Fundraiser for the Miraflores Cooperative in Cuzco, Peru

Hi, My name is Trevor Friedrich and I am currently an undergraduate student at Providence College. This past spring break, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Peru as part of a school trip. In addition to visiting world-famous attractions such as Macchu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, I was able to visit the Miraflores Cooperative in the neighborhood of Tika Tika in Cuzco, one of Peru's major cities. Located in one of Cuzco's poorest neighborhoods, the cooperative serves as a community center where members of the neighborhood can gather. Usually, the cooperative is used for events such as birthdays, holidays, and funerals, because most houses in the surrounding area are too small and not suitable to host these events themselves. In addition, the cooperative serves as a day care and preschool for young children in the neighborhood, who often live in single-mother households. While their mothers are at work, the cooperative gives these kids a safe place to learn and play. Despite all of the roles the cooperative plays in the community, it is severely underfunded and receives no funds from the Peruvian government. Therefore, fundraisers like mine are the only way of the cooperative raising money. In Peru, there is a popular phrase called Ayni, which is Quechua for "Everybody helps Everybody". The goal of my fundraiser is to give back to the people who gave me such an unforgettable experience in Peru. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will help the cooperative continue making improvements, in addition to helping fulfill their hopes of creating a Library and providing internet to the surrounding area.

Thank You!