Editor’s Note: This post was written by guest contributor Scott Fifer, Founder and Executive Director of GO Campaign, about his visit to a GO Campaign project partner in the remote Andes Mountains in Peru. Fifer has established working projects and partnerships with Architecture for Humanity, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cirque du Soleil, Feed the Children, Save Africa’s Children, and KooDooZ.

I had no idea what lay in store, my eyes half-closed in acrophobic fear as we drove up the steep switchback dirt roads toward the remote mountain community of Huama. When I did open my eyes, the sights were always stunningly beautiful: crisp blue skies over majestic snow-capped mountains, magical Incan ruins, and the vibrant colors of Peruvian fabrics adorning the occasional pedestrian. No one in the community owns a car, so the only traffic jams we encountered were caused by llamas, goats, pigs or puppies (Peru has the most beautiful dogs!).

I made the trip with GO supporters Allison Wright, Andy Kaplan and their 13-year-old son, Lucas. We were accompanied by our host and guide Carol Cumes, who runs the Willka T’ika Retreat Center and Children’s Fund in the Sacred Valley.

When we arrived at the community’s only school, we were greeted with flowers and a long row of children eager to shake our hands and welcome us. Handmade signs reading ‘Bienvenidos Amigos de GO Campaign’ (’Welcome Friends of GO Campaign’) were taped to the walls. The principal, Richar Casafranca, greeted us warmly and immediately the ceremonies began.

Representatives of each class thanked us and recited a poem or song they had learned for the occasion. The students also performed traditional dances and musical performances and we exchanged gifts. School officials gave me a brightly colored poncho, which I wore proudly throughout the day, despite the warm winter sun beating down on us. Lucas gave each child an orange to express GO’s solidarity with Huama. Fruit is a rare treat for the children. They eat mostly potatoes, and on rare occasions when their families have saved enough money to buy ingredients like vegetables and garlic, they eat soup.

After these unexpected festivities, we saw the new desks and chairs that GO funded with contributions from last year’s gala. Richar also pointed out that with the little money left over, he purchased a gate for the school to better ensure the safety of the students. In compliance with GO’s reporting guidelines, Richar handed me color-coded receipts for all purchases (complete with notarized documentation!)

I was so overwhelmed by the depth and sincerity of their gratitude for what seemed like a relatively small grant for classroom furniture. It was quite moving. I realized, again, why I founded GO Campaign.

Richar also showed us a crumbling classroom where the roof could cave in any day. Luckily, GO has already raised the funds to repair this classroom and renovations will start soon. Richar had planned to repair a second classroom too with the money, but a spike in inflation has made this impossible. Lucas, however, decided right then to take on the second classroom as his Bar Mitzvah project. He’s going to create a GO fundraising page and invite all his friends and family to donate to repair the second classroom. We are confident that both classrooms will be rebuilt within the coming school year!

This immediate bond between Lucas and the school is GO Campaign in action. The kids gave him a handmade mask as we left to go farther up the mountain to see the school’s small but promising vocational projects. The schoolchildren were so thrilled to be able to give Lucas a gift, just as we are thrilled to be able to help this deserving school grow and thrive. ¡Me gusta Peru y me encanta Huama!

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GO Campaign, a registered nonprofit, improves the lives of orphans and vulnerable children throughout the developing world. They accomplish their mission by partnering with small local grassroots organizations that provide disadvantaged children with the care and services they require to survive and thrive. To help reach their goals, they empower youth by providing them with engaging tools and resources that educate and inspire action. GO is kids helping kids.

If you would like to learn more about the Huama community and help build them another classroom, please visit the GO Campaign’s projects page.  You can volunteer, donate, and create your own fundraising page and help spread the word about this amazing and resilient community.