Fine Art Photography

Peru

Letter from Robin Fryday

During my travels through Peru, my guide took me high into the Peruvian Andes to a village called Willoc. The people of Willoc speak Quechua, the ancient Indian language. The women of the village are weavers and a great effort is being made to keep this tradition alive. When we first arrived in Willoc I was overcome by the richness of this ancient culture which has survived despite its’ extremely harsh conditions. We were greeted with amazing warmth and kindness. The people of this region are very poor, yet they graciously welcomed us into their huts to share what little food they had. They opened their hearts as well, and with the help of a translator shared their stories.

When I began photographing the children of Willoc I first observed the beauty of their faces and their colorful hand-woven garments. Then I noticed a sadness in their eyes. I came to learn that many of the children of this village are orphans and live in the rugged mountains without families. Willoc, while rich in culture, is an extremely poor village with little medical care available. Therefore, many people fall ill and die at an early age, leaving many young children without parents. Other villagers will help feed and care for an orphaned child, but they may not have the means to house these children.

I was so deeply touched by the sweetness, and at the same time sadness of these children, that I returned the following to Willoc and Patacancha (a village above Willoc higher in the Andes). I was extremely privileged this time to have the opportunity to stay in Patacancha with a family and experience the rich yet impoverished lives of these Q'ero Indians. These villagers live without electricity, running water or medical care. Their diet consists mainly of potatoes with an occasional guinea pig. They are completely isolated from the rest of the country and walk hours in the rugged terrain of the Andes to reach a small market. Yet, they were kind and generous beyond words. One of the most memorable moments for me was when I gave a small treat to one of the children and they ran to share it with all the other children. To see this from children who truly did not have anything was deeply moving.

I am extremely thankful for the warmth, kindness and generosity the families of Willoc and Patacancha extended to me. I brought home with me a puppy from Patacancha who was very thin and in need of food and care. His name is Rico and he has adjusted quite nicely to life in America. He now enjoys two meals a day and sleeps on a warm comfortable bed. He is a daily reminder for me though of the hardships the people face every day in the country he comes from.

During my visit to these villages I had the opportunity to photograph many of the beautiful children. I will be donating the proceeds from the sale of these photographs to provide much needed food and clothing for the children of Willoc and Patacancha. Please contact me for pricing information and to place an order.

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