Schoolchildren of Choquecancha benefit from Becky Fund Volunteer Efforts

It has been another successful summer session for Becky Fund volunteers Aaron Ebner, Dave Scott, Sean Duffey, and myself, as we traveled to Choquecancha in support of the local elementary school. The small pueblo of Choquecancha rests halfway up the Lares valley, in a picturesque spot about two hours drive from the Becky Fund base in Calca.

Aaron and Dave arrived in early July to make preparations, after spending much of the previous year diligently fundraising thousands of dollars. They spent significant time and effort in the purchase and transport of materials, in hiring construction expertise, and in the general arrangements with the Choquecancha school administrators. They also purchased books and school supplies for the school library. Most of the materials had to come from Calca and Cuzco, so Aaron and Dave made many a trip among these towns via motorcycle, taxi, and the ever-crowded combi mini-bus! After days of making such arrangements, they were able to begin work on the kitchen/cafeteria building at the schoolyard. Traditionally, the schoolchildren are provided a nutrient-rich corn-meal and biscuit lunch by the Peruvian government, which is cooked on an open bonfire in the schoolyard. The new facilities, as funded by the Becky Fund, would provide a kitchen area with a gas-powered stove for the school cooks (often the local parents). The new facilities would also allow for some limited cafeteria space. Finally, a school library would be set up and furnished with new books and materials.

To begin the work, Dave and Aaron carried dozens of mud bricks down a winding mountain road to the job site, where our construction experts were there to evenly cement them into place. Upon the completion of these crude walls, trees from astride the main road were felled to provide roof beams. After a thin metal roof was installed, a bright white layer of stucco provided an impressive aesthetic improvement. Much work remained on the interior of this building, however, and luckily Sean and myself arrived soon after to help tackle this task. Upon our arrival, we four merry gringos set to work digging out the floor of the new building and installing floor beams. We had a great deal of interest, and a bit of help from the schoolchildren as well, who would wake us from our tents in the morning and keep us entertained through midday. Magic tricks and the occasional futbol game often ensued during lunch periods.

We also constructed a second building in order to house some of the kitchen equipment, and this entailed the transport of some 300 adobe bricks from the village supply, about 150 meters up the winding road. Between carting these bricks and a great deal of cement mixing materials, we were quite filthy and exhausted at the end of our workdays. Our locally hired experts, however, often worked 10 hours a day for the entire month straight! Needless to say we were quite inspired by their work ethic; we often blamed our own short 8 hour days on the altitude!

During the continuing construction and completion of these two school buildings, we set to work furnishing the school’s library. We were able to purchase an impressive collection of books from Cuzco, thanks again to The Becky Fund. We brought full encyclopedias, Spanish-Qechua-English books (a favorite of the teachers), story books, practical guides, math and science books, and even a few Harry Potter translations! We spent a few days setting up the library and cleaning out the area, hanging maps and posters, and arranging the shelves and desks. As we neared our departure date, Aaron was able to bring a group of students into the library for a cross-cultural exchange. He had previously arranged for some local schoolchildren in Marshall, Michigan to write pen-pal letters to the students in Choquecancha. Now it was time to produce the return letters, which we all helped the students to write. It was a wonderful experience to work with these children on their letters, especially given the backdrop of the newly furnished library.

Upon our departure date, the school administrators were incredibly gracious. Many of the students lined up to sing songs of thanks, while the parents and teachers cooked us each a 4 lb choice cut of goat meat. A small ceremony was held during which one of our administrator friends, Ephraim, said a few heartfelt words of thanks. We broke a bottle of champage over the vestibule, said many friendly goodbyes, and headed on our way home.

Arrangements were also made for the 8^th grade class to take a trip to Machu Picchu, and take advantage of this amazing Peruvian cultural center. Funding for this trip, as often provided by the school, was lacking this year. The Becky Fund was able to step up and secure a spot for each 8^th grade student.

