What went well?
We were able to connect with most of our volunteers, take a Quechua course, and capture some content at Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Colombian temple made by the Lima culture and later inhabited by the Huari and Ichma cultures. In the Quechua course, we discussed the achahala, Quechua's alphabet; some phrases; and even a children's song. The song is titled wasichay, meaning my little house. I am draw to the preservation of language and culture because they allow us to share joy and form an integral part of our identity. Existing as a Queer person, I have learned all too well the impact of alienation from these forms of expression. I think that language and culture, music and art, are part of what makes the world worth living in.
Quechua Course
At Huaca Pucllana, we heard our tour guide, Milagros, saying some words in Quechua. Our volunteers had the idea to ask Milagros to explain some of these words for Saphi's audience. These words included the name of the site, Huaca Pucllana, place of sacred games.
Huaca Pucllana
What could have been done differently?
We have yet to settle on how to coordinate tasks with all of our volunteers, and are still figuring out how to form teams and/or delegate.
What did I learn about myself when working with others?
I learned that when working with a group for an extended period of time, I sometimes need to take little breaks to decompress. However, I love being able to bounce ideas off of other people and get very excited when people share possibilities that I had not considered.
What did I learn about leadership?
An important part of leadership is making other people feel like they are a part of a community and can feel comfortable dissenting or disagreeing.
What do I want to develop or focus on next?
I want to work on our ability to convert pictures/videos into content, ideally leaning on the experience of our volunteers.