Meet Jenny, chef, teacher, and cultural educator at Awamaki. She whips up delicious meals and leads vibrant classes in cooking, Spanish, and Quechua. Come along for a glimpse at a day in her life! 8:00 AM – Jenny kicks off the day by teaching Quechua classes at the Awamaki office, welcoming volunteers, travelers, and staff eager to learn the native language of the Andes and connect more deeply with local culture. 11:00 am - Lunchtime with Jenny is always a treat! Every day, she cooks up something special for the people living on site. On today’s menu: sizzling omelettes and a crisp, refreshing salad– yum! 12:00 pm - Lunch is served! After lunch, it's time for a well-earned siesta before she returns later in the afternoon to lead a hands-on cooking class. 4:00 PM – Time for something refreshing! Jenny squeezes up a batch of fresh lemonade to welcome a group of tourists joining her for an Awamaki cooking class. 4:30 PM – The cooking class is underway! Jenny leads the group as they dive into traditional recipes, sharing stories, laughter, and plenty of delicious flavors along the way. For most cooking classes, Jenny prepares Rocoto Relleno, a traditional Peruvian dish featuring spicy stuffed peppers filled with a savory vegetable mix, served alongside boiled eggs and potatoes draped in a rich peanut sauce. Today’s extra special–after the cooking class, Awamaki team members threw a little birthday celebration just for Jenny! 🎉 Join us in wishing her a very happy birthday! 🎉 (fb)

Hands met stone, laughter met language, and storm clouds loomed, but the work carried on! In the Sacred Valley of Peru, high school students from World Challenge spent their spring break collaborating with Quechua artisans in Huilloc. Together, they laid the foundation for a new community space, building not just a wall, but shared purpose and connection. This is ayni in action: mutual respect, shared labor, and cultural exchange. Curious about how a construction project became a lesson in reciprocity? Read the full story on our blog. #AyniInAction #Awamaki #HuillocBajo #WorldChallenge #CulturalExchange #CommunityLed #SacredValley #Peru #CollaborativeWork @WomenLedCoops (fb)