Day 4: Indigenous Worldview

Hi everyone! Jazmin and Gianny here to tell you about day 4!

Today we woke up at 8 am and had another amazing breakfast from the beautiful Isabel: strawberry pancakes, a side of passionfruit syrup, boiled eggs, strawberries, and a cup of tea or coffee. Around 10 am we left for Cacha Pucaratambo, where we had a tour of their garden with our leader Margarita, We saw and smelled the herbs they had grown and learned about their many benefits. For example, mint is used for headaches, and cactus can be used for back pain. We also went to a museum where Segundo shared his knowledge about traditional indigenous culture and the daily lives of the Cacha people.

We learned about old marriage customs, the clothes they wear, and what each article of clothing represents. He also educated us on the history of Manuela Leon and how she was able to empower women to take their virginity and womanhood back by standing up to their abusers. For lunch, we had a pachamanca-style meal, which we were able to serve ourselves. We also had the chance to eat cuy (guinea pig) for the first time.

We had the great opportunity to get cleansed by Segundo around an indigenous crucifix using herbs and plants from the garden. We came back to Riobamba and had our daily Program Seminar, with a little treat of ICE CREAM!! During this time, we learned about our new partner: Despertar de Los Ángeles. Their organization focuses on supporting disabled people within the community and recognizing them as individuals beyond their disabilities.

Afterward, we were able to enjoy our dinner followed by the great opportunity to meet Miceala Lema, an important indigenous counsel woman in Riobamba who inspires women every day. We had the pleasure of learning Quichua words with her help such as guiding us through common phrases and numbers. We were able to end the day off with our nightly meeting and passing the torch to the next Líders del Día.