We would like to send our thanks and best wishes to our friends in Choquacancha, Calca, Marshall, and elsewhere. Our friends Ruben, Pio, Hector, Julian, and little Percy were an immense help during the construction phase. Jorge, Ephraim, Juan, Marco and the other school administrators were also dear friends during our stay. It was a delight to visit Hernan and Yolanda; as usual we benefited from Yolanda’s fine home cooking! Carlos from Cuzco helped a lot as well. We appreciate all the donations and assistance from friends and family from Marshall, and the surrounding areas in Michigan. Finally, to Dinny and the Becky Fund, once again we immensely appreciate the opportunity to do such meaningful and fulfilling work.

-Ethan Ebner

Thank You Phi Gamma Delta (U of Mich)!

Dear Dinny,

Greetings from the University of Michigan! On behalf of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) here at the University, I would like to present you with this donation of $375.22 in support of The Becky Fund. Perhaps my mom told you about the fundraiser we held here on campus; we had about 35 members of our organization out bucketing on a mild spring day this past April. It was a very successful event; on top of the money raised, we were able to spread the good word about the work being done in becky's honor...

As I am sure you have heard, Aaron and I along with our friend Dave Scott, and Sean Duffy, will be heading back to Peru in the next few weeks. We plan to undertake the school building upgrade/construction project that Aaron has been working so hard on. He has made it his goal to raise an impressive amout of money for this project, and hopefully this donation can help as well.

We are glad to lend our support to The Becky Fund, and hope that the organization can continue to assist the indigent students of Peru. in addition, my brother Aaron and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to do such important work for such a noble cause.

Thank you again; Good luck and best wishes!

Sincerely,
Ethan Ebner
Graduate Advisor
Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji)
University of Michigan

Read entire letter.

2007 Trip Report

Dear Friends and Family,

I asked my friend Toby to write the report this year for a fresh perspective. She and I were on the very first trip when we "made it up as we went along". Those ideas have been expanded and refined, but we continue the original mission. The report is a little delayed as Toby was busy welcoming her first grandchild. Thanks again for your continued support. As long as we have you, we will continue this work.

Love, Dinny

“THE BECKY FUND IS WORKING TO PROVIDE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH AID TO THE
CHILDREN OF PERU’S SACRED VALLEY.”
Indeed it is……and very successfully thanks to all of you and your generous donations.
The BECKY FUND celebrated its fourth annual working visit to the Calca-Pisac area in April, 2007.

We had a dynamite international crew this year.

From up north came Becky’s mother, La Senora Diana and her amiga, Molly, Las Cruces, NM; Tio Peter and Tia Anna, Ennis, MT; amiga Ann and her hija Marie, Boston; amiga Toby (that’s me) from Spokane, WA. Crossing the Pacific all the way from New Zealand came Tia Cristina and Tio Ross, prima Britt and their amiga Jo.

Down south, the Wilson family - Hernan and Yolanda (Yoli) in Calca, Carlos and Ligia and Richard and Sandra in Cuzco - are rock solid as our Peruvian anchors. Their commitment to THE BECKY FUND, invaluable contacts andYoli’s magic menus each afternoon remain fundamental to our collective success.

As in past visits, the primary thrust was providing school supplies to the children and their teachers in the high mountains around theCalca-Pisac area…….

and so it was again this year.

Off we went each morning: Justo, our fearless driver at the wheel of his trusty van: Hernan riding shotgun with the map and directions.

Loaded from top to bottom with notebooks, rulers, pens and pencils, erasers, glue and tape, paper for creative projects and writing exercises, story books and dictionaries, colored pencils and Magic Markers, maps and posters, scissors, tempura and paint brushes, puzzles and puppets, towels and soap to introduce the rudiments of basic hygiene, netting filled with soccer and volleyballs, clothing collected at home to hand out where needed most, stacks of pancitos – the traditional whole wheat rounds of local bread, the BECKY BUNCH was a familiar sight heading out of Calca.

We climbed the highest mountains as far as we could go. We forded rain-swollen streams and roadways, dodged llamas and their tenders, wedged in the locals if they needed a ride and hung on tight as we pitched into and out of the deep ruts and giant potholes on most certainly these roads less traveled. If the schools were still too remote or the track too primitive and muddy,Justo simply found a wider spot on the mountainside and we waited for the teachers and students to come to us.

When we finally tallied all those teachers and schools, teachers who waited patiently each afternoon at our Calle Jacaranda house, teachers we met on the road or at the market, teachers we met on previous visits and knew we were returning, students on the road, little people with their moms at the schools when the BECKY BUNCH drove through the school gate………..well, the numbers were truly extraordinary, the gratitude immeasurable.

