Kallpanchis Biblioteca
Doris Pacco, 15, Cusco.
Doris is a self-possessed young girl. I can tell immediately that she takes great care in dressing well, standing straight and still, and giving very serious eye contact in conversation. Altogether the effect is very sweet, yet somehow quite impressive.
So Doris, how long have you been coming to this homework club?
6 years.
What do you do here?
Now I tend to help the younger kids with math, but I used to get a lot of help myself.
What do you want to do when you grow up?
I am very good at math so I want to be a civil engineer. But not in Cusco.
You want to move to Lima?
No.
Outside of Peru?
Yes.
Really! Where?
I want to live in Europe — probably France. I’m the baby of the family, with five older brothers. My mom doesn’t work, my dad is a handyman. Neither of them went to school. I want to go to university because I want to learn more. And I want to see Europe.
I tell her it seems like university is uncool for kids her age
‘For me it’s very cool’, she responds, confidently and brightly.
-Philip