Ayacucho First Entry!!

Well this is my first entry since I've gotten to Peru and its my 3rd day in Ayacucho and I'm absolutely loving it!! We had a city tour of the sites, visited the wah wah wasi (like kindergarten in someone's home) and a beautiful cross high in the mountains. Yesterday we went to the women's prison where Marisol (program coordinator) had organised a talent show for the women in prison. It was organised for international women's week (la semana internacional de mujeures). It was wonderful seeing the women enjoy themselves and smile and laugh. Which doesn't happen very often in the prison as its very tough and the conditions are terrible. They did so many skits! There was one girl who did like 3 skits herself, it went on for hours!! They were so happy we didn't want to stop their fun! Their prizes included toiletries such as soap, shampoo and toilet paper!

There are lots of young girls in prison as well, one as young as 18 who is in jail for armed robbery and awaiting her trial (most likely she will serve 8months!). There is another girl who is 26, and has been in jail for 6 years and will have to serve another 19 for drug trafficking. Her and her husband were caught walking 11kg of cocaine out of the mountains. Drug trafficking is very common in Ayacucho as 80%of inmates are in jail for this offense. So the young girl who was caught was sent to jail but was actually set-up by the drug lords. Which is in fact a mexican drug cartel- go figure. When she got caught it enabled a truck carrying 250kg of cocaine to get through the police barriers untroubled because the police were so busy with the girl and her husband! very sad.

In Ayacucho, statistics say that 80% of people living here are living below the poverty line. But looking at the town there is definately not that many people living in poverty. Due to the influx of money through drugs, the town actually has a lot of money flowing through it. Although there is no drug use in the town, which is good. Obviously the statistics cannot count the illegal activities and drug money as income for the town, so they are still classified as one of the poorest town in Peru.

I'll upload the photos soon as i can get fast internet.

xoxo millie