THE BECKY FUND gave basic school supplies to at least 4,000 students in dozens of schools, assembled more than 200 teacher’s boxes and handed out at least 5,000 whole wheat pancitos.

Teachers told us again and again that what THE BECKY FUND provides is often what they have to work with for the entire year. Without these materials, their jobs and the fierce dedication to making the lives and futures of these mountain children and their families just even the tiniest bit better would be virtually impossible.

Each trip would not be complete without a stop at the SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS in Calca. This is a toughie, indeed. Regardless of the limitations and the profound need beyond anything possible within the walls of this modest facility, the director and her staff are totally committed to these children. Books and pencils are welcome, but as important is warm clothing. As we waved goodbye, the little group at the door waving back sported toasty sweaters and winter jackets.

Not by books or bread alone, The BECKY FUND also shopped in the Calca market for brooms and buckets, cooking pots, protein powder to supplement grossly inadequate diets, cups by the dozen, tire pumps, even a gas ring and propane tank. All BECKY FUND monies are spent in Peru. These purchases, large and small, have significant impact on the regional and local economies. They also create jobs and hope.

Literally because of a terrible fall last year and Tio Ross’ broken legs, the New Zealanders arrived this year with a huge bag of orthopedic supplies thanks to Ross’ very generous orthopedic surgeons. Word travels quickly in the world of need and pain: Before long, old men and women were hobbling away from our gate, standing a little straighter, the new braces, canes and crutches replacing their primitive wooden sticks.

There is no question that THE BECKY FUND is honoring its mandate and your trust: The City of Calca , by proclamation, acknowledged the work of THE BECKY FUND; A mountain
school was renamed to honor Becky; A special Mass was dedicated to thank THE BECKY FUND and its work. Teachers, students, people we didn’t even know came daily to offer tokens of their appreciation.

As successful as THE BECKY FUND is, there is so much more to do. Basic nutrition, medical care, family services and children’s rescue are increasingly urgent. THE BECKY FUND is taking a look at these areas, too, and if there are others in the Sacred Valley who share the same values and concern.

On behalf of THE BECKY FUND and our Peruvian friends, thank you all for your part in helping make the success of THE BECKY FUND a reality. No broken promises here; no hollow rhetoric, either. Each of your dollars goes directly to support these critical
projects. There are no administrative costs or fees. Each person on each visit pays his or her own expenses.

We thank you again for your past generosity. We ask that you continue your support for the work that lies ahead.

Respectfully submitted,

Toby C. Wolf

THE BECKY FUND – April, 2007

A footnote:

Celia, one of the Calca market vendors, has become a good friend of Dinny’s.

We arrived just as Celia and Hugo were finalizing their wedding plans. They asked Tia Cristina and Tio Ross to be the nuptial sponsors and Dinny to be Godmother to their 12 year old son. Everyone agreed.

The BIG DAY arrived. Off we all went to the ancient chapel in the little town of Lamay just down the road from Calca. The bride was beautiful, the groom so handsome, the flowers lovely and the decorations simply gorgeous. There were tears, applause, hugs and kisses all around, rice in everyone’s hair, a fiesta awaiting us back in Calca.

It was not until we left the chapel that we realized that all the lovely swags and bows were made out of……white toilet paper…….and that many guests were carefully rolling up the tissue and tucking it into their pockets. So simple, so beautiful and so very-very practical.

About Mike

The following story about Becky's brother, Mike, appeared in the Birmingham News 11/11/07

He loved life but questioned convention
ERIN STOCK
News staff writer

Pieces of Mike Prichard's life fill a portion of the wall in a narrow hallway at the Bare Hands Gallery in Birmingham.

The items and photos clutter the "ofrenda," or offering, dedicated to him in a space about the width of a fireplace and sprinkled with marigolds.

At the center, above a wooden mantel mounted to the wall, is a letter written in cursive handwriting and signed with a lipstick kiss: "Dear Christine, I am sooo much in love with you! Won't you please be my Valentine? Love, Michael."

