Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Keeping a promise made to a group of teenagers in Peru's highlands, Minster Araoz went 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) above sea level to the city of Cerro de Pasco and gave these students rewards for work well done.

Despite difficult conditions such as a lack of roads, few teachers and just one computer without an internet connection, students at Alberto Pumayalla Díaz High School won a national competition organized by the Ministry of Tourism.

The students came in first place by writing a report on how their city could take advantage of its non-traditional products such as canola oil, sacha inchi plants and alpaca fiber.

Aside from personally being honored by Minister Araoz, the five students that won the contest were given computers and scholarships to study at San Martin de Porres University in Lima.

"The four computers and the notebook that we are giving you will serve to establish a computer lab at your school and help you develop the knowledge you'll acquire in a short time when you start studying at the university," said Araoz.

Noel Vivar, the teacher who guided the students during their investigation thanked Araoz and the Ministry of Tourism for keeping their promise and strengthening education in the region.