CARMEN PFUYO MARMANI
House Mother (Peru)

Originally from Cusco, Carmen works with the girls of the Sacred Valley Project in Ollantaytambo. Carmencita understands that her role as house mother entails a myriad of responsibility and she takes this very seriously. She spends time talking to the girls, organizing their schedules, preparing meals, helping with homework, talking about personal hygiene, checking in on how they are feeling – if they’re ill, happy, calm. Carmen helps provide a safe place to stay, warm and nourishing food and everything the girls need for school, and in the afternoons she assists the tutors while helping with homework. However, Carmen believes that the main focus of her job is to give them love and patience, as well as a space to talk, and listen. "The best way to empower girls is to teach them, so that they can make their own decisions for themselves." Carmen says [she] "wanted to work with children because I like to help. I like to share my knowledge, and I know that I can do something for the girls here that they really need. So if I have the ability to teach the child something good, I know that it will change her life and improve her opportunities in the future."