Circling his words are photos of Prichardwith his wife, Chris, and other family. The mantel beneath holds a miniature book, "The Joys of the Garden," and a small vase of wooden cooking utensils that hint at one of his talents. The collage of items from Prichard's life is part of El Dia de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) exhibit at the gallery. Prichard in recent years honored his younger sister, who died four years ago, through the exhibit. This year his wife is honoring him. Prichard died in September at age 40 in an accident at their Forest Park home. The ofrenda displays a photo of Prichard hiking with his daughter, license plates from the six states he lived in with Chris before they had children, gardening gloves tinted with earth, House of Blues concert tickets and a Bob Marley bumper sticker: "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds."

Prichard, who adorned his car with political bumper stickers, used to call Russ and Dee Fine and argue with the radio talk show hosts. The St. Paul Minn., native challenged others to question convention in his daily conversations, delighting in provocative debate.

He also lived some of the change he professed. Recently he and his wife had begun renovating homes using eco-friendly products, and they planned to start a business that would provide "green" building supplies. He ate organic foods long before it started catching on. The garden in his backyard sprouted peppers, tomatoes, okra, beans, corn, strawberries, herbs - ingredients he used to craft dishes that were rich in flavor, surprising guests who thought vegetarian food couldn't be so tasty.

He sent his 5-year-old daughter, Marley, to school every day with a salad from his garden and taught her how to cook. Prichard would read Mark Twain to her and Avery, his 3-year-old son.

"After Marley was born, he said, `You know, Mom, you were right,'" said Dinny Bomberg, recalling how she once told her son that if he ever had children, he would love them 1,000 times more than he loved dogs and other animals.

Prichard did free-lance TV and film production work for most of his career, including art department, sound mixing, lighting and camera work. He was hard-working and a real "MacGyver" who would show up at a shoot with a toolbox and find a way to make things work, said Allen Rosen, a colleague and friend. Prichard's mom said her son never feared trying new things. When he was 3, he stripped off the training wheels that came with a new bike and learned how to ride without them.

He played the bass, violin, guitar and piano, and was part of several bands in his life. When Chris met him, he was running an art gallery in St. Paul that held concerts in the basement. The first time she saw him, Chris was walking with a boyfriend and dropped his hand. It was Prichard's eyes that caught hers. They were intense, blue eyes with a hint of mischief in them.

As a couple they traveled together and lived in Montana, Utah, Maine and New Hampshire, eventually coming to Birmingham in 1997.

A blueberry and fig orchard is being planted in his memory at Jones Valley Urban Farm. Anyone interested in helping can join volunteers Saturday from 10 until noon.

Radio Story and Slideshow

Listen to a series of radio interviews with Dinny on Las Cruces station KRWG and watch a slideshow of 21 pictures from the work of The Becky Fund.

Desks for Students

In July Ethan and Aaron Ebner went to Peru to build desks for students (they are the sons of Dinny's cousin Genie). They wanted to participate in the project during their summer break from college and did a great job that will be greatly appreciated by many children, teachers, and parents.

The Becky Fund in Sudbury Town Crier

The Sudbury Town Crier and the Lincoln Journal both printed the following story on the most recent trip of The Becky Fund.

Grads Bring Supplies to Peru

By Carole Lamond/Staff Writer
Thursday June 29, 2006

It was something of a culture shock to arrive in Calca, a town high in the hills of the Sacred Valley of Peru, where his small group from Sudbury were the only gringos in town, but for Matt Moore that was part of the adventure.
It was also the beginning of a two-week trip that touched the lives of hundreds of schoolchildren in villages so poor that a pencil and notebook are treasured items.
Moore and fellow 2004 Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School graduates, Marie Smith and Dan Kamen, volunteered to deliver school supplies for The Becky Fund, a small charity named in honor ofBecky Prichard died just north of Cuzco in an automobile accident in 2003 at the age of 27 [30] and her mother, Dinny Bomberg, established the fund in Becky’s memory.

