Discover why leadership is not always behind a desk.
I was at 3700 meters above sea level in Ushno’s hamlet, Mancos district, sharing with a peasant community, in a place longed to live, not only for the beautiful landscape near to the Huascaran, but for its friendly people, climate and silence. We shared an infusion of muña with mint, cancha serrana, parboiled oca and cheese. I was organizing my third Spanish and Peruvian volunteers visit with whom I visited the area every year to collaborate in community works.
While we were sharing and organizing with the authorities of the hamlet, we were accompanied by some children. Among them was Selena, who at only 7 years old, listened attentively to us. Selena lived in the village, but she had to “go down” to the city of Carhuaz because her father worked as a laborer and her mother peeled potatoes in a restaurant. They did not have many material resources, but they did have a fighting heart full of wealth. Every trip between the village and Carhuaz was an additional expense for them, but a necessity because they needed to work, be close to the family, take care of their animals and cultivate fields.
I was surprised by Selena’s attitude when I arrived at the farm with more than 50 volunteers. Days before our arrival, she had asked her mother to buy jelly (which she prepared by herself) to place in small plastic bags inside a large bucket of water. The low temperature at the adobe houses allowed the jelly bags to be kept very cold, which refreshed the volunteers who worked under the sun during the day. Of course, each bag of jelly cost fifty cents (in Peruvian currency) and, if the cost for Selena was 8 PEN, she earned about 18 PEN a day by selling more than 50 refreshing bags of jelly. That income was kept by her mom and dad. I asked Selena what she would use the money she had saved for, and she replied, “I don’t want my parents to spend on my bus fare to and from the farm”.
Although this happened more than 10 years ago, I have in mind that little girl, who lives in a remote place in Peru, who had not completed the first year of primary school, who attended a state school, who did not have the most favorable context but who, despite everything, had vision, saw an opportunity, took action and made an impact on her environment. A true leader!Attitude is her treasure and she taught me that making excuses for not having the tools or the best context to take risks is not an option.
Today I thank Selena for what I learned. I continue to stay in touch with her and I am sure she will be a great professional and leader impacting the lives of many people from her new role as a junior medical student.
