast with a new group of residents. Previously we had a meeting to go over the history of the Residence as a TA project. It was a very positive experience, which helped us to organize the celebration with the participation of a group of former students, a group of TA youth, and TA members.
Warm welcome and intercultural atmosphere
The group responsible for the welcoming atmosphere was able to incorporate attendees into a family environment. We started the celebration with a Mass prepared by another group of residents who motivated the participation of the community. At the end of the Mass, Bertha, as director of the TA in Peru, welcomed the audience and asked former residents to share their experience. One of them said, "it was one of the happiest times of my life; I learned values that marked my life to be supportive, friendly, and live my family life..." She noted that she still communicates with those who lived there and even now, after a long time, when one of them is in need all of them try to help her.
Then there was a moment to sing to Our Lady. Pricisla, who guided the group at this time, thanked those present and introduced Yheny Quispe, from Puno, who recited a poem written by her Quechua:
Imataq noka kausayny
K’ay nok’a kausayni
Sonqoyta suasah nispa
Sonqoyllayta sawaruchicuni
What will be of my life?
Is this my life?
I'll steal your heart, I was told
and my heart was stolen.
Then a group presented a Negroid dance from the coast
Para seguir siendo familia
After the artistic part Flor Sobrino, director of RUF, invited us to make a toast to the residence, so that it remains the TA family that it always claimed to be. We then shared appetizers served by former students. It was a night of celebration, sharing, songs, and dance. All were very happy; it was a happy time for all. One of the students said: "We left a family in our land and here we find another one, with sisters of our own age and older who support us."
This is a new moment for the residence and we are thrilled to accompany these young people in their process to become professionals who will return to their villages to serve their communities.
RUF Staff