Smith’s mother, Ann, and Bomberg are friends who have worked together on Habitat for Humanity projects, and the Smiths accompanied Bomberg on a trip to Peru to deliver school supplies in 2005. When Smith told Moore and Kamen about her plans to for a second trip to Peru with The Becky Fund, and asked, "Anyone, want to go?" her two friends decided to spend their spring college break on the charity trip.
"I kind of blindly went into it, but it sounded like a good cause, it sounded like an adventure and it sounded like fun," said Moore. "It definitely proved to be all three."
Many of the Indian children in the remote mountain villages attend windowless schools with no heat or electricity where pencils and paper are luxuries. Many of the teachers buy school supplies from their meager salaries of $100 per month.
This year the fund delivered gift bags to 3,250 children in 78 schools and gift boxes to 70 teachers. The volunteer also bought cooking pots, plastic cups and food for several schools and contracted with a local carpenter to build tables and chairs for a preschool. They also supplied yarn and musical instruments which are used to teach the children to knit and play music in their cultural traditions.
The volunteers, who all pay their own expenses, are assisted by the family of Becky’s fiancé, Mendel Wilson Muniz, who provide lodging and a place to store supplies while the volunteers go out each day to different schools which the family has contacted in advance.
"We leave early in the morning and go to the market to buy bread. We give each child a few pieces of bread which they would share with their siblings and parents," said Smith, 19, a student at Massachusetts School of Art in Boston. "We would give them the bread and their school supplies. Some of the kids still had their little plastic bag from the year before. It’s sad, but also really exciting to see how thrilled they are by getting a pencil or a balloon."
The group drove their van as far into the hills as the roads would take them and traveled the rest of the way on foot to a meeting spot. Some of their destinations were 14,000 feet up in the mountains. Once there they would shout for a resident of the village to get the local teacher.

It was amazing that they knew which day we were coming and they were ready for us. We would call out and after a little while the teacher and children would come walking down the mountain," said Moore. "The teacher would usually know Spanish and the kids would know a little, so communication was very basic. I learned some Quecha, the Indian language they speak."
Each child receives a plastic bag with notebooks, pencils, erasers and sharpeners. The teacher receives a box of 30 to 40 items including story books, puzzles, scissors, glue, masking tape, paper, markers and other craft supplies.

"That they got to own their very own pencils was huge for them. They would even save the boxes the pencils came in to play with," said Moore. "Kids literally won’t go to school if their parents can’t afford to buy a pencil and a notebook, so the children don’t get an education."
They also gave the children volley and soccer balls.
"Their eyes lit up when they saw we brought them a ball," said Moore, 20, a student at Northeastern University in Boston. "They were playing with a bunch of rags tied together, that was their ball. We blew up balloons for them to play with and that was a big novelty for them."
The children were dressed beautifully in colorful hats and clothing woven in the Indian patterns. The youngest children were often shy with the American students who looked and dressed so differently, but families were generous with the visitors, sharing gifts of corn or potatoes, or playing music and dancing for them.
"The whole country is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and the culture there is so rich," said Smith. "You see people singing and playing instruments that they made."
The Becky Fund is researching ways to bring better nutrition to the people in the remote mountain villages and is experimenting with a grain/milk combination to supplement the children’s diet. Their diet consists mostly of corn or potatoes.
The Sacred Valley of Peru was the heart of the Inca civilization during the 14th to 15 centuries. Many of the villagers live very much the way they did prior to the Spanish Conquest of the country in 1532.
"You can read about the conditions, but you really have to be there, it’s really an amazing experience," said Smith. "It’s easy to feel you can’t help much, but it’s really important work, and it definitely makes me want to go back and do more things for the project. I hope that other people will want to help too."

March 2006 Trip a Success

Dear Friends of the Becky Fund,

Please excuse my delay in getting the 2006 trip report out to you. I was hopingthat the 3 college students, who we were fortunate enough to have accompany us this year, would be able to participate in the writing, but their busy schedules haven't allowed that to happen.

Our trip started out on a sad note as my friend Toby, from Spokane, learned her mother had terminal cancer the day her tickets arrived, so she was unable to go. Two weeks before the trip my brother-in-law, Ross, from New Zealand fell off his roof and injured both ankles and legs. However, I did have incredible participants in Ann Smith, her daughter Marie, and two college friends of Marie, Matt and Dan, all from Boston.

This was our third trip and the people were waiting for us! Everyday we had teachers or parents coming to find us, on the street, at the hotel, etc. It still amazes, and humbles me that they so value the supplies that we provide. We also get such wonderful and loving support from the whole Wilson family and the many friends of Becky and Mendel. Without them it would be impossible to do this work.

Every morning we load up the van with the boxes of teacher's materials, supplies for the kids, and head to the oven to buy fresh bread (500 pieces). Next we head out and I have no idea where we are going. They tell me which schools we are going to visit that day, some as far as three hours up the mountain. Miraculously we find the schools and they seem to know we are coming. I still don't know how it all happens. In several schools the parents had gathered to thank us for our gifts. The children sing or dance, and the parents and teachers serve a soft drink, some potatoes, or crackers. Sometimes they present us with homemade presents. These people who have so little share what they have with such dignity and pride it makes my heart ache.

This year we gave a box of supplies to each teacher, instead of one to each school. We were hoping that this would eliminate any competition. Also, we recognize that they each desperately need these things, as they often have to buy supplies out of their own meager salaries. We include such items as scissors, glue, rulers, masking tape, 3 kinds of paper, magic markers, colored pencils, pens, story books, puzzles, clay, soap, towel, etc. Of course, the most popular items with the children are still the volley and soccer balls. It still is the only thing they have to play with. Each child receives a plastic bag with notebooks, pencils, erasers and sharpeners.

I still can't believe how excited they are to receive these simple things. This trip we gave to 3,250 children and gave supplies to teachers in 78 different places . In addition, we were able to buy cooking pots and plastic cups for several schools so the teachers and parents can cook something for the children with the few commodities the government provides. Often the families send a few potatoes or yucca to augment what they prepare. One of the preschools had been given a fairly nice building, but there wasn't a thing in it. We contracted with a local carpenter to build desks and chairs, painted in bright colors. We were also able to assist a nun who makes a noon meal for about 120 kids, without any government or agency support, by buying some large quantities of food.

In one remote village the teacher is working to keep the young people participating in their cultural traditions by having the girls knit and the boys play the traditional musical instruments. We were able to assist in this effort by purchasing enough yarn and instruments for the school year.

As always there were some very touching things that happened. One that moved me deeply was when a man approached me and told me that his son had chosen Becky for his godmother. They had waited for my arrival to ask if I would consent to be the godmother in her place. The young boy came to meet me, and I guess I passed as we are scheduled for the big celebration next year. A woman who we buy many supplies from in the market, and who has been very supportive of our work, also asked if I would be the godmother to her only son. When I consented, she also asked if my sister would sponsor her at church so she and the boy's father could get married. We are going to be part of in some meaningful celebrations next year!

We are happy to announce that we have been granted tax-free status, thanks to the hard work of Angela Larson. Michael Prichard is the President of our Board, Alex the Vice-President, Jessica Cannon the Secretary, and I am the Treasurer, but Frank does all the work of keeping us fiscally compliant. The real force behind this project is all of you who make it happen with your incredible generosity!!!!

There are thousands of desperately poor children and parents who thank you with humble gratitude.

Love, Dinny

PS: I want to include a few comments I received from Matt and Dan:

"The teachers we met were some of the most dedicated I have ever known"

"In nearly every political conversation I heard it was mentioned that the Quechuas were being manipulated by politicians. Promises would be made for better living conditions and more prosperity, vague assurances that are rarely followed through on. Education gains a whole new level of importance within this context"

"The gratitude of the children surprised me at each school. At one school there was no teacher, because she had a meeting. Still, the children waited for us most of the day, and when we arrived they sang for us, and a couple of them gave speeches on the school's behalf. These were words of appreciation from children who couldn't have been more that 12 years old"

"I saw poverty in these villages, but I did not see much despair"

"Dan remarked that through this experience he felt like he had gotten to know Becky, and I (Matt) felt the same way. Neither of us had known her, but after spending as little time as two weeks with people who had, I did start to get a sense of what kind of person she was. Her family and her friends had taken a tragic event and built something positive out of it. For her death to inspire others in that way gave me an impression of who she was"

The Becky Fund in LoreMagazine.com

The Becky Fund was recently the feature article in Loremagazine.com, a magazine for residential real estate associates, and brokers.

Upcoming Trip

The next trip to Peru is scheduled for April 11-25, 2008. To volunteer or donate contact us.